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Retasking old Socket 775 for mother

G

garndawg

Member
Howdy all,

I'm getting rather close to pulling the trigger on a new system (probably the mid-range guide version with a SSD and W8.1/W10 upgrade) to put in my LaScala case and have the current system I'm wondering what to do with...

It's been a great system, running since 2009, and I think I can get a few more years out of it. My mother is older (70), but pretty technically competent (she's got an iPad Air and uses it a bunch). Her current desktop is an older Dell, probably an early Core2Duo processor. She uses it for taxes (she's an accountant still), surfing, email and whenever she needs a larger screen and full keyboard.

Therefore, I'm thinking I could repurpose my current system and give her a refresh. Here's what I'm running now:

MB: GA-EP45-UD3P
CPU: e5200
Disks: 2x Samsung 500GB HD's; Samsung DVD/CD Burner
RAM: 4G x 2 Gskill DDR2 800 (P/N: F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ)
P/S: Thermaltake Purepower 500W (P/N: W0100RU)
GPU: HIS IceQ H657QO1G Radeon HD 6570 1GB 128-bit DDR3

I also have another video card (XFX GF 9600GSO 580M 1GB DDR2, Product Code: PV-T96O-ZDFU) with dual DVI that I'm thinking of giving her, along with an extra monitor.

She'll get a new case (ATX), SSD, and a fresh install of W8.1 (which I'll upgrade to W10 when it's out in the fall). I'll keep one/both of the HDDs for media and backup. I might swap the CPU for something stronger, if it's cost effective to do so...

I'm thinking I could give her a rip-roaring system (compared to what she's using now) for under $200.

Thoughts, comments? Flame away, please...
 
Well, TBH, what is her "older Core2 system"? Upgrading Core2 to Core2 doesn't make a lot of sense. Give us the specs of her old system, please?

I do think that your newer system is a viable system, with an SSD, and a CPU upgrade. Why Windows 8.1 though, and not 7?

I would strongly investigate getting a quad-core S775 CPU for that board, and learning how to OC. Though, if she's an accountant, she probably doesn't want an OCed rig.

Get her at least an Q8300 / Q9300. Should be able to turn the FSB from 333 to 400 (OC from 2.5 to 3.0) with a slight voltage boost.

Edit: Alternatively, if she wants mostly single-threaded performance, consider an E8400/8500/8600 and OC to 4.0Ghz.

That's not foolproof though.

I have a couple of Q9300 rigs in GA-P35-DS3R boards, with 4x2GB DDR2-800, and I had mine overclocked to 400FSB with a very slight voltage bump, and after a number of years, it started freezing up doing heavy number crunching (DC), so I clocked it back down. (Who knows, it could be the PSU too, I guess. I am using VP-450 by Antec PSUs.)

You might be better off, though, just selling off the Core2-era parts, and buying a Haswell i3 ($100-120), and an H81 mobo ($40-60), and an SSD ($50-100), and building that rig for your mom. It would be a lot faster than a Core2-era rig, and use a lot less power.
 
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Is she experiencing slowness now? Maybe she just needs more RAM/an SSD. The only problem I see is that your system may not be much of an upgrade for her needs.
 
VirtualLarry said:
Get her at least an Q8300 / Q9300.
Click to expand...

This + SSD what would make a big difference.

The XFX GF 9600GSO will Not make any significant difference for normal use.

If the new user is invested in graphics, then you need some thing better than Both cards that you mentioned.



😎
 
Not sure exactly what your "LaScala case" is, but if it doesn't have a front USB 3.0 port, you may want to replace the case while you're going about your upgrading. The old Dell C2D system may be CPU upgradable, which would entail less work than migrating everything to a new motherboard & case.
So: investigate upgrading the Dell machine to a faster C2D CPU (a used E8500 off of eBay, for example) + replace the hard drive with a cloned SSD. Sell your current rig on Craigslist.

