Very Cheap <£120 Upgrade

[Frankinsten]

Hi, I am soon going to be able to get hold of an old stock computer for free. I was considering giving it to my younger brother and then upgrading it for him. Here are the specs.

Cpu: Amd Opteron 2800+ or Intel centrino 1.7ghz
Mobo: Unsure but I am guessing it a socket 754 for Amd and 478 for the intel
Ram: 512mb DDR 333mhz
Gpu: Nvidia 5200fx
psu: 350w

I have the choice between Intel or Amd since the stock is mixed

I was thinking of upgrading the Cpu, Motherboard, GPU and Case along with adding a wireless card.

CPU+MOBO Asus A8NE-FM Motherboard with AMD ATHLON 64 3700+ (Socket 939) &#163;39.99
GPU: Sapphire RADEON HD 4650 512MB or ATI Radeon HD 5450 512MB (Both around &#163;36.79)
Case: Antec 200: &#163;29.99

Total: &#163;106.77

I know it isn't a great system however my younger brother dosn't do complex 3D rendering or plays the latest games like me.^_^

Anyway the questions. Because of cost, I was planning to use the standard 350w psu which the old system has. However, I am unsure if it will run the 4670 considering the psu isn't new and been used in an office 24/7 for about a year. Do you think it will be alright? or do you think I should get a 5450 consider is uses less power

Another question is, how would this compared with most systems now on the market with the upgrades?

 

[mfenn]

I don't think Opterons were ever labeled with the XXXX+ naming scheme. They have a 3 or 4 digit model number. Anyway, if the system is truly an Opteron and not an Athlon XP, then it should be faster than the "Centrino" which I'm assuming is an original Core Solo.

I'm not sure if upgrading to a Socket 939 Athlon 64 is really worth it. All 3 CPUs are horribly slow. Also, I would try to use the current case.

Anyway, the biggest upgrade you could get for the money would be some more RAM (512MB is just not enough) and whatever AGP video card that you can find. It shouldn't be that hard to get faster than a FX 5200. Something like this 4650 would be good.

If the current motherboard doesn't have an AGP slot, I would honestly not bother upgrading at all and just use it as is while saving up for a new system.

 

[Frankinsten]

I don't think Opterons were ever labeled with the XXXX+ naming scheme. They have a 3 or 4 digit model number. Anyway, if the system is truly an Opteron and not an Athlon XP, then it should be faster than the "Centrino" which I'm assuming is an original Core Solo.

All Cpus are single cored.

I am sure the Opterons chips were 2800. May have to check. Also there are a few Amd Sempron (But can't remember what thay are rated at)

I'm not sure if upgrading to a Socket 939 Athlon 64 is really worth it. All 3 CPUs are horribly slow. Also, I would try to use the current case.

Should I get an Am2+ board instead? I build a great system for my other brother using a new Athlon II X3 and a £40 AM2+ board. However I was looking for somthing a bit cheap since all it would be used for is internet access and internet games.

Anyway, the biggest upgrade you could get for the money would be some more RAM (512MB is just not enough) and whatever AGP video card that you can find. It shouldn't be that hard to get faster than a FX 5200. Something like this 4650 would be good.

Problem is a 512mb DDR ram costs more than both 1gb of DDR2 and DDR3 on Pricelover UK.

Like I suggested, I can get a 4650 or 5450 for a good price on the site. However, I am unsure if a used 350w Psu will be alright for a 4650.

 

[mfenn]

All Cpus are single cored.

I am sure the Opterons chips were 2800. May have to check. Also there are a few Amd Sempron (But can't remember what thay are rated at)

I'm not doubting that they may be 2800MHz, but they are not Opteron 2800+'s as that designation was never used by AMD. Like I said, the XXXX+ designation was only used on the consumer models (Athlon, Sempron). Here is a list of all AMD Opteron models.

Should I get an Am2+ board instead? I build a great system for my other brother using a new Athlon II X3 and a &#163;40 AM2+ board. However I was looking for somthing a bit cheap since all it would be used for is internet access and internet games.

Yes, an AM2+ or AM3 motherboard and CPU will be much faster. A 939 board and CPU are just not worth the price when you consider what the system already has.

Problem is a 512mb DDR ram costs more than both 1gb of DDR2 and DDR3 on Pricelover UK.

It's just wrong to inflict a system with 512MB of RAM on somebody. If the total cost of an AM2+/AM3 board, CPU, and RAM is similar, then by all means go for that.

Like I suggested, I can get a 4650 or 5450 for a good price on the site. However, I am unsure if a used 350w Psu will be alright for a 4650.

The 4650 doesn't even need an external power connector, so a 350W PSU will handle it just fine. If you plan to go the AM2+/AM3 route, you would of course need to look at PCIe cards. Of course, at that point you're basically building a whole new system (not that there is anything wrong with that).

 

[Frankinsten]

I'm not doubting that they may be 2800MHz, but they are not Opteron 2800+'s as that designation was never used by AMD. Like I said, the XXXX+ designation was only used on the consumer models (Athlon, Sempron). Here is a list of all AMD Opteron model.

I have a check. However like you said it may of been 2.8ghz

Yes, an AM2+ or AM3 motherboard and CPU will be much faster. A 939 board and CPU are just not worth the price when you consider what the system already has.

I am currently looking up AM2+ cpus again. I think I will use an AM3 board and use DDR3 ram because its about the same price. I will only use a gig since I using Xp and later upgrade to two.

The 4650 doesn't even need an external power connector, so a 350W PSU will handle it just fine. If you plan to go the AM2+/AM3 route, you would of course need to look at PCIe cards. Of course, at that point you're basically building a whole new system (not that there is anything wrong with that).

I like building new systems and trying to keep them down to a price. However, I don't feel It needs lots of money spent on it. Looking at some of the cpu, mayby the single core sempron @ 2.7ghz will be alright and mayby try to unlock it. Since the price/performance, I want to keep the 4650 and want to keep the Antec 200 since I need a good case. Thats about &#163;65 so if the budget is increassed by &#163;30 to &#163;150, It maybe possible to get a decent mobo and Cpu for the price.

 

[Frankinsten]

Just having a look on the web, I have found this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-373-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1481 (Asus M4A78LT-M LE)

http://pcdirectuk.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=586 (AMD Sempron 140 2.7GHz )

Adding in a Gig of DDR3 @1333mhz will equal 13p over £100.

 

[mfenn]

Just having a look on the web, I have found this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-373-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1481 (Asus M4A78LT-M LE)

http://pcdirectuk.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=586 (AMD Sempron 140 2.7GHz )

Adding in a Gig of DDR3 @1333mhz will equal 13p over £100.

Looks good to me. You should be able to try for the unlock on that Sempron as well. If your brother mostly sticks to older games, the IGP may be sufficient for him as well.