Upgrade advice (from the pros)

[n4tivo]

So...

This is my current setup.

Summary
		Operating System
			Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center 64-bit
		CPU
			AMD FX-6300	33 °C
			Vishera 32nm Technology
		RAM
			8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 802MHz (9-9-9-24)
		Motherboard
			ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. M5A97 (Socket 942)	40 °C
		Graphics
			S211HL (1920x1080@60Hz)
			2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 (EVGA)	52 °C 
		Storage
			149GB MAXTOR S TM3160815AS SATA Disk Device (SATA)	43 °C
			465GB Seagate ST350041 8AS SATA Disk Device (SATA)	39 °C
		Optical Drives
			ATAPI iHAS424 Y SATA CdRom Device
		Audio
			Realtek High Definition Audio
Operating System
	Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center 64-bit

Just need some advice as to which component I should upgrade first (besides primary HD). I only have a $110 budget.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Air]

That budget won't really get you anything that would be an upgrade over what you have now.
A better storage drive is really the only thing that you could fit into that budget for an upgrade.

[n4tivo]

Thank you Air, I guess I can't expect much of an upgrade. Been looking through best MB for the money[www.tomshardware.com], closest to my budget would be M5A97 R.2, but I'm not sure how much of an upgrade that would be.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

$110 there isn't really any room to do anything with that.
Only real option with that amount is replace the Primary HDD with a 120 - 250 GB sized SSD, reinstalll OS fresh to SSD. It'll be a night/day difference just by doing that.

CPU is a no go, since u have an AMD 970 chipset board. If you going to upgrade in this core area, then what u want is an Intel MB & GPU. Nothing more from AMD will benefit u.

Save up for better GPU; if game performance is lacking.

[Rove]

I'd suggest a good custom CPU cooler and either more RAM (+4GB or +8GB compatible single stick to leave room for a second later) OR a larger, newer or better HDD, SSHD or SSD drive.

You could probably get a very nice CPU air cooler with 4 to 6 heatpipes and a good fan for $25 to $60 and a 1TB HDD for $50 to $60. Depending on local prices you might even have money lefft for a 4GB stick of RAM as well.

Here's a example in USD from the USA but I'm not sure if you can get this in Puerto Rico:

RAIJINTEK EREBOSS BLACK 56.5 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/8zYct6
Base Total: $115.73
Mail-in Rebates: -$10.00
Total: $105.73

NOTE:
I can't promise that the CPU cooler will fit your case and motherboard or that the RAM is compatible with your current 8GB kit. You need to check up on this yourself. The RAM should have the same or better voltage, timings and speed as your current RAM. The CPU cooler will need to fit within the case without hitting the side panel (case width) and also it needs to fit your motherboard without blocking your RAM slots which may depend on the height of your RAM.

The 1TB HDD will fit into your system fine as long as your PSU has a extra SATA power cable with enough power and your case has a extra 3.25 inch bracket to place the HDD.

So while you might not be able to buy the exact parts I listed to you it should give you a idea of what to look for in a upgrade. If you can't get it then try and get something like it.

You could also get a 120GB or maybe even 240GB SSD instead of the HDD if you do not need much more storage space but just want better drive performance. You might have to drop the RAM also if you want a 240GB SSD. Get the CPU cooler still for sure though.

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από n4tive:

Thank you Air, I guess I can't expect much of an upgrade. Been looking through best MB for the money[www.tomshardware.com], closest to my budget would be M5A97 R.2, but I'm not sure how much of an upgrade that would be.

You already have a good motherboard. The R2 isn't worth it unless you are choosing between the R1 and R2 M5A97 brand new and not just thinking upgrade. I mean they are almost exactly the same with same overclocking potential. You have a great motherboard in the R1 M5A97 right now.

[76561198165922800]

665

[n4tivo]

Thank you for you suggestions Rove. I've been thinking to buy a CPU cooler for the longest time but not sure why I haven't, I will check the one you suggested, any other recommendations?

I think I will buy either a black edition hdd or an sdd, depending on my budget next pay period. I have a non-modular 720w corsair PSU so I think my pc will be able to handle the extra load.

