Need help planning an upgrade!

[YinYang.ERROR]

I'm planning to upgrade my PC, however due to it being a pre-built (I got it about 4 years ago), the upgrade has some limitations.

1st limitation is: It has to work with a 380w PSU.
2nd limitation is: It has to be a micro atx (9.6" x 9.6"); Because of case size.
3rd limitation is the $330 budget.

Parts I'm looking to upgrade are the video card, Mobo, CPU, and RAM. I prefer the AM3 socket (because of I plan to upgrade the processor again later)


Thanks! Also if anyone has any info on migrating a HDD with windows xp installed on it to a new pc head over to my other topic here: http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=101274


Thanks!

 

[Zoelef]

$120 - Gigabyte GA-MA785G-US2H + 4 GB G.Skill DDR2-1066
$66 - Athlon II X2 245
$65 - Sapphire HD 4670 512MB

Subtotal: $251

The 4670 isn't the most powerful video card but you'll have plenty of headroom with an older 380w PSU. The HD 4770 also warrants consideration; Newegg's cheapest one costs $45 more than the Sapphire 4670 and performs about 55% better than the 4670.

Edit: Overclocking: I would upgrade the GPU and not the CPU so we can minimize wattage right now and upgrade from Athlon II to Phenom II when appropriate.

 

[overclocking101]

I agree with Zoelef but instead of the 4670 grab the 4770 as it will yeild better results OR grab a better cpu but either way both will be good upgrades. I do have a question why not save up $200-$300 more and buy a completely new system, I.E. new psu and case as well?

 

[YinYang.ERROR]

I agree with Zoelef but instead of the 4670 grab the 4770 as it will yeild better results OR grab a better cpu but either way both will be good upgrades. I do have a question why not save up $200-$300 more and buy a completely new system, I.E. new psu and case as well?

I will more than likely buy a new case and psu later.

thanks Zoelef, the Mobo you listed is exactly what I was looking for.

Edit: For the price of the 4770 I might as well buy a Sapphire HD 4830

 

[Zoelef]

Edit: For the price of the 4770 I might as well buy a Sapphire HD 4830

The 4830's problem isn't its price, but that it sucks up 25-40 watts more than either the 4670 or the 4770. Since your power supply isn't a new 80 PLUS one, I'd pass on the 4830. If you can't decide, your onboard HD 4200 may be an improvement on the X1300 XT, so ride that onboard chip until the 5xx0 generation debuts...

Also, the 785G I listed motherboard is a MicroATX version; if that's not compatible with your case, let me know.

 

[Mussels]

my advice: buy a new case and PSU first, and dont bother moving the XP install. reinstall it - moves never go well

 

[livehard]

You do know a system with a 4890 pulls like 320 watts? You could get the CPU and Mobo zoelef suggested and a 4870, be under your budget and PSU restrictions, but probably out of your case. I like Mussels' suggestion.

 

[Mussels]

my concern is the quality and age of his PSU - if its a random generic and not something decent like an FSP OEM unit, it could well pop on something like a 4870.

he says its four years old, so it'd be around the 20-30% degraded mark if it was heavily used, and based on that age i'd be surprised if it had any better than a single 16A rail for 12 volt.

 

[Wile E]

my concern is the quality and age of his PSU - if its a random generic and not something decent like an FSP OEM unit, it could well pop on something like a 4870.

Yep. PSU is where to spend the most money. One that blows can kill every single part in the system.

My suggestion is also PSU and case first. A doubt a 4 year old OEM 380w is going to be happy on a 4870.

 

[livehard]

Yeah, I forgot about the rails. I factored in the aging and then some. I hate rails. I did say I liked your suggestion the best though, Mussels.

 

[YinYang.ERROR]

The PSU is 2 years old, I upgraded it a while ago. It is made by Raidmax.

 

[JrRacinFan]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138138 - Mobo - $65 - $55 after MIR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144254 - Ram - $50.49

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688 - CPU - $61

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770 - HD4850 - $100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703017 - PCP&C 420W -$50+ ship

 

[livehard]

+1

 

[YinYang.ERROR]

Thanks everyone, I think I will upgrade my Case and PSU first. (recomended by Mussels)

I was wondering if this is a good Case and PSU?

PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012&Tpk=500W Stealth Xstream Psu

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042


Edit: Will Video card prices drop by mid November?

 

[kurosagi01]

for extra $15 i would get the 450w corsair psu than the 500w ocz,it has single 12v rail which is much better than 2 12v.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

 

[YinYang.ERROR]

for extra $15 i would get the 450w corsair psu than the 500w ocz,it has single 12v rail which is much better than 2 12v.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

How is it much better?(I'm still learning a bit about PSUs) Also I'm trying to keep the price down (While still having a good PSU that supports 450w+), and Corsair is not really good at that.


Also, I found this combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.216930
Which really helps with a $45 savings. ($30 instant + $15 combo)

 

[LittleLizard]

The case is pretty good for its price and the psu has a decent 12v rail.

Go with it.

