Worth replacing, or just keep it? ($300-$400)

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Maxor1

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Dec 12, 2011
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AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ 2.1 GHz Dual-Core
MSI MS-7253 k9vgm-v motherboard (am2+)
4 gigs DDR2 Ram
Older Radeon 2008/2009 era graphics card I think its a 4670 with weird memory and clock speed, I can't read any model numbers off of it that specifically place it in a search and gets pegged as a couple of different cards by cpu-z and various other hardware tests. (yes I should have a better idea than that what I stuck in a computer 4 years ago, but between driver auto updates and bloatware removal it isn't exactly identifiable.)
Optical reader, and a
250 gig Sata 1.5 hard drive.

This is a secondary system used for browsing the web, watching videos, and light gaming. Occasional homework as well.

For $300 to $400 is it worth replacing from a performance standpoint? If so what would you guys suggest for a build in that range?
If I can't get a significant performance upgrade from that price point the $300 goes to concert and soccer tickets as well as a larger second hard drive for this system, and a couple of nights out with the GF.

If going with a self built system new egg and microcenter are preferred.
If going with a prebuilt can order from anywhere.
 
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sosofm

sosofm

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Feb 25, 2009
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MOBO : ASRock H61M-VS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241
CPU : Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078
RAM : Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146748
HDD : Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769
GPU : SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102952
PSU : CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026
TOTAL : $402.94 and 378$ after mail in rebates.
If you allready have a good PSU the price is 350$.
 
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boiler1990

boiler1990

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Dec 21, 2009
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^+1. The i3 is a great bargain - I use mine for high-end gaming and it performs quite well.
 
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Maxor1

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Doesn't look to bad.
I do need a PSU as I don't think I want to trust a 5 y/o power supply with a new system.
Where is the OS cost in your build?
I also don't see a case. While a cheap case is only $30 or so that is around 7% of the total price.
The $402.94 isn't really good either the $400 is a hard upper limit with closer to $300 preferred.
Is there a card reader and optical disk in there that I am missing?
 
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sosofm

sosofm

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This is an AMD build.
MOBO : ASRock A55M-HVS FM1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157277
CPU : AMD A4-3300 Llano 2.5GHz Socket FM1 65W DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6410D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103957
RAM : Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146748
PSU : CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026
DVD-RW : SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151244
CASE : NZXT Source 210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146075
OS : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
TOTAL : $345.93 and 336$ after rebates.
Use your old HDD.
If reuse your old case then you can buy a 500GB HDD.
 
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Maxor1

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What parts Sosofm? In this case it is definitely a secondary pc beater. that has already been canned to a certain point for my main pc build. It has a couple of decent sata cables and a molex to stat power adaptor that are usable. One side panel is dented enough that the case fan on that side lost a blade when someone's knee went into the side of the case, and so that fan is currently disconnected. Most of the writing and the knob is off the fan controller. The door to the optical drive kinda sticks but opens ok once you get it started moving. the front case header is off and can't be reattached so I have it attached to the unvented top of the case. The other side panel is dented but I think I could steal the 120mm fan off of it. The "card reader" for that build was semibuilt into the case and isn't coming out easily. I could probably cannibalize the 3.5 diskdrive off of it though, but the new motherboard suggested doesn't appear to accept IDE/PATA.

So yeah re-usable parts are:
1 120mm fan
1 3.5 floppy drive of questionable use
2 12 inch or so sata cable (probably not needed)
1 molex to sata (probably not needed)
1 old colorsic 500w PSU with about 3 years constant runtime on it.

Reusable attachments such as mouse keyboard and monitor I was all ready planning.
 
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Maxor1

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I like the AMD apu build cost wise is it much of an upgrade over the old system in graphics and processing power? Or would I be better off just grabbing myself a new hard drive and case for that for $50?

My real question is how much real world seen and noticed improvement am I likely to get for my $300 for my secondary PC. I really can't even talk badly at all about this one it has been abused and is running nicely and reliably. With a dual core at 2.3 GHZ with windows XP. The listed specs are a little better on the APU machine but I don't know enough about the graphics integrated to know if they are that big of an improvement. Passmark on current cpu is 1,294 on the suggested apu 1775. That's an upgrade that is noticeable but not a big one. How do the graphics between the two stack up?
 
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Maxor1

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Sosofm I am serious the old case is pretty toasted was a cheap thin metal case to begin with is about 7 or 8 years old the front panel if broken off from a fat person sitting on it the top is dented as well and it has a crushed side panel on one side. Its not good.
 
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D

dr1337

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Feb 25, 2012
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What kind of games would you be running and what resolution?


If they aren't too demanding you may be ok with just upgrading the boot drive to an ssd and adding a like a 500GB- 1TB storage drive. I have a similar build
Athlon x2 BE 2400 @2.3Ghz basically it almost the same as a Athlon x2 4400 2GB ddr 2, HD2600 XT and it had a 200 gb westen digital caviar se sata 1.5 but i swapped it out for a patriot pyro 120gb and it made all the difference. I was about ready to through it out


might save some dough and hang out with your lady.
 
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Maxor1

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On this thing I've been running WoW for trading and mining a little lvl grinding, Some DDo and old Command and Conquer games. What bugs me is it can't run world of tanks decently at all and that with starcraft, and skyrim have been my main time wasters on my main pc. 1024x600 has been what I commonly run things at on here. Not sure if I've been having hard drive bottlenecks or not.
 
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dr1337

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ahh well thats a pretty low resolution but yea if your tying to run skyrim or starcraft you may want to go with the suggested core i3 build best bang for the buck.
 
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Maxor1

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Dr not trying to run starcraft or skyrim on this PC I have my main computer, which has somehow become not only mine since I got a nice 28 inch monitor and surround sound for it along with a nice set of headphones. It has somehow become the Girlfriends as well and her laptop sits on the couch unused unless I am on the computer when she comes in. This is what gets used when she has commandeered my computer and there is nothing on tv. (at least since her sister got my laptop stolen.)

Right now this computer is being used when I need to do word processing homework, and a couple of nights a week for gaming/email/internet browsing. It also gets used some when I am playing tabletop roleplaying and war games, and as a random internet computer at those times. Its in a spare bedroom/rec room in the house.
 
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