CPU + Motherboard + RAM + Cooler Advice

[amjedm]

My brother would like to upgrade his PC (current spec is AM x2 5000, 8GB (I think) RAM, Asus motherboard, several hard drives, etc. in an Antec NSK4000 case.

He would like to upgrade to a newer motherboard and CPU. The only thing he has specified is 16GB or more of RAM (and as DDR3 is the cheapest?) best to choose that?

Main uses - testing Windows, VM Ware, virtualisation etc.

Any recommendations (please)?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

What motherboard do you have??

Is it AM2+ for example??

Is he gaming and what PSU does he have??

What is his budget??

[jackjack]

budget??

how about this one
AMD FM1 AMD Liano A8-3870K (Radeon HD6550D) (3.0Ghz,4x1Mb) AMD FM1
Mobo. AMD FM1 Asus F1A75-I Deluxe AMD Socket FM1
Memory DDR3 PATRIOT PSD3 16G 1333 KH (2x8G) DDR3
Check you local store for the price

[amjedm]

What motherboard do you have??

Is it AM2+ for example??

Is he gaming and what PSU does he have??

What is his budget??

Current motherboard is either AM2 or AM2+, not sure so will have to have a peak at the motherboard.

No gaming at all - just apps as listed. Current PSU is a rebranded Enermax 430W if I remember correctly but I've got a couple of spare Antec NeoHE along with a NorthQ one.

Budget is £300 max.

budget??

how about this one
AMD FM1 AMD Liano A8-3870K (Radeon HD6550D) (3.0Ghz,4x1Mb) AMD FM1
Mobo. AMD FM1 Asus F1A75-I Deluxe AMD Socket FM1
Memory DDR3 PATRIOT PSD3 16G 1333 KH (2x8G) DDR3
Check you local store for the price

Budget is max £300.

I've had a look at some kit at Scan but not sure on exact CPU + motherboard. I was looking at AM3.

I take it the FM1 is the newer AMD processors?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Check what your motherboard model is! You might be able to plonk in a 125W TDP Phenom II X4 965BE for around £76:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-HDZ965FB.../dp/B002SRQ214

Alternatively,a Phenom II X6 1045T for around £97 would be probably a great choice for the price too:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-p...che-95w-retail

[amjedm]

Check what your motherboard model is! You might be able to plonk in a 125W TDP Phenom II X4 965BE for around £76:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-HDZ965FB.../dp/B002SRQ214

Alternatively,a Phenom II X6 1045T for around £97 would be probably a great choice for the price too:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-p...che-95w-retail

Main reason he wants to upgrade is for the RAM. He currently has 8GB but wants at least 16GB and DDR2 is very expensive.

With the upgraded newer system overall speed will increase as well?

[amjedm]

Settled on FM1 as it's the newer one

So you can you please advise one of each?


Motherboard - http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-.../815/1001/1000

CPU - http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-...iple-quad-core - will triple be ok or best go for quad?

Cooler - http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-...ti-cpu-coolers

RAM - http://www.scan.co.uk/products/16gb-...1-11-11-30-15v (2 x 8GB - allow future expansion) or edit: motherboards are dual channel so cant' handle quad I think


Don't mind ordering elsewhere but I get free delivery from Scan and I like to order from them.

Integrated graphics prefered by the way as we don't have separate GPU currently. Otherwise, please advise a suitable not too expensive GPU.

Thank you.

[mikeo01]

For the price of the similarly matching A8 3870K, you could get a Phenom II x6 1045T on Scan for cheaper and it does perform better, especially for virtual and VWMare software. I would personally buy a cheaper AM3+ 760G chipset board (onboard graphics) to support newer AM3+ processors in the future for upgrades.

Motherboards

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-7...-dvi-d-micro-a (£34.51)

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-...e-20-(x16)-atx (£54.92)

Processor

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-p...che-95w-retail (£97.71).


Memory runs natively at 1333mhz for AM3 processors (Correct me if I am wrong). You may as well get 1333mhz dual channel if you don't plan to up its frequency.



