If you owned my system, what would you upgrade?

[kyle2020]

Ok i spotted a thread made by someone else to the same effect, and id really like to know what you guys think. Please note, unless its a bloody good deal, im not willing to upgrade mobo, proc or graphics card.

Thanks!

 

[molnart]

i would buy a much bigger HDD.

 

[oli_ramsay]

I'd definately get a better PSU (better safe than sorry) and another 2GB of RAM while prices are still rock bottom and a 750GB samsung f1 can be had for only £65

EDIT:

http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=608411 geat deal there. Only £63 for 750GB

 

[kyle2020]

I'd definately get a better PSU (better safe than sorry) and another 2GB of RAM while prices are still rock bottom and a 750GB samsung f1 can be had for only £65

vista only accesses 3.something GB though? would it be worth it?

HDD noted though, got my eye on an F1, the 500GB version though for £45. looks good.

The PSU im going to have to note aswell.

 

[kyle2020]

*would it be worth buying an F1 then raiding my existing with it? or just using my existing for OS? Its not very fast though . . .

 

[oli_ramsay]

Do you have Vista 32bit or 64bit? 32bit can access up to ~3.5GB, 64 bit can use up to 2048 terabytes I think, but I don't think they do 1024 TBx2
kits yet lol

I think it would still be worth it, a 2GB kit costs only about £30 and would give you a nice boost.

 

[pt]

seems like a pretty nice setup
maybe fit a tri or quad core if the board can take them

 

[farlex85]

If you try to put those in RAID together you will only be able to use 150gb of the F1, so no, that would be a bad idea. Just partition off some space on the F1 for the OS, I would definatly recommend using that one for the os though, things will be snappier.

Do you have 32-bit or 64-bit vista? If the ladder, it will recognize 4gb just fine.

 

[kyle2020]

oh right, didnt know that raid worked that way. What size partition would be best? like 12GB?

If i was going to go quad core, it wouldnt be phenom, it would be intel if i be honest. Im planning that scale of an upgrade early next year, hopefully prices etc will be better.

On the ram issue, if i wanted another 2GB of tracers it would set me back another £40 or so, thats a weeks wages gone for an upgrade i dont think would be that significnt? =/

 

[kyle2020]

anyone else have any input to note? i think that im going to get the 500GB F1 possibly this week, maybe next, but i 100% need to buy a new DVD RW drive tonight or tomorrow, my existing one sounds like its chewing on my crysis disc (even the disc drive hates crysis )

 

[farlex85]

There isn't a 500gb F1, only 750gb and 1tb. There is a 640gb SE16 from WD that is wicked fast, you'll have to see if the price is right over there in Britain.

You'll need more than 12gb I think, probably more like 30gb or so, I'm not sure exactly how much vista takes. You don't even really need to partition it, it won't do anything for speed, it just may make it easier to organize. And I think 4gb does show a pretty decent advantage over 2gb. Things load faster, and just generally run smoother. Vista especially loves the extra ram.


Edit: Also, I also would get a bigger hard drive, but thats b/c I know I want to put more stuff on there. If your not going to use the space, don't worry about that. If your just going for speed, maybe consider saving up for a veloci-raptor, or setting up a couple 320gb 7200.11s in RAID. Otherwise if your looking for space and speed, I think the WD 640gb SE16 or the F1 will be your best bet, but it depends on the price.

 

[kyle2020]

sorry? http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?SAM-HD502I
says 500GB F1?

ill have a look at that western digital one in a bit.

 

[farlex85]

sorry? http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?SAM-HD502I
says 500GB F1? :laughs:

ill have a look at that western digital one in a bit.

Ah, I guess that must be new. They did only come in the 750gb or 1tb flavor.

 

[Laurijan]

Bigger HDD but the rest is fine.. 4Gb ram in an 32bit os quite useless.. didnt know that EK makes PSUs - must be quite a deal..

 

[kyle2020]

Bigger HDD but the rest is fine.. 4Gb ram in an 32bit os quite useless.. didnt know that EK makes PSUs - must be quite a deal..

i agree with you on the RAM issue. Im going with the F1 like ive said, either this week or next.

The EZ-Cool PSU is brilliant and i really cant see it going wrong. Cant warrant buying a new one, will do when i upgrade to a quad next year mind.

 

[theonetruewill]

Fast new 500GB samsung f1 harddrive. Nothing else.

 

[kyle2020]

Fast new 500GB samsung f1 harddrive. Nothing else.

cheers for the input. Thats me settled then

New DVD RW and a 500GB F1.

Grand total of about £60 - £70.

 

[theonetruewill]

cheers for the input. Thats me settled then

New DVD RW and a 500GB F1.

Grand total of about £60 - £70.

 

[Gam'ster]

cheers for the input. Thats me settled then

New DVD RW and a 500GB F1.

Grand total of about £60 - £70.

Nice F1's look tasty, On another note i dont know bout u but im sick to death of the 900 ever thought bout a new case a nice lian-li or something ?.

Gam

 

[kyle2020]

Nice F1's look tasty, On another note i dont know bout u but im sick to death of the 900 ever thought bout a new case a nice lian-li or something ?.

Gam

i really will have to go and cut my left foot off after saying this, but i agree with you. i guess my main annoyance is the blue LED's - they are very common. and i wouldnt mind a system with HDD cages that are in line with the door (imagine your regulars, rotate them 1 turn to the left from the front) for easier access. thats it really.

And yes, the F1's do look tasty

 

[Darknova]

Another 2Gb and a new PSU.

 

[mikek75]

+1 on the F1 500GB, I bought one 2 weeks ago. My old 80GB Maxtor got 5.4 in Vista Experience, the F1 scores the max 5.9, well chuffed with it. If you go to Vista 64 then extra ram is never wasted as Vista will use it to cache more stuff, meaning faster access times for your most used programs. I started with 2gb, then got hold of another 4gb when I sold my Opty165. Don't care what anyone says, I notice a difference in the general zippyness of my rig. Shut down takes less than 7 seconds now.

 

[hat]

I would get a better cooler for the cpu, and an x-fi card. Be careful which x-fi you choose, some of them are re-branded audigy 4's which don't work in x-fi mode. :/

this is what you want:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102005

 

[kyle2020]

+1 on the F1 500GB, I bought one 2 weeks ago. My old 80GB Maxtor got 5.4 in Vista Experience, the F1 scores the max 5.9, well chuffed with it. If you go to Vista 64 then extra ram is never wasted as Vista will use it to cache more stuff, meaning faster access times for your most used programs. I started with 2gb, then got hold of another 4gb when I sold my Opty165. Don't care what anyone says, I notice a difference in the general zippyness of my rig. Shut down takes less than 7 seconds now.

looking forward to getting one now. Notice a speed increase then?

About the sound card, i just got my audigy and i cant see spending money on another will improve my setup more than it currently is.

 

[kyle2020]

oh, just to add, im purchasing a Freezer Pro this week too.