Upgrade Computer - suggest please?

[Ice_Black]

It is time for upgrade, my desktop PC is pretty old now.

Current Spec:
AMD Phenom II X4 945 3GHz
4.0GB Dual-Channel DDR2
ATI Radeon HD 5670
120GB Samsung SSD (for OS)
1TB Samsung Hard Drive
Motherboard: ASUSTeK Computer INC. M3A78-T
CORSAIR HX 520W MODULAR PSU
OS: Windows 8.1

I would like to purchase hardware from Scan, I want to upgrade a Asus Motherboard, i7 CPU and 6 or 16GB RAM. Which hardware do you recommends?

My budget is around £400-450 if possible

Video Encoding, Web Development, VirtualBox, etc.

I don't play games..

[Ice_Black]

Is Is Asus Maximus VII Hero Intel Z97 Motherboard overkill that I don't play games?

[MrJim]

Is Is Asus Maximus VII Hero Intel Z97 Motherboard overkill that I don't play games?

It may be, but it depends on the features you need. Do you plan to overclock? An i7 CPU like the 4790K might suit your needs if so, but if you're not overclocking, a Xeon E3 1230 V3 might be a cheaper alternative 8 thread CPU. You would need a separate graphics card though.

The Hero Z97 is a nice motherboard, but is gamer-oriented. There are definitely cheaper Z97 options though.

[Ice_Black]

It may be, but it depends on the features you need. Do you plan to overclock? An i7 CPU like the 4790K might suit your needs if so, but if you're not overclocking, a Xeon E3 1230 V3 might be a cheaper alternative 8 thread CPU. You would need a separate graphics card though.

The Hero Z97 is a nice motherboard, but is gamer-oriented. There are definitely cheaper Z97 options though.

I don't do overclocking.

Could you suggest me which reliable motherboard do you recommend if I go with Xeon E3 1230 V3?

A motherboard with 5+ sata ports and a few USB including USB3.

[KeyboardDemon]

If you can find one you could probably get an Phenom IIX6 1100T(HDE00ZFBK6DGR),3.3GHz,125W,rev.E0,SocketAM3,6-Core which I think is about as far as you can go with that mobo, anything more would need a new mobo which is more of a rebuild than an upgrade.

[MrJim]

I don't do overclocking.

Could you suggest me which reliable motherboard do you recommend if I go with Xeon E3 1230 V3?

A motherboard with 5+ sata ports and a few USB including USB3.

The Asus Z97-K supports 6 SATA III ports & Xeon CPUs:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-...b-dvi-hdmi-atx

It would give you the option of overclocking with a different CPU at a later date. If you can make do with 4 SATA ports, you could save a bit & go for an H97 motherboard instead...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Some virtualisation options will need motherboard support too. Have you considered getting a Phenom II X6 as an upgrade for your current system??

Even then have you considered an FX8320E?? You could spend the money saved on another SSD for the various images and more RAM.

[Bonebreaker777]

Some virtualisation options will need motherboard support too. Have you considered getting a Phenom II X6 as an upgrade for your current system??

Even then have you considered an FX8320E?? You could spend the money saved on another SSD for the various images and more RAM.

CAT is right. Try to upgrade your CPU (+2 cores with Phenom II x6, sadly can't see the FX CPUs in the supported CPU list) and then more RAM and/or SSD.

Phenom II 1100 T (3.3Ghz) for £111. Phenom II 1090 T (3.2Ghz) for £105. Phenom II 1075 T (3.0Ghz) for £80 and Phenom II 1055 T (2.8Ghz) for £65.

Prices for SSD with capacity 120/128GB would be £40, for 240/256GB would be £75 and for 480/512GB would be around £150.

RAM would come about 2GB for £10, 4GB for £15 or 8GB for £35.