PC Upgrade options?

[Stylis10]

Hi

I have a home PC and would like to upgrade it.

i have currently already installed upto 6GB RAM, but would like to know if i should upgrade any other hardware in the PC, it is a 7 year old PC but i feel it is still good.

Specs:
Processor: intel core 2 quad Q6600 @ 2.40 GHz
Motherboard: Asus, Berkley, MS1C78S00403931
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GFORCE 8400GS
RAM: 2x2GB DDR2, 2x1GB DDR2
PSU: stock 230V PSU that came with machine originally
HDD: 240GB


I was thinking, maybe i just need to put a new PSU in as the stock one is very old and could blow they system from not too long.
I don't see the CPU needing to be changed
However i am not sure if the mother board also needs changing.
As for the graphics card, i think i could get a cheap £30 that is better than the 8400GS, as i don't see my parents doing more than watching YouTube or movies


Is it actually worth upgrading this pc, or just buy a new one?
I am still under the impression that the CPU is quite good, as well as the RAM.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

What do you do with it??

Unless it was a decent PSU I would get a new one and it can always be the basis of a new system later on. A better decode card would be a good idea,but only if you are struggling with video playback.

What OS is used BTW?? I assume it is a 64 bit version of XP or Vista which is installed ATM.

[Stylis10]

What do you do with it??

Unless it was a decent PSU I would get a new one and it can always be the basis of a new system later on. A better decode card would be a good idea,but only if you are struggling with video playback.

What OS is used BTW?? I assume it is a 64 bit version of XP or Vista which is installed ATM.

Ahh i forgot to mention that.

as far as i can see the is no brand on the PSU, only shows 230V.

The PC is mainly goign to be used for Microsoft office work (basic word documents and spread sheets)

The system was running win vista 32-bit, but someone ("a family friend") installed a questionable version of win 7 64-bit ultimate...

the PC keeps getting a blue screen of death (i assume due to the OS currently installed), i am mostly likely going to get a new win 7 64-bit license unless i am able to get back into the vist 32-bit, in which case i shall take the 2x1GB Ram out and just leave it running with 3.5GB RAM (i still have no way of doing this though)

I would like the PC to last for a while with whatever upgrades i do to it this time. But very general use of PC. The only reason for upgrading to 6GB RAM was that we had spare 2x2GB DDR2 lying around (Brand New)

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would get a new copy of Windows and a new PSU. The 8400GS had two versions IIRC and I know that at least one could accelerate Adobe flash 10.1,so I would keep the current card for the time being and see how things go.

I would suggest this PSU:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/450w-...v-fan-atx-v231

If you intend to replace the rest of the computer at a later date,you can use it as the basis for the new system.

However,I suspect the system is an HP one?? You will need to check the size of the case and what type of PSU it uses,ie, is it a SFF PSU??

[Kumagoro]

I see no point in upgrading anything considering use.
if on the rare off chance the psu blows and takes out something else then get a new one then.

Reinstalling windows back will likely put things right.

You could try and see if the recovery partition is still there.

[Stylis10]

The pc is indeed an HP, its an HP-Pavillion a6150.uk

I also managed to find the PSU details by taking it out, its a:
LITEON, Model: PS-5301-08HF, 300W

If i do get a new operating system i will probably also upgrade the Hard Drive, in which case the PC would be used for my brother at university (they would swap pcs)

How long would it be before the motherboard and cpu would need replacing?

[Kumagoro]

How much are you thinking of spending it might actually be better to just buy new.
You could get 100 easy for that pc I reckon.

[Stylis10]

well i have upto £400 to upgrade the whole pc to the best i can

I built my own pc a year ago and now im in the position that my mother and brother want the HP to be as good as mine performance wise, they dont need theirs to be the same as mine as they dont to the graphic designing i do and videos editing and such. But no matter how much i try to convince them their mentality is that they want theirs as fast as my PC

My PC Specs are:

i5 2500k Stock speed
8GB RAM
Gigabyte H67M-UD2H-B3 motherboard
1TB HDD
Graphics card on mine is far too god for their needs hence it doesnt matter
Corsair 500W PSU
Win 7 64-bit

thats the full situation

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

A Q6600 is perfectly fine and if my Shuttle did not have some issues I would still be using a Q6600 now. Like I said get a new PSU and an OS. Even if you get a new hard drive now,all these parts can be re-used down the line.

I use a Core i3 2100 myself and I not only game but process RAW files and film scans too,and multi-task quite a bit too. When I used the Q6600,I did exactly the same thing.

In most cases it is I/O limitations which make a PC appear slower or quicker.

On top of this if a system is using a dodgy copy of Windows,has not been defragged and has loads of pre-installed crap will also be slow. Cleaning up an OS install itself can make a system more responsive.

[Stylis10]

Ive decided that im going to get a new PSU, bigger HDD and fresh install of WIN 7 64-bit.

With the current CPU and Mobo, do you think this PC would last far say another 4 years for basic uses? and student use?

in essence maybe matlab a few times a year, mainly internet and MS Office use?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The CPU should be fine for a few years IMHO,but of course the motherboard is an unknown.

[Kumagoro]

You could het a cache ssd like a crucial adrenaline for 80 quid from say amazon and that will make the computer feel a lot quicker in a way they will notice. It would probably actually feel quicker than yours if you don't have one.

[Stylis10]

im actually thinking of buying 2 SSD's (one for each PC) just to load the OS's onto and any main programs (photoshop, sony vegas and such)

Would that be worth it?

Also any ides on size of SSD to buy? i was thinking 2 60GBs

[Kumagoro]

I suggested a cache ssd as they are good for non tech people who would otherwise just fill it up

[Stylis10]

Can anyone tell me where to get the drivers for this motherboard:

Asus IPIBL-LA
I think HP call it Berkley gl8e

i cant find the drivers on wither website Asus or HP

[vinnyT]

This link, http://www.official-drivers.com/inst...FcEPfAodjUablw, should get you the drivers for your mobo.