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$500 Build/Upgrade

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My current config is starting to show its age and its getting to me, I tried to look up some parts on my own but i keep going over budget :pfff:  I mean the are so many things to choose from so Id really like some help.

My current config is: Athalon II X3 > Phenom B50 X4 | 2 GB DDR3 800 MHz | HD 4830 512 MB | 250 GB HD | Hyper 212+ | Silverstone Olympia 650w


Approximate Purchase Date: As soon as I get a proper build together

Budget Range: $500 (No rebates)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: VMware, PhotoShop, Gaming, Video Editing

Parts Not Required: (keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon.com mainly n maybe microcenter.com (Im out of state)

Country: Antigua (Caribbean)

Parts Preferences: by brand or type : Open to all

Overclocking: If the benefit is very good

SLI or Crossfire:No

Monitor Resolution: 1600x900 I have a HP x20LED Monitor

Additional Comments: Silence is a must, I would prefer uniform colour parts and If I can squeeze a Modular PSU in the budget (My current PSU has way too many cables, Would a small SSD show reasonable benefits?)

More about : 500 build upgrade

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What motherboard do you have?, you listed two processors.

First off is way more and better RAM, you just need it in an editing rig. $100
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Profile-1600mhz...

If you dont have a 64bit windows, you'l need that to run the full 16Gb of RAM. $120
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Buil...

Hard drive is up to you, if your running low on space get this one, 1Tb 7200RPM 64MB cache. $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I would suggest a better processor and motherboard, but you haven't listed them.

Power supply should be fine

The GPU can be left in as it seems gaming isnt a high priority on the rig and the budget is too low to get a decent one.

Maybe leave out the new HDD since you currently have a working one (although its small) and this is a budget build. If you want to go with a partial build then you can squise more powerful part into the budget

For the work you planning to do, something like this would be a treat.
Intel Core i5-2310 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz $175,
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Processor-i5-2310-LGA1155-B...

or
Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz $190
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-2400-Socket-LGA1155-Proc...

Then add something like a full ATX board:
Intel BOXDH67CLB3 LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX $90
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Desktop-Generation-Processo...

Maybe you can even push a i5 2500 $3.3Ghz in for $210
z68 is going to set you another $20 if you want to upsize the motherboard

Obviously my suggestion is intended to follow on to Manofchalk's
vmware is going to love any extra memory you can throw at it. But you could get 8Gb now and 8Gb later.
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manofchalk said:
What motherboard do you have?, you listed two processors.

First off is way more and better RAM, you just need it in an editing rig. $100
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-Profile-1600mhz...

If you dont have a 64bit windows, you'l need that to run the full 16Gb of RAM. $120
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Buil...

Hard drive is up to you, if your running low on space get this one, 1Tb 7200RPM 64MB cache. $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I would suggest a better processor and motherboard, but you haven't listed them.

Power supply should be fine

The GPU can be left in as it seems gaming isnt a high priority on the rig and the budget is too low to get a decent one.


I listed one processor unlocked into another sorry abt that, OS is not a problem, Im a Network Engineering student so I can get it for free at School, My Mobo is a Biostar A770E3 which I hate, it takes forever to load and I do think my GPU is holding me back, I believe I am low on RAM because it stutters when I try to game and it crashes alot (display drivers stopped working)

zhihao50 said:
Maybe leave out the new HDD since you currently have a working one (although its small) and this is a budget build. If you want to go with a partial build then you can squise more powerful part into the budget

For the work you planning to do, something like this would be a treat.
Intel Core i5-2310 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz $175,
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Processor-i5-2310-LGA1155-B...

or
Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz $190
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i5-2400-Socket-LGA1155-Proc...

Then add something like a full ATX board:
Intel BOXDH67CLB3 LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX $90
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Desktop-Generation-Processo...

Maybe you can even push a i5 2500 $3.3Ghz in for $210
z68 is going to set you another $20 if you want to upsize the motherboard

Obviously my suggestion is intended to follow on to Manofchalk's
vmware is going to love any extra memory you can throw at it. But you could get 8Gb now and 8Gb later.


Yes that makes alot of sense

Outlander_04 said:
There are no core components worth saving

i5 2400 $190
H61 mb $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

2 x2 gig of DDR3 $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Radeon 6950 graphics card $190


I cnt buy from newegg and I think a HD 6950 would be pushing it

I can't give any super specific advice but I can tell you I've seen first hand no other single investment makes a difference like an SSD and you can get a decent sized current generation (120gig) for ~$90, the i3 on any z68 board should be fine, 64 bit OS is a must 8gig's of ram is probably sufficient and the 560ti is the sweet spot for workstation productivity/gaming.
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