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Upgrading a Bought Computer

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  • Computers
  • Hewlett Packard
  • Components
Last response: in Components
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October 13, 2014 8:28:25 AM

Hello Tom's Hardware,

Two years ago I got the HP P6-2136 and slowly upgraded it with a Radeon 7770 and a Corsair 430W PSU.

Recently, it's been having problems, and I believe the motherboard to be failing, so I'm looking to upgrade it. With the help of a friend, I've decided on this build where the only three components I'd be buying are the FX 8320, ASROCK 970, and the case. The rest of the components (from the hard drive to the RAM) would be supplied from my old computer.

PC part picker is showing no real compatibility issues, but I've heard that the motherboard doesn't provide enough power for overclocking.

I'm not looking to OC, so would it be perfectly fine with the stock FX 8320?

All help would be appreciated.
Thank you.

More about : upgrading bought computer

October 13, 2014 9:03:27 AM

TOT_tomdora said:
Hello Tom's Hardware,

Two years ago I got the HP P6-2136 and slowly upgraded it with a Radeon 7770 and a Corsair 430W PSU.

Recently, it's been having problems, and I believe the motherboard to be failing, so I'm looking to upgrade it. With the help of a friend, I've decided on this build where the only three components I'd be buying are the FX 8320, ASROCK 970, and the case. The rest of the components (from the hard drive to the RAM) would be supplied from my old computer.

PC part picker is showing no real compatibility issues, but I've heard that the motherboard doesn't provide enough power for overclocking.

I'm not looking to OC, so would it be perfectly fine with the stock FX 8320?

All help would be appreciated.
Thank you.


You should be fine at stock.

Everything seems to be in order. Is this for gaming? If it is I recommend getting 1600 MHZ Cas 9 Sticks of 2x4 GB RAM kit.

And the CX line of PSU's are poorly made, I recommend switching out, but if it isn't giving you any problems it should be fine, that PSU isn't made for OC anyways.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1804779/power-su...

take a look at this.

That CX is tier 3 and that is a low tier.
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October 13, 2014 9:06:13 AM

Newbbuilder11 said:


You should be fine at stock.

Everything seems to be in order. Is this for gaming? If it is I recommend getting 1600 MHZ Cas 9 Sticks of 2x4 GB RAM kit.



Yeah, it's for gaming.

What difference will teh 1600 GHz RAM make vs the 1333? Will it be significant enough to warrant the money? Because it's another $80 if I get it...
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October 13, 2014 9:12:09 AM

That CPU will work in that mobo. And you are correct, the mobo is not designed for a bunch of overclocking.
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October 13, 2014 9:14:09 AM

TOT_tomdora said:
Newbbuilder11 said:


You should be fine at stock.

Everything seems to be in order. Is this for gaming? If it is I recommend getting 1600 MHZ Cas 9 Sticks of 2x4 GB RAM kit.



Yeah, it's for gaming.

What difference will teh 1600 GHz RAM make vs the 1333? Will it be significant enough to warrant the money? Because it's another $80 if I get it...


Faster ram means faster boot in. Anything higher than 1600 MHz you will see no difference, but 1333 is old for today's standards, so i recommend 1600mhz.
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October 13, 2014 9:16:03 AM

TOT_tomdora said:
Newbbuilder11 said:


You should be fine at stock.

Everything seems to be in order. Is this for gaming? If it is I recommend getting 1600 MHZ Cas 9 Sticks of 2x4 GB RAM kit.



Yeah, it's for gaming.

What difference will teh 1600 GHz RAM make vs the 1333? Will it be significant enough to warrant the money? Because it's another $80 if I get it...


Regarding the RAM: the speed of the memory won't make a lot of difference for gaming, but the quantity (8GB) Will help with everything.
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October 13, 2014 9:20:02 AM

Newbbuilder11 said:

Faster ram means faster boot in. Anything higher than 1600 MHz you will see no difference, but 1333 is old for today's standards, so i recommend 1600mhz.


But in gaming, there's no real difference? Because boot up time isn't terribly important to me, for the eighty dollars it costs...
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October 13, 2014 9:31:39 AM

You won't ever notice the differance in 1333 and 1600.
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October 13, 2014 9:33:36 AM

Alright, so it sounds like what I'm planning on getting is a good build for gaming. Thank you all for your help!
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October 13, 2014 9:45:57 AM

TOT_tomdora said:
Alright, so it sounds like what I'm planning on getting is a good build for gaming. Thank you all for your help!


Yep, it will serve you well. You will see a nice performance increase with the 8320 CPU.
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October 13, 2014 9:47:22 AM

nostall said:
TOT_tomdora said:
Alright, so it sounds like what I'm planning on getting is a good build for gaming. Thank you all for your help!


Yep, it will serve you well. You will see a nice performance increase with the 8320 CPU.


I imagine it'll feel like the upgrade from my Dragon Touch Y88 to my Nexus 7 :p 
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