Can I upgrade on a $300.00 USD budget?

[tuesday0180]

I currently have a

G31T-LM2 motherboard by Elite Group. It's not overclockable.
Intel E5200 2.5 ghz dual core processor
2x2 gigs 667mhz memory.

I want to upgrade, but don't want to spend more than $300.00

Is this possible? I know there are CPU+Motherboard combinations out there for around $300, but what I'm worried about is the RAM. Do I need to upgrade my slow ram if I were to buy a new mobo+cpu?

Would my low budget even allow me to get a decent upgrade or should I just wait it out?

 

[Guest]

It looks like your ram is DDR which you will have to upgrade because I have no seen any mobo that is not a P4 that uses DDR.

Let's see some other replies.

 

[Look]

If your RAM is DDR, the old 184-pin RAM, you will NEED to upgrade to 240-pin, if you want to get a better motherboard/processor. I'm sure there are a couple motherboards that still use 184-pin, but I really haven't checked. I got a Phenom II x4 955 BE and a Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 motherboard for $246 after rebate, add in 4GB of DDR3 1333 RAM and that will be right around $350. It might be overkill for what you need, and DDR3 isn't a huge step up over DDR2 from what I know.

What is your main purpose for this system?

EDIT: Firefox didn't tell me that "hat" should have been "what". Stupid lazy browser.

 

[Marco925]

He has DDR2 RAM, Not DDR

There are plenty of options for upgrading without breaking RAM compatibility.

Especially cheap Quad core upgrades with Intel's Core 2 Quad and a decent mobo for $300(Total)

Or an AMD 790FX Combination with a Phenom II. Alot of AMD Boards still use DDR2.

 

[Look]

DDR2 can work in DDR3, just at the RAMs max speed (so underclocked). Really any motherboard/CPU upgrade path can work since it is 240-pin RAM, although I would go for an upgrade if you can get a good deal on it.

 

[jesmoke]

DDR2 can work in DDR3, just at the RAMs max speed (so underclocked). Really any motherboard/CPU upgrade path can work since it is 240-pin RAM, although I would go for an upgrade if you can get a good deal on it.

DDR2 and DDR3 are incompatible so that will not work. DDR2 and DDR3 both use different voltages as well as the fact that the notches are in different positions.

 

[Josh154]

You should be able to upgrade for less than $300. I just built myself a new system and here is what i got.

Mobo $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130233

Processor $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103724

RAM $115
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

That puts you at $280 total.

 

[Look]

DDR2 and DDR3 are incompatible so that will not work. DDR2 and DDR3 both use different voltages as well as the fact that the notches are in different positions.

Oh? Thanks for clearing that up, I just assumed. Never looked into it, now I look like a fool.

 

[loneninja]

You can easily get an Athlon II X4 with a motherboard for under $200 if you don't need crossfire support, than you have at least $100 left over for new DDR3 memory. Or you could get a Phenom II X4 with a AM2+ motherboard and reuse your current DDR2 memory.

 

[Stardude82]

That is really not got that horrible of a machine. What do you use it for?

You might get more legs out of a faster hard drive or new graphics or a fresh OS install.

~$300 can buy you a lot of computer. (Especially if you sell your old parts and wait for a Dell outlet coupon.)

I've seen some really good deals on the Dell Outlet page recently.

 

[megamanx00]

One option is just to get a good P45 board, and overclock your CPU which should give you some decent performance and may hold you off till you can save enough money for a new build. Of course, getting a decent AM2+ board and an AMD Athlon II or Phenom II CPU would cost a little more but certainly provide you with a bit more performance and you can still use that DDR2 RAM.

 

[13thmonkey]

It looks like your ram is DDR which you will have to upgrade because I have no seen any mobo that is not a P4 that uses DDR.

Let's see some other replies.

FYI there were asrock boards for c2d that could use ddr or ddr2 two sockets of eacg type on the board.

 

[tuesday0180]

Hey guys, I forgot to mention my memory is DDR 2.

I mainly use my computer for gaming. I already have a good psu and a decent video card so all I need now is motherboard, cpu and maybe memory.

Here are my complete specs from Everest

Motherboard Name ECS G31T-LM2

CPU Type DualCore Intel Pentium E5200, 2500 MHz (12.5 x 200)

System Memory 4096 MB (DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM)

DIMM1: SHARETRONIC 2 GB DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz) (4-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz)

DIMM3: SHARETRONIC 2 GB DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz) (4-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz)

Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 (896 MB)

 

[saaiello]

ASUS M4A78LT-M LE AM3 AMD 780L Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131619
$64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131619

Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT25664BA1067 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820148150
$96.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148150

AMD Phenom II X4 925 Deneb 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HDX925WFGIBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103656
$139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103656

Total $301

For 300 What i put together will be a great rig you might be able to find a little better prices if you have a Micro Center around but newegg is about the best deals for the most part I would still look around to see what you can find but this is what I would do if i only had 300 for an upgrade.

