Upgrading restarting PC (core2duo to i3/i5?)

[foladar]

Okay, my current PC (built in 2007) is restarting constantly, likely due to failing motherboard (I was able to switch the ram slots previously to cause it to stop rebooting) however all 4 ram slots cause a reboot now so, I'm considering upgrading ...

Current PC specs are e6400, ATX board [ECS], 2gb ddr2, Geforce 8600gt.

I generally (very) lightly game, some work on the PC (data entry), as well as lots of multi-tasking (watch a movie, doing some work, etc) ..

I was considering the i3 2100, however the i5 2400 is +$75 .. is it worth the performance? Should I consider micro as it seems to be quite cheaper? And has anyone tried the BIOSTAR TH67+? Essentially, it would likely be replacing the cpu/mobo/memory.

[jdeb]

What is your budget? CPU/MB/RAM

[glc]

What are the rest of your current components, including the power supply? What OS will you be using?

[foladar]

Originally Posted by glc What are the rest of your current components, including the power supply? What OS will you be using?

its currently:
e6400
lga775 ecs board (likely the dead part, needs replaced whether I go w/ new CPU or not)
geforce 8600gt
2gb ddr2
antec earthwatts 500w

using Windows Vista Ultimate

budget is i5 2400 maximum, can't really stretch much past that, but I can swing the i5 2400 if it was worth the value. Excluding the cost of ram though, since worse case I can swing a 2gb stick for now and grab an identical 2gb stick at a later date. So looking at around $250-$300 max.

Really trying to decide between (a) replace 775 board, wait 2? yrs or (b) replace mobo w/ 1155 + cpu + ddr3 ram

[jdeb]

$257.00

BIOSTAR TZ68A+ LGA 1155 Intel Z68
Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TZ68A+ LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge
Newegg.com - Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32100

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
Newegg.com - CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMV4GX3M2A1333C9

[foladar]

is it worth the price to go from i3 2100 to i5 2400 though? I think it's a ~$65 difference.

And what about micro ATX vs ATX? Seems micro ATX is much cheaper, and according to Tigerdirect, my case can take either.

Diablo Tek Demon IV ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB & Audio Ports and 450-Watt Power Supply at TigerDirect.com
(don't judge me, I was 19, LOL)

[glc]

It doesn't sound to me like you have a sufficient budget for doing a CPU/mobo/ram upgrade the right way - so just get one of these for now:

Newegg.com - BIOSTAR T41 HD LGA 775 Intel G41 ATX Intel Motherboard

[Khalil]

Nothing wrong with that E6400 it is still a champ of a CPU, if I had a working system with one I would not upgrade it.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by foladar is it worth the price to go from i3 2100 to i5 2400 though? I think it's a ~$65 difference. And what about micro ATX vs ATX? Seems micro ATX is much cheaper, and according to Tigerdirect, my case can take either. Diablo Tek Demon IV ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB & Audio Ports and 450-Watt Power Supply at TigerDirect.com (don't judge me, I was 19, LOL)

ATX is a full side board and usually has more features. i5-2400 is a better CPU but is it worth it? Well based on your use I would say not that much.

I would not buy anything from Tiger Direct, they sell a lot of distressed merchandise.

I picked a budget Z68 board based on your budget.

[foladar]

Originally Posted by glc It doesn't sound to me like you have a sufficient budget for doing a CPU/mobo/ram upgrade the right way - so just get one of these for now: Newegg.com - BIOSTAR T41 HD LGA 775 Intel G41 ATX Intel Motherboard

I was considering something like this, a temporary fix until black friday or another sale, plus it'd be another working computer in the house for a quick fix and would last as "another" computer for a few years at least.