Budget PC that isn't crap? Looking to buy.

[KDOG]

Well it was just going to be used for extra storage anyhow. Right now I'm trying to find out about this memory.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Does the box you picked up still work? The reason I ask is phenom II is still a fairly decent CPU. Since you say it runs at 3.1 I will asume its an x2 550. It will overclock. Also the 4670 gpu is better than budget chip IGP's.

You might not really need a full re-build, especially if you're only web surfing and running youtubes

 

[KDOG]

Yeah actually it does. The cpu is a quad core black edition. And there actually a few Direct X 11 and 11.1 graphics cards for it. All it needs is an OS and it will work. Like I said my dad gave me a 120gb SSD so that will help performance further. The thing is the motherboard is limited to 4gb of memory. I'm still going back and forth on what to do...I don't want to spend money to still be behind the curve. But it is also tempting to get it fired up at minimal cost too...decisions, decisions ....

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Quad core even better! 4gb isn't really a big problem and even less so when you have an ssd to back it up.

What money would you be spending if it's already functional? GPU? Is it AGP or PCIe?

 

[KDOG]

PCIe...

 

[monkeydelmagico]

PCIe...

Getting better all the time. So any GPU upgrade could, theoretically, be used in your next build. I'm not seeing any wasted $$$ yet.

 

[KDOG]

There is ONE DirectX 11.1 card that my mobo will take as well. So I would at least have that for anything that required it. Hmmm....maybe I CAN make this rig work awhile longer.

 

[VirtualLarry]

There is ONE DirectX 11.1 card that my mobo will take as well. So I would at least have that for anything that required it. Hmmm....maybe I CAN make this rig work awhile longer.

Why do you say "one", like you don't have a choice? Assuming that the power supply is up to it, you should be able to install any PCI-Express-compatible video card. So far, all PCI-E standards are both backwards- and forwards- compatible.

The reason that I mention the power supply, is because that is the only effective limitation (subject to application bandwidth demands for GPGPU apps too, I suppose) on which video cards you can choose. PCI-E video cards, can draw so much from the graphics card slot, and then for more power, they may implement 6-pin or 8-pin PCI-E power connectors on-board. Generally-speaking, those connectors are not optional, if you want the system to boot.

 

[KDOG]

I have an Antec 500W "EarthWatts" power supply so that should be plenty.

About the graphics card, You're saying I can stick a PCIe 3.0 card in a 2.0.slot?

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Yes any PCIe 3.0 will work fine in a 2.0 slot. Your psu can handle most GPU's as well. I wouldn't go sticking an overclocked R9 290x in there but something like a 7850/70, R9 270, or even GTX 760 would work.

 

[KDOG]

Cool

 

[KDOG]

OK. Still on the fence on what to do so I have another question. Will the memory I have (OCZ DDR3 PC12800 with 8-8-8-24t timings currently running at 1.65v but can go up to 1.9) work on the newer FM2/FM2+ mobo's? Cuz if so I can use it until I want to add more/upgrade memory.

 

[Neal.a.nelson]

I say get off the fence and test it out!

 

[KDOG]

Heh heh. Soon. All the stuff for tax is in so ill wait to see what that looks like before deciding ....