Wanting to upgrade. What can I get?

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Piesang

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Hi guys

I want to upgrade my PC.

At the moment I have the following:
Intel 2.8Ghz HT CPU
2 x 512MB DDR400
MSI Motherboard (Not sure what model)

I suppose I need to buy a new Motherboard and CPU but I want to try and keep the Ram.

What can I buy for about R3000?
 
hmmm, i know im gonna get shot down, but i would think an amd 3600+ for like R1200 and a R800 mobo, then you can spend R1000 or so on ram, OR do what im doing, wait for the Q2 of this year(april time) and get a intel e4300 which will cost +- R1200 and get your self a mobo for R1000 (prices of mobo will drop) and then im sure you'll have a little extra chash for ram (you can get the cheapest ddr2 533 ram coz the e4300 only runs at 200mhz).
 
Rather save up and buy something decent.

Intel Core2 Duo E6400 or prefibly E6600
Gigabyte DS4 MB
2x1Gb DDR2-800
should be just over R6000
 
spiderz said:
Rather save up and buy something decent.

Intel Core2 Duo E6400 or prefibly E6600
Gigabyte DS4 MB
2x1Gb DDR2-800
should be just over R6000
Click to expand...

ok call me stupid or did you read that he wants a system for 3000 bucks? if he could afford 6 grand then he would say so. The amd 3600+ is an awesome little processor, and the e4300 is amazing, any thing better would only free a few ms in opening programs or free some fps in games
 
If you really want to keep the ram (Which is a perfectly good idea) then go for an AMD 939 setup. You can get yourself a nice X-2 chip for it, and the Asus A8N-e board goes for about R800 on computersonly.co.za, its a good board.

You are going to have money left over though. So you might want to sell the ram and get two 1GB sticks. But then you are limited to DDR400.

If you go AM-2 (Which uses DDR-2) then you have to sell the RAM and might end up going over the budget, but not by much.
 
I really wouldn't buy AMD chips at the moment - not great value for money compared to the much more powerful Core2 Duo processor. R3 000 for a Core2 Duo system is practically impossible, but if you're willing to go slightly over your budget, I can suggest the following:

Intel Core2 Duo E6300 @ R1909.11 (http://www.prophecy.co.za/-c-19_20_24_271.html)

Gigabyte 945GM-S2 motherboard @ R903.22 (http://www.prophecy.co.za/gigabyte-lakeport-i945gich7-express-chipset-socket-lga77-p-2402.html)

2x1024mb DDR2-667 @ R2100.16 (http://www.prophecy.co.za/1024mb-ddr2667-pc25300-years-warranty-p-2295.html)

That's around R4912.49 including VAT (probably a few hundred rand cheaper when you actually buy it) for what I would call an excellent system upgrade.

The motherboard has the following neat features - I love it for the price:

GIGABYTE® "Lakeport G" i945G+ICH7 Express Chipset - Socket LGA77 for Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor, 1066/800/533MHz FSB, 4xDual Channel DDR2 667, Realtek RTL8111B Gigabit Ethernet controller, Intel High Definition 8 Channels Audio, SATA 3Gb/s interface
 
Thanks for all the help guys. This is all much needed info.

What I can tell you is that I only use my Desktop PC for Recordings and audio work. And then the normal Office applications and internet. No gaming at all.

So I don't need a decent graphics card. I must say, I think the Core 2 Duo would be a nice one but like you guys said, then it is going to go over my budget. I don't want to spend R6000 or more on a PC for the office/studio.;)
 
try and get core 2 :)

3k for cpu and mobo add another 2k for ddr 800 ram :)

5k needed

trust me an overclocked e6300 with 1 gig ddr 800 or 2 gig would be for studio work thingies

but if its just work, rather buy amd cheaper and you can use your ddr 400 ram
 
i think an amd system would best suit his needs, as he is only gonna be doing things like mirosoft word and excel, and maybe play the odd song, thus with an amd system be can do those things, but at a much lower cost
 
What kind of audio recording? Might help to know your exact needs.

I assume you're upgrading because you need more horsepower for audio recording, is that the case?

Piesang said:
Thanks for all the help guys. This is all much needed info.

What I can tell you is that I only use my Desktop PC for Recordings and audio work. And then the normal Office applications and internet. No gaming at all.

So I don't need a decent graphics card. I must say, I think the Core 2 Duo would be a nice one but like you guys said, then it is going to go over my budget. I don't want to spend R6000 or more on a PC for the office/studio.;)
Click to expand...
 
n1hilist said:
What kind of audio recording? Might help to know your exact needs.

I assume you're upgrading because you need more horsepower for audio recording, is that the case?
Click to expand...

I do CD recordings for reselling.

My current destkop PC was fine but it's getting slower and slower. It works perfectly for CD recordings. It's just not as fast as it was. Maybe if I format it again (haven't done it since November 2005) it will run like it should.
 
Piesang said:
I do CD recordings for reselling.

My current destkop PC was fine but it's getting slower and slower. It works perfectly for CD recordings. It's just not as fast as it was. Maybe if I format it again (haven't done it since November 2005) it will run like it should.
Click to expand...

Well then it sounds like an AMD should be fine. You can keep your RAM and spend less than R3000 easily, about R2000 is all you need for the board and chip.

The Core2 doesn't sound practical, the cheapest chip alone is R1900, then you have to get a new board and expensive new DDRII ram.
 
Piesang said:
I do CD recordings for reselling.

My current destkop PC was fine but it's getting slower and slower. It works perfectly for CD recordings. It's just not as fast as it was. Maybe if I format it again (haven't done it since November 2005) it will run like it should.
Click to expand...

Format and get a clean OS on the PC again. Save the money for a Core2Duo.
Honestly, buying anything else at this stage is like shooting yourself in the foot. (you'll have to upgrade again)
Maybe just get another 512Mb ram for the current system, might help. (install the ram before you reinstall windows)

Edit: (errg, you're already on 1gb, sorry!)
 
Yeah trya frsh install, failing that I woudl go for a cheap AMD. Not sure what you mean by CD-recording but if you mean music production then Core2 or AMD it's not going to make a difference. If you mean in actual burning of CD's you'll see no difference between your current rig and a new one.
But for 3K C2D is out of the question so dont' even give that idea the time of day.
 
Geezzzz guys.

I appreciate all the feedback. Thanks. I think I'll first do the format thingy and dismantle my whole PC and clean it inside and out. Then I'll have a look to see what's going on. If I'm not satisfied then I'll just close my eyes and get myself a Core 2 Duo.:D ;)
 
dude your currect pc should be fine for burning cd's

heck even a semptron would the job just as well :)
 
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