Suggestions for Small (i.e. Budget) Upgrade

**Viktor_Olin** · 12-01-11, 12:24 PM

Overclocking allows you to get more than stock speed from your processor; for example, I run the i5 2500k (stock speed 3.3 GHz) at 4.5 GHz overclocked. Certain motherboards and CPU's do not allow overclocking. The i5 2500 (no k) is not really overclockable, though it does have a feature called Turbo Boost that will allow speeds up to 3.7 GHz. Overclocking generates a lot of heat, and aftermarket CPU coolers are necessary. Given your limited budget, I doubt you will be OC'ing, so you can save a bit of money by going with non-overclockable hardware.

The motherboard you chose is not compatible with the i5 CPU. When choosing a motherboard/CPU combination, you have to match the socket type. The MB you picked is an LGA 775, which supports older Intel CPU's such as Core 2 Duo and Quad. The i5 requires the LGA 1155 socket. Once you narrow down the search to LGA 1155 sockets and micro ATX form factor, you can then decide what additional features you require. I believe you have a PCI card of some sort in the pictures you posted; is that a sound card? If you intend to use a PCI card, you'll have to get a MB with a PCI slot; some of the micro ATX MB's have only the PCI Express 2.0 slot (for your GPU) and PCI Express slots, with no PCI slots (example: Newegg.com - BIOSTAR H61MGC LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard). Here's an example of a MB with the PCI slot: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131724 That MB does not allow overclocking, by the way.

Here's the result of my search at Newegg for LGA 1155 micro ATX MB's with a PCI slot: Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Motherboards, Intel Motherboards, Core i7 / i5 / i3 (LGA1155), 1, Micro ATX

If you are going to upgrade to a 64 bit OS (i.e., Windows 7), then you might as well go ahead and get 8 GB of RAM (example: Newegg.com - G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBSR and $10 off with promo code EMCJHKJ27 for eblast subscribers at Newegg; go ahead and sign up so you can take advantage of these types of offers). You can get Win 7 now at Newegg for $99.99, or wait for one of their sales and save $10-15; it goes on sale quite often.

If you live near a Micro Center, they have Intel CPU's for less than anyone else. Instead of getting the i5 2500 for $209.99 at Newegg, you can get the i5 2500k at Micro Center for $179.99, and have the ability down the road to upgrade your MB and do some overclocking.

**Sosiego** · 12-01-11, 12:53 PM

Thanks for all of the information!

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

I believe you have a PCI card of some sort in the pictures you posted; is that a sound card? If you intend to use a PCI card, you'll have to get a MB with a PCI slot; some of the micro ATX MB's have only the PCI Express 2.0 slot (for your GPU) and PCI Express slots, with no PCI slots.

I think the PCI card you're talking about is actually a network card. I have two ethernet jacks on the back of my rig - my buddy built the rig that way for some reason. I don't recall either of them failing to work, but I've switched between them in the time period that I've had the rig. I plan keeping the card so, as such, that would mean that I would need to go with a MB with the PCI slot.

As such, how does this look:

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

If you are going to upgrade to a 64 bit OS (i.e., Windows 7), then you might as well go ahead and get 8 GB of RAM. You can get Win 7 now at Newegg for $99.99, or wait for one of their sales and save $10-15; it goes on sale quite often.

If I upgraded to a 64 bit O.S. it would probably be XP 64-Bit Edition. It might be a bit hard to find but I'd get a hold of it somehow. I don't care for Vista or 7 at all.

Is running a 32 bit O.S. a, I guess you would say, contradiction to these upgrades? If anything, I could just buy an additional 4GB of RAM and a 64 bit O.S. down the line if a 32 bit O.S. is fine to run with these upgrades.

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

If you live near a Micro Center, they have Intel CPU's for less than anyone else. Instead of getting the i5 2500 for $209.99 at Newegg, you can get the i5 2500k at Micro Center for $179.99, and have the ability down the road to upgrade your MB and do some overclocking.

While I live really close to the only Micro Center in Houston, my dad lives a good 45-60 minutes away and the i5 2500k at Micro Center is in-store only. I'll send them links for both the i5 2500 from Newegg and the i5 2500k from Micro Center.

**Viktor_Olin** · 12-01-11, 03:18 PM

That setup should work. Something you haven't mentioned is your hard drive and CD/DVD drive; be sure they're SATA interface, and not IDE, because the newer motherboards don't have IDE connections (I believe from your photos that they are SATA).

If that PCI card is an ethernet card, it's superfluous, and I see no reason to bother installing it.