 

[LittleLizard]

THIS combo and some cheap ddr3 and you will be good to go

 

[Mussels]

rails on PSU's arent additive - lets say your video card has two PCI-E plugs, and one is on rail 1, and one is on rail 2 of your PSU.

That means your CPU, ram, hard drives, PCI-E slot power and everything else is off one rail, with just hte video card plugs off rail 2 - if rail 1 runs short, the PC will crash or shut down. it cant draw power off rail 2, to free up power on rail 1.

on a single rail PSU, you dont have to worry about balancing it out so you tend to get less issues.

The corsair 450W matches many 500-550W PSU's in specs anyway - its a great PSU.
I'm not a huge fan of the antec basiqs, they're great for low power machines but they dont come anywhere near a corsair or OCZ in quality and reliability.

 

[LittleLizard]

rails on PSU's arent additive - lets say your video card has two PCI-E plugs, and one is on rail 1, and one is on rail 2 of your PSU.

That means your CPU, ram, hard drives, PCI-E slot power and everything else is off one rail, with just hte video card plugs off rail 2 - if rail 1 runs short, the PC will crash or shut down. it cant draw power off rail 2, to free up power on rail 1.

on a single rail PSU, you dont have to worry about balancing it out so you tend to get less issues.

The corsair 450W matches many 500-550W PSU's in specs anyway - its a great PSU.
I'm not a huge fan of the antec basiqs, they're great for low power machines but they dont come anywhere near a corsair or OCZ in quality and reliability.

in fact antec is pretty good and the basiq looks like crap but is a good psu. but yes, i agree with you that the corsair is a better choice BUT remember we are working with a tight budget

 

[Mussels]

true, but since he has a tight budget now one assumes the same will be so in the future, the corsair saves the need to upgrade again later and has a longer warranty as well.

OCZ stealthX 500: 2x18A
Parts 3 years limited
Labor 1 year limited

antec basiq: 2x18A
3 years limited

Corsair: 1x33A
They dont say it on the newegg page, but corsair has a 5 year warranty.

the OCZ and the antec match up, on a budget sure, go the antec.
the corsair still outdoes them severely on the rails, as well as having the longest warranty.


FYI, if you hit "returns and rebates" the corsair has a $15 MIR on atm.

 

[YinYang.ERROR]

true, but since he has a tight budget now one assumes the same will be so in the future, the corsair saves the need to upgrade again later and has a longer warranty as well.

OCZ stealthX 500: 2x18A
Parts 3 years limited
Labor 1 year limited

antec basiq: 2x18A
3 years limited

Corsair: 1x33A
They dont say it on the newegg page, but corsair has a 5 year warranty.

the OCZ and the antec match up, on a budget sure, go the antec.
the corsair still outdoes them severely on the rails, as well as having the longest warranty.


FYI, if you hit "returns and rebates" the corsair has a $15 MIR on atm.

But is 2 rails really that much worst?

The only brands that seem to have a single rail are Corsair and Cooler Master.

I would gladly get one if it was within budget, but I'm not going to be doing any SLI or crossfire; So again does it really make that much of a difference?



EDIT:
I may for $140 ($120 after MIB) get the antec 300, and a Corsair 550w (I would need 500w if I plan on upgrading to a Phenom II and a HD 5xxx later right?). Might as well get a good PSU if I'm going to keep it for a while.

Price is a killer though, but it is only $10 more for the 550w over the 450w.

 

[kurosagi01]

if your not going do any crossfire or sli,then by all means by a single rail psu,you are only going get a 4850 right?? the 450w corsair will easily power it with 32A while the ocz 500w only has 18A if you use one rail and the other 18A rail is just sticking out..and i've bought the ocz stealthxstream it doesn't have a lot of cables so if you have a lot of things to plug in i wouldn't reconmend it at all,but by all means check how many molex and sata connectors you are using in your system..the 450w has much more cables than the ocz.

the 450w corsair can easily power a Phenom II,it could probably power the HD5xxx series,they would make mid-range cards aswell you know like the 4850,4830 and 4770.
corsair psu has greater potential..as mussel said it is much better than some 550w.
if you want buy a 550w then get the corsair 550w and the NZXT Beta case which looks nicer than the antec 300 and you wouldn't need spend a lot of money buying load of 120mm fans for the antec 300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146055

 

[Mussels]

YinYang.ERROR: i did explain in a previous post about multiple rail PSU's

rails on PSU's arent additive - lets say your video card has two PCI-E plugs, and one is on rail 1, and one is on rail 2 of your PSU.

That means your CPU, ram, hard drives, PCI-E slot power and everything else is off one rail, with just hte video card plugs off rail 2 - if rail 1 runs short, the PC will crash or shut down. it cant draw power off rail 2, to free up power on rail 1.

on a single rail PSU, you dont have to worry about balancing it out so you tend to get less issues.

 

[YinYang.ERROR]

thanks for your help everyone!

I'm thinking if I use the NZXT Beta for my case I can fit a Corsair 550w PSU (550w for later upgrades) into my budget. My main problem with the Corsair 450w was the price for only a 450w.