System Upgrade

N

Not Bman

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My system is getting old, having many issues, and so forth.

I don't really have money to upgrade but it looks like I might have too. I am looking for help in building a nice upgrade/as top of the line as can be build with about $500 to $650 for a budget.

I am looking for the MOBO, CPU, RAM, SSD, CASE. I have storage drives, a monitor and video card and PSU.

My current system is pretty old in the computer timeframe, so I don't even know where to start looking. Which is why I came here. I want something as new/powerful as possible without going over my budget. I want USB 3.0 if possible, support for an SSD plus 4 if not more regular SATA drives. I want support for 16GB DDR3 or more RAM, well I have DDR2 8GB of RAM right now and it doesn't seem to be enough, so I assume 16GB would help.

I think that is my only preferences. Not sure if it matters, I have a ATI HD 5850 video card, and a 700W PSU. I don't need a new CASE, but would like one if it can fit in the budget.
 
Well first I guess would be what brands your like for parts if you have a choice.

Second I would look into maybe a motherboard/cpu combo or even a barebones kit from tigerdirect, though you have to spend a bit more to get the ram amount you want and the ssd but those are generally pricey anyways.
 
I do have a related question.

This will be my first SSD and have a question.

If I look at the size of my Program Files folders (64 and 32bit) it only takes up 40GB, does that mean I can install everything I normally use on my SSD, or is there a lot more space being taken up somewhere else on the drive. It's hard to tell, because right now i have over 400GB of media on it.

I don't game all that much anymore, which is why Steam is very small, but that is a problem. If I do install games, I want them to load quicker right? But those would take up quite a bit of space. I dunno, it's new and interesting.
 
Not a bad build, in my book the cpu cooler seems kind of cheap for something thats going to cool such an important part but again thats my thought.

As for your other question I don't know but hopefully somebody does
 
The parts on the link look good.

I had the same first reaction to the cooler but checked on it and it looks ok. Fan life is rated at 5 years. Basic heat pipe design with low noise multi blade fan running 3000 RPM max.
 
I was thinking of removing it to save money. I have never really used after market coolers before.
 
I do have a related question.

This will be my first SSD and have a question.

If I look at the size of my Program Files folders (64 and 32bit) it only takes up 40GB, does that mean I can install everything I normally use on my SSD, or is there a lot more space being taken up somewhere else on the drive. It's hard to tell, because right now i have over 400GB of media on it.

I don't game all that much anymore, which is why Steam is very small, but that is a problem. If I do install games, I want them to load quicker right? But those would take up quite a bit of space. I dunno, it's new and interesting.

Unless you have more than one hdd installed, and have already specified the programs to install to a particular hard drive, there are other folders and system apps that will be taking up additional space.

I recently installed a 512gb ssd in my desktop for the operating system and programs (I cloned the original mechanical drive to it using a sector by sector clone method. I originally had the ssd in my old laptop running an i3 processor, and even then ran like a rocket with the ssd, since I sold that laptop and installed the original hdd it came with, I had the ssd just sitting, and decided to make use of it.

It's an Intel i7-based system with 4gb ram running 7 Ultimate x64. Very noticeable difference on speed after upgrading to the SSD. I use a separate mechanical hdd for my data, and run the programs and operating system files off of the ssd. It will be easier and Windows will run more stable if you run the OS and programs from the same drive as long as you have enough space to accommodate them.
 

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Also Hi EP and people. I found this place again while looking through a oooollllllldddd backup. I have filled over 10TB and was looking at my collection of antiques. Any bids on the 500Mhz Win 95 fix?
Any of the SP crew still out there?
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Just did some crude math and I apparently joined almost 18yrs ago, how is that possible???
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