Now, as to the OS: bear in mind that newer games, such as Battlefield 3, are not supported on Windows XP, either 32 or 64 bit. Windows 7 64 bit is the way to go, unless you are running some type of essential older software that simply won't run on Win 7. The vast majority of Win 7 users are satisfied with it; I know I am.

A 32 bit OS mainly limits your available RAM. You can certainly go that route and buy only 4 GB, but right now RAM is cheap (it wasn't just a few months ago); also, note that that MB has only 2 memory slots, so any increase in RAM down the road will entail purchasing replacement RAM, not additional RAM.

If you want my advice, bite the bullet and install Windows 7 with 8 GB of RAM. And don't look back.

**Sosiego** · 12-01-11, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

That setup should work. Something you haven't mentioned is your hard drive and CD/DVD drive; be sure they're SATA interface, and not IDE, because the newer motherboards don't have IDE connections (I believe from your photos that they are SATA).

EDIT: Good to go on that end. My HD is a Hitachi Deskstar P7K500, which has a SATA 3.0Gb/s interface.

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

If that PCI card is an ethernet card, it's superfluous, and I see no reason to bother installing it.

Eh, maybe I won't install it. Would still like the PCI slot regardless.

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

Now, as to the OS: bear in mind that newer games, such as Battlefield 3, are not supported on Windows XP, either 32 or 64 bit. Windows 7 64 bit is the way to go, unless you are running some type of essential older software that simply won't run on Win 7. The vast majority of Win 7 users are satisfied with it; I know I am.

If the time comes where I decide I want to pick up a newer game that isn't supported on XP then I'll probably consider going to Win 7 64 bit. For now, the games I'm playing - which are Source games and older titles which I never got to play through - don't have that issue.

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

A 32 bit OS mainly limits your available RAM. You can certainly go that route and buy only 4 GB, but right now RAM is cheap (it wasn't just a few months ago); also, note that that MB has only 2 memory slots, so any increase in RAM down the road will entail purchasing replacement RAM, not additional RAM.

I'm confused. I'm planning on buying a single 4GB RAM stick (as opposed to 2x2GB) and the new MB will have 2 slots. Since the 4GB RAM stick will only occupy one slot, couldn't I just buy an additional 4GB RAM stick down the line for the unoccupied slot?

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

If you want my advice, bite the bullet and install Windows 7 with 8 GB of RAM. And don't look back.

Maybe one day, maybe one day....

**Viktor_Olin** · 12-01-11, 08:36 PM

Sorry, my mistake; for some reason I had it in my mind that you were going with 2 sticks of 2 GB RAM. You're correct, you could add an additional stick later.

Good luck with the upgrade!

**Sosiego** · 12-01-11, 08:39 PM

Well, after thinking about it, given the current price of RAM, there really is no reason not to get 8GB instead of 4GB. Even if I decide to wait on upgrading to a 64 bit O.S., I'd at least not have to go through the hassle of placing an order again.

With that additional $20, I have $25 left over after the rebates. As such, I'm thinking of going with a Radeon 6770 instead of the Radeon 5770. Probably either this one or this one. From what I've read it seems like the PowerColor is the better choice. Thoughts?

**Viktor_Olin** · 12-01-11, 09:18 PM

I have no first hand knowledge of either of those cards or their manufacturers. I suggest an Internet search for support issues with those companies and use that as the basis for your choice.

I also suggest that you look over the memory support list for that motherboard (download it here: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards- ASUS P8H61-M LE/CSM)
Don't necessarily rule out a particular brand, but if you choose a supported RAM and have issues with it down the road, the motherboard support folks won't be able to use "incompatible RAM" against you.

**Sosiego** · 12-01-11, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

I have no first hand knowledge of either of those cards or their manufacturers. I suggest an Internet search for support issues with those companies and use that as the basis for your choice.

Will do.

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

I also suggest that you look over the memory support list for that motherboard (download it here: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards- ASUS P8H61-M LE/CSM)
Don't necessarily rule out a particular brand, but if you choose a supported RAM and have issues with it down the road, the motherboard support folks won't be able to use "incompatible RAM" against you.

From what I've read it seemed like Corsair or Crucial were the brands to go with, neither of which I see in the memory support list for 2x4GB. The only vendor I see in the list for 2x4GB is G.Skill. So, I'll go with your previous recommendation of the Sniper 8GB (2x4GB) set.

**Viktor_Olin** · 12-01-11, 10:03 PM

I like G.Skill memory.

Here's a link to the Newegg promo that includes that RAM: Newegg.com - Official Newegg Promo Codes, Coupon Code, Coupons, Discounts, Promotions, Free Shipping Codes

Remember, only eblast subscribers can take advantage of the promo codes.