Hi all, 6 years ago I built (with help from a friend, I mainly handed the tools!!!) a PC and although its working ok I am gifting myself a present of either a new pc or a upgrade where the difference would be an improvement. I will need some help choosing the components to make sure they are compatible and needed. Last time I used a forum connected to CCL computers (6 years ago) but I think now this was the place that helped me way back then. So I have 2 options an upgrade using parts from my existing pc or a new budget build. This post will be about the upgrade option: Using your template: Budget: £300 Main uses of intended build: web browsing and word processing and online forex trading. I do research and often could have 20 chrome browers open at the same time. I also need to run 3 x 24in monitors. I do NOT game or video edit Parts required: Not sure how to answer this but I would like a wireless/ bluetooth keyboard and mouse recommendations on top of your PC parts recommendations for upgrades to my existing list of parts. That's if any are worth using again and the new option is the only option! Previous build information (list details of parts): This is what I bought from CCL 6 years ago: 1 x Antec TriCool Fan - 120mm Despatched 1 1 x 320GB Western Digital Caviar Blue 3.5" Hard Disk Drive 1 x 500W Silverpower By Seasonic SP-SS500 Power Supply 1 x Xigmatek Asgard ATX Mid Tower Case 1 x Logitech U96 Optical Wheel Mouse 1 x Logitech S120 Speaker System 1 x Sony AD-7240S-0B 24x DVDRW 2 x XFX Radeon HD 4350 Low Profile 1GB 1 x Corsair ValueSelect 4GB DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel 1 x AMD Athlon II X4620 Quad Core CPU 1 x Gigabyte GA-MA785GT-UD3H AM3 Motherboard I use win 10 Monitor resolution: 3 x 24" monitors @ 1920 x 1080 Storage requirements: the smallest ssd drive I can get away with as I use the cloud for virtually all my needs. Enough I suppose for my OS and perhaps 50GB for downloads etc. will you be overclocking: no Any motherboard requirements need advice Extra information about desired system: My current pc sometimes slows down when I am loaded up with open browsers so I need speed. My graphics card(s) are playing up, the monitors begin to flicker for a min or so and then work fine all day, so I need to something about them no matter what I choose to do. So really my needs are a fast general use PC that will serve me for another 3+ years. My option 2 (a new budget build) will be a new thread so I can compare the benefits and costs to each choice. I am really thankful for all the help and advice I will receive as last time you all did a wonderful job for me and I had 6 years painless computing
To get the most bang for your buck, I would suggest holding on to most of your existing components (case, mouse, CD drive, graphics cards, PSU). These are the new components that I would buy (sorry just over budget - but I think the additional money is worth it): Motherboard: MSI 970A-G43 Plus - £64.99 CPU: AMD FX-8300 8-core CPU with cooler Memory: 16Gb Corsair DDR3 (1600) SSD: Sandisk 240Gb Z410 SSD Total cost: £334 These should give you a really good boost to performance, given your current usage profile (i.e. no gaming but plenty of data analysis). See attached image from Scan for reference.
Thanks oasked, this is really helpful. So you think my current graphics cards are ok its just that they seem to be playing up at present or at least I think they are the cause of the flickering? Anyhow this gets me lots to chew over, so again....thank you!
Without being able to see your current graphics cards, it is difficult to comment. However, given the way you use your computer, the money is better spent elsewhere. No point in having expensive graphics cards if you don't play games. In the meantime it might be worth updating to the latest graphics drivers to make sure they work ok: http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/desktop/legacy?product=legacy2&os=Windows 8 - 64
That is more like the new computer option than an upgrade though. In terms of upgrading, I would have thought more RAM, an SSD and a new GPU were the main requirements. You may want to consider a new PSU as well given it's 6 years old. You probably don't need more than 8GB of RAM. An 8GB set of what oasked suggested would set you back £53.48 at Scan The 240GB SanDisK drive is fine at £59.99 given you say most of your data is could based. For a GPU, pick whatever one has three outputs you need. Many of the latest only have HDMI/DisplayPort. But a last generation mid range card like an R7 250 would set you back around £60. That's less than £175. If you want to add a new PSU you can have a decent 500W one for £50-60. Leaving you plenty of cash for pies and pints!
Thanks BeauchN, that's a point (the cost) as with me keeping the computer for a while!!! once I am happy with my set up. Probably either a cheap boost upgrade or a new budget build makes more sense now I think a bit more about it. But since I don't want to confuse this thread for others reading this after me I'll open a new thread for a new budget build and see between the two which one is a better fit. The new build means my 16 yr old son and I could learn together this time and have some fun....plus a lot of head scratching