Edit: I don't really think that a quad-core Q8300/Q9300 would have much practical benefit compared to a cheaper dual-core E8500.
 
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JackMDS said:
This + SSD what would make a big difference.

The XFX GF 9600GSO will Not make any significant difference for normal use.

If the new user is invested in graphics, then you need some thing better than Both cards that you mentioned.



😎
Click to expand...

I think the video card is probably so she can go with Dual Monitors, most C2D machines with onboard video didn't have that as an option. The 9600 will drive 2 just fine for office applications; and when doing accounting work, 2 monitors is a godsend. +1 for the SSD upgrade being a huge boost.
 
bzb_Elder said:
+1 More information is needed.

The E5200 is a nice dual core processor, but an old Dell with a Core 2 Duo could already be a faster system.
Click to expand...

Agree. The E5200 is actually a "Pentium Dual Core" (the cache-reduced version) running at 2.5 GHz. If she has a full Core 2 Duo running at a higher clock speed, then her existing CPU is faster.
 
In Single Thread the E5200 and the Q8300 score about the same

On Multi Thread the Q8300 scores 79% more.


😎
 
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Often a slow running computer is just junkware, spyware, and too many downloads of poorly written games and the added software they often include with the downloads.
 
garndawg said:
OK, so here's her specs now:

Dell Dimension 5100
CPU: Pentium R4 2.8GHz
RAM: 4 GB
Click to expand...

That Dell machine is too outdated to attempt any kind of upgrade.
My advice: consider upgrading the CPU on your GA-EP45-UD3P system to something faster, and also replace the storage to a single 120 GB SSD, if your budget allows. Be sure that the motherboard bios is updated to the latest version, prior to a CPU upgrade.
Note: eBay lists several used E8500 CPU's for under $16, shipped.
There's also several Q9550 CPU's for $50-$60, but probably not worth the added cost, for the intended purpose.
Buy all new components (including the case) for your new (Haswell CPU based?) system.
 
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garndawg said:
OK, so here's her specs now:

Dell Dimension 5100
CPU: Pentium R4 2.8GHz
RAM: 4 GB
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's .. old. Honestly surprised that a P4 rig would have 4GB of RAM. Must be a 775 P4 with a newer chipset.

Still, I agree with vailr, too old to consider upgrading.

Your Gigabyte P45-chipset motherboard is a good upgrade. Is the memory on her old system DDR2, or DDR(1)? If it's DDR2, then you might be able to re-use some of it, and/or combine with your 4GB of DDR2, to at least give her 6GB or possibly 8GB of DDR2. That would be worth looking at.

An E5200 would be an upgrade for her, but I also agree with vailr, to consider getting an E8500 off of Ebay, if not a quad-core. If her programs aren't very multi-threaded (video editing, movie conversion / transcoding), then stick with the E8xxx series dual-core CPUs, because they are clocked higher, and overclock even higher (often to 4Ghz). The quads, unless you get a really good one, max out closer to 3.4-3.6Ghz for 45nm ones. Though, that board should be able to push a 45nm quad to 4Ghz, possibly.

Though, as an accountant, I wouldn't recommend overclocking her rig by any significant amount.

So what other parts would you need then? Case / PSU? SSD?

Edit: And I disagree with vailr about the size of the SSD. 120GB is cheap, but 240GB is where the optimum of the price/performance curve is. You can often get 240GB SSDs for less than twice the price of 120GB units, and they often have twice the performance (due to greater internal NAND chip parallelism).

The Crucial M500 / M550 / MX100 are being fire-saled, or were, as they are coming out with the new BX100 (budget), and MX200 (prosumer) model lines.

Also, the OCZ Arc 100 SSDs are really getting price-competitive now too, and while they are OCZ, they are now owned by Toshiba, and have one of the best warranty policies in the industry as I understand it, if you do have a problem.

Then there are the el-cheapo SSDs, the Kingston V300 (uses Async NAND, slow), the PNY Optima (also may use Async NAND), and the Silicon Power S60 (newer drives seem to be using Async NAND as well).