Now If you wanted to you could skip going to DDR3 and stick with your DDR2 and get a little better processor but as I see it while you are buying new you might as well go to the newer technology and this way a year from now you want a little more power you can easily throw a faster processor and some faster RAM in this system.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

It looks like your ram is DDR which you will have to upgrade because I have no seen any mobo that is not a P4 that uses DDR.

Let's see some other replies.

If your RAM is DDR, the old 184-pin RAM, you will NEED to upgrade to 240-pin, if you want to get a better motherboard/processor. I'm sure there are a couple motherboards that still use 184-pin, but I really haven't checked. I got a Phenom II x4 955 BE and a Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 motherboard for $246 after rebate, add in 4GB of DDR3 1333 RAM and that will be right around $350. It might be overkill for what you need, and DDR3 isn't a huge step up over DDR2 from what I know.

What is your main purpose for this system?

EDIT: Firefox didn't tell me that "hat" should have been "what". Stupid lazy browser.

Seriously, how can his RAM possibly be DDR1 when he says it's running at 667MHz with a E5200?



To OP: When you say it's not overclockable, are you using a pre-made computer? ie. HP or Dell?

What you could do is just get a new or used 775 motherboard for $50 that will allow you to overclock. There's a guy selling a $40 750i mobo in the classifieds section IIRC.

 

[saaiello]

Seriously, how can his RAM possibly be DDR1 when he says it's running at 667MHz with a E5200?



To OP: When you say it's not overclockable, are you using a pre-made computer? ie. HP or Dell?

What you could do is just get a new or used 775 motherboard for $50 that will allow you to overclock. There's a guy selling a $40 750i mobo in the classifieds section IIRC.

2 post ago he said it was DDR2 and to be honest whoever said it was DDR is an idiot because There has never been a socket 775 board with DDR1. DDR1 died with the socket 478.

 

[shovenose]

+1 to above post. lol

 

[shovenose]

also, ur ram is already faster than it needs to be! pentium dualcore: 800mhz fsb, so u only need ddr2 400mhz. core2duo: 1066fsb: ddr2 533mhz. core2quad: 1333mhzfsb, so u need 667mhz ram. ddr stands for DUAL DATA RATE !!!

 

[Look]

2 post ago he said it was DDR2 and to be honest whoever said it was DDR is an idiot because There has never been a socket 775 board with DDR1. DDR1 died with the socket 478.

Our old family computer was a Gateway, had a P4 3.0GHz socket 775 with PC3200 DDR RAM, that was 6 years ago.

 

[saaiello]

Our old family computer was a Gateway, had a P4 3.0GHz socket 775 with PC3200 DDR RAM, that was 6 years ago.

You also said DDR2 works in a DDR3 slot so its doubtful it was a socket 775 it had DDR1

 

[Look]

You also said DDR2 works in a DDR3 slot so its doubtful it was a socket 775 it had DDR1

I make one mistake, and then everything I say isn't credible? The only reason you say that is because I corrected something you said.

Here is a link to the spec sheet: http://support.gateway.com/s/PC/R/3724/4365sp3.shtml
And here is the motherboard spec sheet: http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERBD/Intel2/102007/102007sp33.shtml

[...]Support for an Intel® Pentium® 4 processor in an LGA775 socket with an 800 or 533 MHz system bus[/...]
[...]* Four DDR SDRAM Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) sockets
* Support for DDR 400 MHz and DDR 333 MHz DIMMs
* Support for up to 4 GB of system memory[/...]

Oh damn I must be wrong again.

 

[shovenose]

No such thing as an lga775 with ddr2.

 

[shovenose]

Wow i checked out the links, lol ur righr. However, i have an explantion.
Gateway used cheaper chipset and ram but a newer cpu becuase the older 478 p4s were discontinued.
Let this statement be rephrased like so:...
No non-oem motherboards paired up Lga775 and ddr

 

[Look]

Yeah, the Foxconn boards they used is probably one of the only ones that did pair them up.

 

[Stardude82]

I say keep the RAM and get a cheap AM2+ (~$50+ for the DDR2 support, something with ACC maybe) with an AMD 435(~$75+) or a better CPU.

Very nice bump in preformance:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=66&p2=112&c=1

The RAM speed isn't going to make a big difference:
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1782/amd_phenom_ii_ddr2_vs_ddr3_performance/index11.html