Stopgap Budget Upgrades

[Restorer]

I've been out of overclocking for a long time, since I built my still-current machine in 2005 (see sig). The limits of a single core and 1 GB of RAM are starting to wear on me, so it might be time to upgrade. I plan on gutting out my main computer and putting in new parts. I'll be keeping the case, hard drive, CD drive, and video card.

Money is really tight. I had planned on a budget of $350, but that's stretching my finances, and I hadn't even considered the power supply. I'm going to wait until after Christmas, then see what's feasible.

My goal is to put together a machine that will keep me happy for 2 or 3 years, until I'm able to build a new one that will last me another 5 years (like my current one did). Obviously, the cheaper, the better. I don't game anymore - most of the work my computer does is maintaining lots of browser tabs and running poorly-designed CPU- and memory-intensive flash apps. I want my computer to support my multitasking addiction.

I'm considering:
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103699
Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

I don't know what do to about the motherboard. I'll probably hang around the classifieds and see what people are getting rid of at the end of the year. I could use some suggestions on budget motherboards just in case. I do plan to overclock, but I'll be pushing it more for budget and longevity (of usefulness) than pure performance.

 

[QuietIce]

This is just an update (if you haven't looked already) so you have an idea about the newer chipset. The FX chipsets are the best followed by the GX, then X. If you happen across a 790 series they're fine with few improvements over the newer 890 series (usually USB3 and SATA III). Any of those boards, new, are out of your budget but used might be possible as well as open box from Newegg. And while the RAM you've picked won't work, that CPU will work in AM2+ boards as well as AM3 boards. Just something else to consider while picking through the classified and open box items. You might find a sweet deal on an AM2+ 790FX board that could fit the bill better than a lower grade chipset AM3 board ...

 

[Restorer]

I worked out what I can spend and what I want in my hardware, and this is what I'm currently considering:

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 630 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103703
Motherboard: MSI 870-G45 AM3 770 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130290
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277
.................(but it's out of stock again, so I might have to find something else/similar)
Heatsink: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

I just bought the power supply today so I wouldn't miss the rebate:

PSU: Corsair 550VX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

It seems that just this level of hardware would be several times faster than my current machine. I want to put it together cheaply and hold onto it for a couple years until I can put together a higher-end machine, hopefully on the next architecture.

I find that my biggest problems with my computer now are too little memory and only one CPU core. Modest modern hardware should overcome that pretty well, right?

 

[QuietIce]

I think you'll be very happy with the upgrade you're planning.

For the RAM you might check these out. A little more expensive but it's CAS 7 instead of CAS 9 ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

 

[trents]

Research the clearance issue with the tall heat sink ram having to fit under the big CPU cooler. The rip jaws heatsink isn't tall tall but its not low profile either.

 

[QuietIce]

Research the clearance issue with the tall heat sink ram having to fit under the big CPU cooler. The rip jaws heatsink isn't tall tall but its not low profile either.

That's the main reason I try to push the Sunbeam CCT 120mm. It sits front-back instead of up-down so if you do have problems you can always put the fan in a pull position on the back side or maybe wiggle it a little so it'll fit on the front. Of course, the Sunbeam without a MIR is more expensive ...

 

[trents]

The Coolermaster hyper 212 plus will mount either up and down or front to back.

 

[QuietIce]

Didn't know that. If that's the case then there shouldn't be any clearance problems that can't be easily overcome ...

 

[Restorer]

The price went up on the CAS 9 RAM when it came back in stock, but even so: is the difference between CAS 9 and CAS 7 really worth the extra $20? I didn't think it would be nearly enough to casually notice the difference.

 

[QuietIce]

The price went up on the CAS 9 RAM when it came back in stock, but even so: is the difference between CAS 9 and CAS 7 really worth the extra $20? I didn't think it would be nearly enough to casually notice the difference.

If you want to stay inexpensive DDR3-1333CL7 would be a better choice, then ...