- Jan 7, 2009
- 2,447
- 0
- 19,790
Okay, here's the situation.
Windows 7 build 7000 x64 (I've heard that running a 64 bit OS is actually a lot less more effective with a weak machine, such as mine... I'm completely willing to go between a 64 and 32 for the time being, so would anyone be willing to clear this up with me?)
It's an HP 1650y junker I bought cheap 20 months back, and the only changes from stock is the video card and additional HDD.
However hardware is as follows:
I'm running a Pentium D 820 @ 2.8 Ghz, 200x14, 800 FSB, and 2 MB L2 @ 1.2V (though apparently Intel says it should be 1.4V)
Ati Radeon 4670 @ 512 GDDR3 @ stock speed of 750/1000.
80 GB HDD
250 GB HDD
2x512 MB DDR2 533 Mhz @ 4-4-4-12
300 Watt power supply
Dual display, 2x 1280x1024
Simple $20 stereo speakers
Heat isn't an issue (for the time being, will overclock and possibly overvolt the card depending on how smoothly I can go without my power supply failing).
Manufacturer doesn't even have my MOBO on their site... My bios does not support overclocking, but I may or may not get a new MOBO this year.
Anything I'm missing, just tell me.
My dilemma:
I'd rather get both, however someone else is purchasing it for me, and so has thus essentially given the following options.
I abuse my small hard drives, always near full, and clearing out every 2 months. I just don't have enough space for my use.
With getting a 1 TB drive, I could hold off for quite a while space-wise, and remove both of my old inefficient HDDs, hopefully reducing strain on my weak power supply, and just keeping them for a back up.
I want a single-drive solution. I find it annoying managing 2 separate drives.
OR
I also notice constant disk thrashing (which is quite annoying), slowing my general performance with any RAM hungry program. I could go grab a 1x2 GB DDR2 800 Mhz RAM stick (running the single stick at 533, MOBO max it seems, though I may be wrong), likely using less power than my old 2 sticks (Made by Hyundai electronics, 28 months ago). Also already having a single 2 GB stick on hand for when I finally get a MOBO that supports 4 GB+ (current only supports a max of 2 GB, and 2 sticks) would make it a easier upgrade when the time comes.
My general use is internet browsing, were the extra RAM would be useless. However I do like to game, and I generally like modern games, requiring more than 1 GB. e.g. I can play Oblivion at max settings smoothly, how Fallout 3 at max can get a little slow at max settings. Would like more effective running on games like Far Cry 2, Tom Clancy's Hawx, TC's EndWar (soon as I find my mic...), Witcher etc.
I hope to be completely non-reliant on my consoles by 3 months. The mouse is for me.
So, great gurus and gods of Tom's Hardware, what would your suggestion be?
I need em both, but at this time I can only get 1, so...
RAM or HDD?
Sorry for being so wordy.
Side note: has anybody tried a 3x crossfire with the 4670? Getting more LCDs for a better multi-display isn't an issue for me.
Windows 7 build 7000 x64 (I've heard that running a 64 bit OS is actually a lot less more effective with a weak machine, such as mine... I'm completely willing to go between a 64 and 32 for the time being, so would anyone be willing to clear this up with me?)
It's an HP 1650y junker I bought cheap 20 months back, and the only changes from stock is the video card and additional HDD.
However hardware is as follows:
I'm running a Pentium D 820 @ 2.8 Ghz, 200x14, 800 FSB, and 2 MB L2 @ 1.2V (though apparently Intel says it should be 1.4V)
Ati Radeon 4670 @ 512 GDDR3 @ stock speed of 750/1000.
80 GB HDD
250 GB HDD
2x512 MB DDR2 533 Mhz @ 4-4-4-12
300 Watt power supply
Dual display, 2x 1280x1024
Simple $20 stereo speakers
Heat isn't an issue (for the time being, will overclock and possibly overvolt the card depending on how smoothly I can go without my power supply failing).
Manufacturer doesn't even have my MOBO on their site... My bios does not support overclocking, but I may or may not get a new MOBO this year.
Anything I'm missing, just tell me.
My dilemma:
I'd rather get both, however someone else is purchasing it for me, and so has thus essentially given the following options.
I abuse my small hard drives, always near full, and clearing out every 2 months. I just don't have enough space for my use.
With getting a 1 TB drive, I could hold off for quite a while space-wise, and remove both of my old inefficient HDDs, hopefully reducing strain on my weak power supply, and just keeping them for a back up.
I want a single-drive solution. I find it annoying managing 2 separate drives.
OR
I also notice constant disk thrashing (which is quite annoying), slowing my general performance with any RAM hungry program. I could go grab a 1x2 GB DDR2 800 Mhz RAM stick (running the single stick at 533, MOBO max it seems, though I may be wrong), likely using less power than my old 2 sticks (Made by Hyundai electronics, 28 months ago). Also already having a single 2 GB stick on hand for when I finally get a MOBO that supports 4 GB+ (current only supports a max of 2 GB, and 2 sticks) would make it a easier upgrade when the time comes.
My general use is internet browsing, were the extra RAM would be useless. However I do like to game, and I generally like modern games, requiring more than 1 GB. e.g. I can play Oblivion at max settings smoothly, how Fallout 3 at max can get a little slow at max settings. Would like more effective running on games like Far Cry 2, Tom Clancy's Hawx, TC's EndWar (soon as I find my mic...), Witcher etc.
I hope to be completely non-reliant on my consoles by 3 months. The mouse is for me.
So, great gurus and gods of Tom's Hardware, what would your suggestion be?
I need em both, but at this time I can only get 1, so...
RAM or HDD?
Sorry for being so wordy.
Side note: has anybody tried a 3x crossfire with the 4670? Getting more LCDs for a better multi-display isn't an issue for me.
800Mhz RAM generally goes no lower than 533 I think. Buying RAM for the board otherwise seems a waste.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram