REBUILD/UPGRADE My old PC within my budget

[ajay_raj1988]

Hi

I have a PC with the following configuration for past 4 years. But now i feel to make a change. My budget is very low so i need advice whether i really need to REBUILD THE PC or just UPGRADE SOME PARTS.

Intel Genuine DG31PR Mobo

Intel Core2Duo 2.66Ghz Processor

2Gb DDR2 RAM

250 Gb HDD

SoundBlaster Audigy Value Live

450W HYTEC PSU

SAMSUNG HD LCD 1440x900


My basic usage is GAMING(whole lot of Gaming. Going to purchase a new Graphics Card soon), watching HD movies, encoding x264 HD movies, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, Microsoft SQL SERVER 2008 R2.

Some say just upgrade the RAM, some say i need a new processor, some suggest i need to rebuild it new selling the old one

If i need to just upgrade some parts please mention them.

My budget is around USD $300-350 or INR Rs.15000 for REBUILDING PC AFTER I SELL THE OLDER ONE.

Preferred websites are: http://www.flipkart.com/ OR http://www.ebay.in/

Country: INDIA EDIT: OS:- Windows 7 Ultimate

 

[Petrofsky]

You don't say what your OS is, but if it can handle it, I'd get another 2G of RAM immediately. You have two DIMM slots. If only one is populated now, try to get another stick exactly like the one you have and put it in. If you have two 1G sticks now, get rid of them and get either a 4G or two 2Gs, DDR2 800, which is the highest frequency your mobo can do. Maybe these Kingstons, the only ones with a name I recognize on e-bay India.

You also need a quad-core processor. There is a list of compatible CPUs at Intel. Pick the highest quad you can both find and afford. Be aware that you might have to flash your BIOS for the new CPU. That same chart shows you what BIOS revision you need.

 

[ajay_raj1988]

You don't say what your OS is, but if it can handle it, I'd get another 2G of RAM immediately. You have two DIMM slots. If only one is populated now, try to get another stick exactly like the one you have and put it in. If you have two 1G sticks now, get rid of them and get either a 4G or two 2Gs, DDR2 800, which is the highest frequency your mobo can do. Maybe these Kingstons, the only ones with a name I recognize on e-bay India.

You also need a quad-core processor. There is a list of compatible CPUs at Intel. Pick the highest quad you can both find and afford. Be aware that you might have to flash your BIOS for the new CPU. That same chart shows you what BIOS revision you need.

I have only 1 stick of 2Gb DDR2 Ram

Can i have Core i processors & DDR3 RAM on my MOBO?

If yes i reached the following results for RAM :

http://www.flipkart.com/computers/components/ram/corsair/itmd2ryp2xmmqmsy?pid=ramd2ryp8crenwzw&_l=mzQmrlkCJv0IjldH8nGLKg--&_r=h6uKdqWBJZPRHxB9yQljew--&ref=9a7c5a37-8574-43d8-954a-92626532239d

http://www.flipkart.com/computers/components/ram/corsair/itmd2rypbx4eehaf?pid=ramd2rypmvwcek6e&_l=sQAdpMbziS0EZ_yHohYGtg--&_r=h6uKdqWBJZPRHxB9yQljew--&ref=9a7c5a37-8574-43d8-954a-92626532239d


Following for MOBO:

http://www.flipkart.com/computers/components/motherboard/gigabyte/itmd5rrrzwpndajr?pid=mbdd5rrrbvqbxezm&_l=sQAdpMbziS0EZ_yHohYGtg--&_r=4i2sGH4JnPfN3hq4fLvWpw--&ref=a093f8be-f62c-4a94-a264-8839fca7757c

 

[Petrofsky]

The list of compatible CPUs for that mobo does not show an i3. Core 2 is as far as it goes. You would need DDR3 RAM; I would get the cheaper set. Your DDR2 becomes useless.

I guess you want to keep your operating system secret.

 

[ajay_raj1988]

The list of compatible CPUs for that mobo does not show an i3. Core 2 is as far as it goes. You would need DDR3 RAM; I would get the cheaper set. Your DDR2 becomes useless.

I guess you want to keep your operating system secret.

Hey buddy thanks for the reply & yes i edited the first post & put OS (Windows 7 32bit)in that just after you asked for.

OK so i guess now i dont need to change the MOBO & DDR3 isnt supported. Now the question is that do i really need a processor change or a 4Gb ram would do good according to the usage i specified(Latest Games, HD movies etc.).

If i need a processor change can you just specify one or two among the one's in the list.

 

[Petrofsky]

Hey buddy thanks for the reply & yes i edited the first post & put OS (Windows 7 32bit)in that just after you asked for.

OK so i guess now i dont need to change the MOBO & DDR3 isnt supported. Now the question is that do i really need a processor change or a 4Gb ram would do good according to the usage i specified(Latest Games, HD movies etc.).

If i need a processor change can you just specify one or two among the one's in the list.

Ah. Didn't see that. W7U. Thanks.

You need all new everything, but you say you can't spend a lot of money right now. The memory upgrade might actually do nothing to improve gaming, but Window 7 runs better with more memory. As for gaming, it depends on the game, but a quad-core would help with some of them, and you don't seem to want to buy a graphics card. I did look at one or two of the CPUs on Intel's list, but it got tedious, and it's something you can do for yourself. Just search your preferred vendor's site with the CPU model numbers starting at the top and working down. The ones I looked at were like $369, and with the memory that's way over budget.

 

[ajay_raj1988]

Ah. Didn't see that. W7U. Thanks.

You need all new everything, but you say you can't spend a lot of money right now. The memory upgrade might actually do nothing to improve gaming, but Window 7 runs better with more memory. As for gaming, it depends on the game, but a quad-core would help with some of them, and you don't seem to want to buy a graphics card. I did look at one or two of the CPUs on Intel's list, but it got tedious, and it's something you can do for yourself. Just search your preferred vendor's site with the CPU model numbers starting at the top and working down. The ones I looked at were like $369, and with the memory that's way over budget.

I am buying new graphics card http://www.flipkart.com/computers/components/graphics-card/zotac/itmd4uwppzzh4huz?pid=grcd4rc6zs6ducmz&_l=5jNg55CVPh%208pSot8RnZxw--&_r=Sgwa2K0hbXdft_XIaKgMwg--&ref=36217db3-cb5b-456c-9c2b-1bad01721c4d

I think i will just go for extra 2Gb ram only. But i hate 64bit OS. So maybe just go for 1Gb extra ram.

Anyways Thanks a lot for your effort.