The ram I think I will upgrade last. I think I might have to buy the same brand (corsair vengance 1600) for maximum compatibility, not sure how well it will play with other brands.

So far my pc has been able to handle just about every pc game I throw at it. I do get frame drops, just want a little bit of performance without being costly :)

Thank you again :)

[Rove]

If you want to show me the local Puerto Rico website that you can shop at then I can give suggestions better suited to local availability.

[n4tivo]

We have bestbuy and tigerdirect stores throughout the island, though I'd much rather prefer ordering online through stores such as newegg or amazon, and soon enough is going to be a necessity to shop online as our local taxes will raise to 11.5% in july, and 16.5% in 9 months :(

[Rove]

Here:

RAM = 4GB stick of Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1600
http://www.tigerdirect.pr/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7025808&sku=C13-5700
List Price:
$49.99
Instant Savings:
- $17.00 (34%)
Price:
$32.99

HDD = 1TB "Samsung" Barracuda refurbished Seagate Barracuda. Seagate owns Samsung HDD business so Samsung probably knows how to refurbish Seagate drives pretty well but just be aware it's refurbished, not brand new. If you don't need more drive space right now then do not get this and save your money for a higher performance drive in the future. This one isn't great but it is storage and it's probably better than the drives you have got right now.
http://www.tigerdirect.pr/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=9771983&sku=SMB-102984872
List Price:
$65.00
Instant Savings:
- $30.01 (46%)
Price:
$34.99 †

CPU Cooler = Zalman CNPS10X Performa
http://www.tigerdirect.pr/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6085172&sku=Z20-1158
List Price:
$44.99
Instant Savings:
- $3.50 (8%)
Price:
$41.49

Total = $109.47

There you go right on budget. Still got to check that I got the right RAM and that the CPU cooler is going to fit your motherboard & case. Also like I said about the HDD, it's not great, it's refurbished not new but it is extra storage and it might be better than what you got now. So if you need the extra storage go for it. If you do not need the extra storage save your money for a HDD, SSHD or SSD with higher performance and brand new quality rather than refurbished. Personally I think you do need more storage in your system, cause I know I would. So since the price is right I did recommend that HDD and I'd probably get it if it was a upgrade for me. I mean I use over 3TB on my current system so going down to under 1TB like you have is just small. You can always add even more drives later on also.

[n4tivo]

Excellent, thank you very much :)

[_I_]

post a cpuz validation link
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html
cpuz -> validate button -> submit button
it will open a browser, copy the url (address) and paste it here


your ram is fine, board is good enough for the fx6
adding another single 4g dimm will force it to run in single ch mode

gpu is good enough for that cpu

if you need a cpu cooler, get a 212evo and mount its fan as low as possible to keep airflow over the vrms on the board

a bigger hdd would be a nice upgrade
get a 2tb seagate barracuda or wd blue/black hdd

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/N2VGXL

[n4tivo]

Thank you.

Here is the URL.

http://valid.x86.fr/dnzi96

[_I_]

honestly, id get a bigger hdd, if all you have is the 150g and 500g drives

and save up for an i5 and board
are you near a microcenter?
http://www.microcenter.com/site/stores/
they have in store 4690k and z97 combos for $250+tax
http://www.microcenter.com/site/brands/intel-processor-bundles.aspx

i know for a fact that amd cpus can hold back 560ti, its holding back your 760

just check your ram voltage, if its 1.55v or lower its fine for use in an intel 1150-1155 build
cpuz -> spd tab -> select each dimm
look at the voltage for all profiles, if any profile is over 1.55v that dimm should not be used in an intel build

[n4tivo]

Sadly, we don't have microcenters in the island :(

Just ordered a aftermarket cpu cooler, summer ambient temps sometimes exceed 85 - 90+ moreso when we get hit with saharan dust clouds. So I might order a bigger HDD next payperiod.

Dimms are below 1.50v, corsair vengance were actually designed to work better with intel CPUs :)

[Darren]

Wait AMD will be releasing Zen in 2016. Zen however will require a new socket namely AM4