I would probably pick up an OCZ Arc 100 240GB for $89.99 FS @ Newegg right now while they are on sale, if I were in your shoes.
Edit: Sale is apparently over, they're around $100 now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=20-228-116
 
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I have a socket 775 computer downstairs with an e7200 cpu and DDR2 800. It is an integrated MATX motherboard with on-board HD video/HD Audio. Only does 720p but it looks good. It just keeps running. One big drawback is finding more RAM that would work in it. DDR2 RAM is expensive. Might be easier to find some by digging through the trash or at some custom shop where they take trade-ins.

A P4 is not worth upgrading. Its best use is for target practice. This is my opinion. You can take a cheap Haswell motherboard and just pop in a core 2 Pentium and it will run about 3 ghz. when you have an older motherboard it might quit working any day now.
 
piasabird said:
You can take a cheap Haswell motherboard and just pop in a core 2 Pentium and it will run about 3 ghz. when you have an older motherboard it might quit working any day now.
Click to expand...

I know that you didn't mean that literally. Just to clarify for others less technical, a Haswell is socket 1150. A Core2 Pentium Dual-Core is socket 775. They are not interchangeable. I think he just meant a Haswell Pentium dual-core, not a literal "Core2"-era CPU.
 
garndawg said:
repurpose my current system
Click to expand...
FWIW, I think "your current system" would be a nice little upgrade for your mom. As was suggested earlier, I'd throw a cheap SSD into it and it should be just fine.

I recently tossed an SSD into my old laptop (Compaq A900 w/T2390 pentium Dual Core) and with 3 Gigs of Ram and (N) WiFi it's amazingly fast for surfing and general use - perfect for my wife.
 
You can get Corsair Force LS (not the fastest, or biggest SSDs, they are their most budget line, I believe), REFURBED, for $34.99 for a 60GB, which is enough to fit Windows and Office on there, and have a bit of wiggle-room.

See Hot Deals for my thread on them. I ordered a few, but they won't be here for a few days due to the storm.
 
garndawg said:
Howdy all,

I'm getting rather close to pulling the trigger on a new system (probably the mid-range guide version with a SSD and W8.1/W10 upgrade) to put in my LaScala case and have the current system I'm wondering what to do with...

It's been a great system, running since 2009, and I think I can get a few more years out of it. My mother is older (70), but pretty technically competent (she's got an iPad Air and uses it a bunch). Her current desktop is an older Dell, probably an early Core2Duo processor. She uses it for taxes (she's an accountant still), surfing, email and whenever she needs a larger screen and full keyboard.

Therefore, I'm thinking I could repurpose my current system and give her a refresh. Here's what I'm running now:

MB: GA-EP45-UD3P
CPU: e5200
Disks: 2x Samsung 500GB HD's; Samsung DVD/CD Burner
RAM: 4G x 2 Gskill DDR2 800 (P/N: F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ)
P/S: Thermaltake Purepower 500W (P/N: W0100RU)
GPU: HIS IceQ H657QO1G Radeon HD 6570 1GB 128-bit DDR3

I also have another video card (XFX GF 9600GSO 580M 1GB DDR2, Product Code: PV-T96O-ZDFU) with dual DVI that I'm thinking of giving her, along with an extra monitor.

She'll get a new case (ATX), SSD, and a fresh install of W8.1 (which I'll upgrade to W10 when it's out in the fall). I'll keep one/both of the HDDs for media and backup. I might swap the CPU for something stronger, if it's cost effective to do so...

I'm thinking I could give her a rip-roaring system (compared to what she's using now) for under $200.

Thoughts, comments? Flame away, please...
Click to expand...

man, thats a slow chip. u could build a a g3258 for almost nothing and it would be much better. an accountant ought to be able to afford a totally modern computer, like i5, so many reasons to forget about core2...
 