But with the links you've posted it depends what your looking for, I would go with this one just because it supports SATA III

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigab...s-on-board-atx

The CPU, A8 3870K is the best choice. But for that price you could just get a Phenom II X6 which is better?

[jackjack]

check this out

Processor : amd-a8-3870k-black-edition-s-fm1
CPU Cooler : arctic-cooling-freezer-13-pro-extreme
Mobo : gigabyte-ga-a75-ud4h
RAM : 16gb-(2x8gb)-corsair-ddr3-vengeance-jet-black
Total under £300

Hope it helps

[amjedm]

check this out

Processor : amd-a8-3870k-black-edition-s-fm1
CPU Cooler : arctic-cooling-freezer-13-pro-extreme
Mobo : gigabyte-ga-a75-ud4h
RAM : 16gb-(2x8gb)-corsair-ddr3-vengeance-jet-black
Total under £300

Hope it helps

Many thanks

You've saved me a fair bit of time - finding an ATX motherboard...

Will have a look at some reviews of the Arctic 13 and then decide about the cooler. He currently has the Arctic 64 Pro and it's quiet so he likes that

[amjedm]

I've got the following spare PSUs

2 x Antec NeoHE 430W (I know at least one had problems with Asus motherboards and coming out of sleep mode )
1 x NorthQ 400W

Will either of these be ok for use with the system and a 4 pin to 8 pin converter for the motherboard?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

For VM work,the Phenom II X6 1045T is the best choice, and one of my mates uses one for such work. The greater number of cores of the Phenom II X6 is useful for such work.

[amjedm]

For VM work,the Phenom II X6 1045T is the best choice, and one of my mates uses one for such work. The greater number of cores of the Phenom II X6 is useful for such work.

I'll mention it again to him.

I think he said VM only uses or supports four cores.


Edit: if he went for the Phenom, which motherboard would you recommend? I can only see one ATX with onboard graphics - http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-...cs-on-board-at

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I'll mention it again to him.

I think he said VM only uses or supports four cores.


Edit: if he went for the Phenom, which motherboard would you recommend? I can only see one ATX with onboard graphics - http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-...cs-on-board-at

The host OS also needs a core at least,and if you are running multiple VMs,having the extra cores is useful.

I would look at this motherboard:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigab...-%28x16%29-atx

It uses the 970 chipset and had USB3.0 and SATA3.0 ports,although it won't be good as the more expensive motherboards for overclocking.

A graphics card like a GT630 or an HD6570 would do the job:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-p...i-i-d-sub-hdmi

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-a...-dvi-i-hdmi-lp

Both cards are great for general media dencoding although the GT630 should be better under Linux AFAIK.

OTH,a GT520 or HD6450 might do the job too.

[Bambooz]

I've got the following spare PSUs

2 x Antec NeoHE 430W (I know at least one had problems with Asus motherboards and coming out of sleep mode )
1 x NorthQ 400W

Will either of these be ok for use with the system and a 4 pin to 8 pin converter for the motherboard?

The Antec NeoHE 430W is Seasonic OEM (I've got one of those myself somewhere). Should be fine. I personally count NorthQ as noname crap (complete hit & miss quality).
There's usually no need for an 8pin converter. The 8pin "EPS" connector is only for really high-wattage CPUs or if you want to overclock like mad on top of that. The adapter wouldn't really make sense anyways, as it simply can't magically shove more amps through the original 4pin connector you're adapting from

The 4pin 12V connector for the CPU is rated for 192W max., the 8pin EPS12V connector for 336W.
Even a Phenom II X6 (125W) would work with just the 4pin one, unless you try to seriously overclock it (could get pretty close to the limit of what the 4pin can handle).

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The Phenom II X6 1045T has a lower 95W TDP CPU. My mate runs one with an HD4670 off a Silverpower Gorilla 400W(Seasonic OEM):

http://forums.hexus.net/pc-hardware/...ml#post2214293