Purchased Windows 7 - Should I Upgrade?

[AdamB81]

I figured since I got windows 7 and have to do a fresh OS install, I might as well upgrade anyway - but I'm wondering if it will be worth it? I haven't upgraded my CPU/mobo for quite some time so I figured it might be.

My Current Config:
CPU - AMD 5400+
GPU - ATI 4890
Mobo - (Biostar Tforce 550 SE Socket AM2)
Hard Drive - 2 1tb WD Blacks
RAM - 6gb DDR2
Monitor - 28" Hannspree at 1920x1200 (not interested in upgrading this)

Currently Running Vista Home Premium x64, but have purchased Windows 7 and waiting on my upgrade decision to do a fresh install.

I'm not HEAVY into gaming, but I do like to play them every once in awhile and will definitely be getting SCII and D2. I do a lot of video conversion stuff and with my current CPU it takes about 90-120 minutes to convert a full movie into what I want (I would like to decrease this). If a new CPU would only cut that time off by a few minutes then it's not worth it for me. I run my business from home off my PC, so I'm obviously running a lot of apps at once so load times etc is important to me.

Budget isn't a huge issue, but I usually tend to go for the stuff that is 1-2 levels below the best as it always seems the best value to go that route. Considering I took that route with todays hardware, would it be worth it for me? How about getting those new SSD's? My friend said I wouldn't notice a big difference getting a SSD over my WD Blacks - but I wanted some other opinions.

Basically I'm just looking to upgrade the standard CPU/MOBO/RAM thing and get a new SSD if it's worth it. Ideally I don't want to spend more than $650-700 but I know with a SSD it will be over that, so I'm willing to go higher if it's worth it - but I'm more interested in getting the best bang for the buck.

Thanks

 

[jackschmittusa]

Video conversion migh benefit from a quad core. Newegg has a combo deal today for $149us with the new $99 AMD quad and a mb.

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: AdamB81
Mobo - (ASUS NF7 I think?, honestly can't remember)
...
RAM - 6gb DDR2 (Kingston I believe?)

CPU-Z

If you are pleased with Vista perf, you should be pleased with Win7 perf. IMO, since you're not HEAVY into gaming, and especially cuz you run your home business off this machine, your best bang for the buck is sitting tight for now.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

An entry level i7 920 bare-bones (platform) can total out to 513$ if you have a microcenter near-by. If not, add another 80$ onto that. Or you can opt for a i7 860 which has better turbo mode and would probably trans-code those files faster. I'm just not sure on the entry level price...

If you want links, let me know.

 

[jdjbuffalo]

SSD can definitely be worth it but your case is one where I wouldn't recommend the Intel X25-M Gen 2 drive. The one downside to this drive is that the sequential write speeds aren't that great (80MBps). There are other SSDs that will get you near 200MBps for read and write.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I don't think you need to upgrade at all.

That said, if your motherboard will support it, you may get a decent performance improvement for some things if you stick a faster CPU in there. Avoid 1st gen phenom like the plague, but phenom 2 is pretty badass.

 

[AdamB81]

Ok

I just downloaded that CPUID and I guess my Motherboard is a socket AM2 Biostar Tforce 500 SE - Here

What's the fastest CPU I can stick in there right now considering I already have a 5400+

I was looking at this CPU - Text

That's the fastest AM2 CPU I can find at newegg - although it's AM2+ I'm pretty sure it works with my AM2 motherboard?

Anyway - let me know what you guys think.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Hmm, I don't think a phenom 2 will work in that board.
IMO just use what you got, or ... if you really want to upgrade consider shelling out $400+ or so for a new cpu, mobo, and ddr3 for I7. (or you could consider $300 or so to pick up a decently fast phenom 2 and a decent AMD mobo and keep your DDR2.)

 

[AdamB81]

Well say I did shoot for an upgrade (I7, mobo, and ddr3) - what kind of performance increase would I see?

Honestly $500 is nothing to me, but if I'm only going to see a 10% increase or something hardly noticeable it would be kind of dumb to dump $500.

However, if were looking at 2-3x the speed then I'm all for it - especially since I have to do a fresh OS install anyway with my new Windows 7 purchase.

 

[BaboonGuy]

$200: i7 d0 @ Microcenter
$160: ASRock X58 Extreme - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813157163
$135: G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231225
$63: Prolimatech Megahalems - http://www.jab-tech.com/Prolim...156-Rev-B-pr-4557.html
$12: Two Yate Loon Low Speed - http://www.petrastechshop.com/12yalod1cafa.html
$7: ICD 7 TIM - http://www.petrastechshop.com/icdi7cathco.html

Total is... $577!

You'll be able to overclock this setup to at least 4GHz 24/7 stable. The only thing I'm not sure would be the best is the RAM... DDR3 1600 may not be enough. If you don't mind a little noise or if you have a fan controller upgrade the Yate Loons to a higher speed (only buy at petra's for genuine Yates). An i7 at 4GHz would be extremely fast for video encoding, it's the fastest chip out right now such purposes. I don't know if it'd be 2x as fast, but probably... check out i7 reviews.