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piasabird said:
I have a socket 775 computer downstairs with an e7200 cpu and DDR2 800. It is an integrated MATX motherboard with on-board HD video/HD Audio. Only does 720p but it looks good. It just keeps running. One big drawback is finding more RAM that would work in it. DDR2 RAM is expensive. Might be easier to find some by digging through the trash or at some custom shop where they take trade-ins.

A P4 is not worth upgrading. Its best use is for target practice. This is my opinion. You can take a cheap Haswell motherboard and just pop in a core 2 Pentium and it will run about 3 ghz. when you have an older motherboard it might quit working any day now.
Click to expand...

this is right. boards have about a 7 year lifespan in my experience and they can go bad pretty suddenly so anything core 2 likely doesnt have much life in it. if its a computer being use for any type of work related activity i would buy NEW
 
I second Oblama. Upgrade both to i3's and/or i5's and scrap or sell the rest. No reason to use ancient tech in 2015.
 
If his Mom is mostly happy with a P4, and he as a complete Core 2 system ready to give to her, I don't see why you wouldn't give it to her. It'll be a huge performance upgrade for no additional outlay.

Regarding Oblama's concern about motherboard longevity, the GA-EP45-UD3P is a board with all solid caps, so I wouldn't be concerned about caps suddenly dying.
 
Thanks much for all the comments, gents. I'll prowl for an E8XXX and otherwise drop the entire board into a new case. (I've got to keep my old, as it's an HTPC format and works with my current furniture best.) Of course, if a Q

That's a great idea about the current memory in the P4. I've no idea if it's reusable, but why not if it's right there?

Special thanks for the discussion on SSD's from VLarry. I was looking for Samsung for my setup, but you've given me lots to think about now.

Appreciate it, folks!
 
garndawg said:
Thanks much for all the comments, gents. I'll prowl for an E8XXX and otherwise drop the entire board into a new case. (I've got to keep my old, as it's an HTPC format and works with my current furniture best.) Of course, if a Q

That's a great idea about the current memory in the P4. I've no idea if it's reusable, but why not if it's right there?
Click to expand...

The old HTPC case won't have a front USB 3.0 port to go with a new Haswell board, so just buy a new case, would be my advice. The existing 8 Gb of DDR2 is plenty for the Gigabyte system, and if you were to rob the old Dell of it's existing DDR2, would make it pretty much a boat anchor (worthless) after donating the machine to a Goodwill store.
Also: be sure the Gigabyte board's bios is updated before replacing the CPU.

Edit: check slickdeals.net daily for bargains. There's currently a 240 Gb OCZ SSD for $30 after rebate.
http://slickdeals.net/f/7652124-ocz...e-multiacess-bundle-39-99-or-less-ar-shipping
Expired deal from yesterday:
http://slickdeals.net/f/7650764-2x-...tate-drives-148-after-20-rebate-free-shipping
 
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garndawg said:
Special thanks for the discussion on SSD's from VLarry.
Click to expand...

Just a little info and Reality check.

In the last 6 months I did about 8 upgrades of Dell Inspiron 50x (and similar) for friends that use the computers in similar ways as the OP mom.

I replaced for about $20 the lower end Exxxx with E8400 or Q8xxx CPU and upgraded to the HD to Corsair refurbished 60 GB SSD.

Looking at the use of the HD in the computers it was obvious that 60GB would provide ample of storage for these specific computers.

Example - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820233685

Regardless of what the Specs sheet might indicate, what you get from these SDDs on the computers discussed here is about 200-250 Read and 100-150 Write.

The current Corsair 60Gb that are sold for $35 are SATA III. Out of curiosity I got PCIe SATA III card installed it, and found out that it does Not provide any meaningful increase as compare to the onboard SATA II.

That said, a simple $60 Upgrade really made these computers "Fly". All the "customers" are very happy since they did not have to go through the ordeal (and money expense) of buying new computers

P.S., its NYC, so the thank you dinner that they took me to cost more than the Upgrades.😀



😎
 
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