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Thread ID: 118409 2011-06-03 02:00:00 Thinking of upgrading desktop Sanco (683) Press F1
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1206579 2011-06-03 02:00:00 Hi everyone, in the past you have been invaluable in helping me making informed decisions about technology, I thank you all for that.

I am thinking of upgrading my pc as it is around 8 years old - no issues, just need for more grunt with today's apps and gaming.

Here is what I am considering:

CPU: Intel Core i7 870 2.93GHz Socket 1156 8MB Cache
Intel Hyper-Threading technology which can thread Quad core(x4) to 8 processing thread
Motherboard: Asus/Gigabyte Intel H55 Express Chipset
6 xSATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
Graphic: Nvidia Gefore GT 430 1GB DDR3
HD: Seagate/Western Digital/Hitachi 1TB SATA2 3Gb/s
RAM: 16GB Dual channel DDR3-1333
Sound: 8-channel High Definition
Optical Drive: Liteon 24x SATA Dual Layer DVD Writer
USB: 6 at back, 2 in front
Network: Gigabit Ethernet, Broadband ready
Case: Gigabyte GZ-X6 Mid tower case
PSU: 500W

I do not do much gaming, mainly due to current pc specs not being the flashest, and tend to play online games. Other than that I do some basic photo and family video editing and the odd (legal eheheh) burning.

3 questions:

1- Would this be a good to very good system?

2- Is a 500W PSU plenty to run this well?

3- Can you see anything missing or obsolete in that package.

Any help/opinion will be greatly appreciated.
Sanco (683)
1206580 2011-06-03 02:20:00 Personally I'd chuck in an SSD boot drive, even an 80gb would be fine. Alex B (15479)
1206581 2011-06-03 02:57:00 CPU: Intel Core i7 870 2.93GHz Socket 1156 8MB Cache
Intel Hyper-Threading technology which can thread Quad core(x4) to 8 processing thread
Motherboard: Asus/Gigabyte Intel H55 Express Chipset
6 xSATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
Graphic: Nvidia Gefore GT 430 1GB DDR3
HD: Seagate/Western Digital/Hitachi 1TB SATA2 3Gb/s
RAM: 16GB Dual channel DDR3-1333
Sound: 8-channel High Definition
Optical Drive: Liteon 24x SATA Dual Layer DVD Writer
USB: 6 at back, 2 in front
Network: Gigabit Ethernet, Broadband ready
Case: Gigabyte GZ-X6 Mid tower case
PSU: 500W

I do not do much gaming


2- Is a 500W PSU plenty to run this well?


Hmm, lovely. Don't like the low end graphics but as you say - you don't game much so I won't comment.

PSU - well 500w what exactly?
500w Corsair, yeah it should be fine.
500w Hyena or bundled with case rubbish? No.
pctek (84)
1206582 2011-06-03 04:23:00 CPU and motherboard dont match..! SolMiester (139)
1206583 2011-06-03 05:01:00 Yep ditto PC's thoughts on the PSU.

Upgrading later to a SSD for the OS will be worthwhile too - the longer you wait for that the better really, wait for the intel 510 or the OCZ vertex 3 to get a bit cheaper.

I would steer away from the WD black drives, if you were looking at one, high failure rate.

The H55 is an 1156 socket isn't it? Although going to an 1155 would be a much better idea, 1156 stuff is getting hard to find now and 1155 will be better for future compatibility, well, near future anyway.

Something like these two....

www.computerlounge.co.nz

www.computerlounge.co.nz

I would also go quicker for the RAM - just cause you can, and the price difference is negligible. They both have lifetime warranties AFAIK.

www.computerlounge.co.nz

www.computerlounge.co.nz
wratterus (105)
1206584 2011-06-03 05:08:00 Yep ditto PC's thoughts on the PSU.

The H55 is an 1156 socket isn't it? Although going to an 1155 would be a much better idea.

Something like these two....

I know it's Friday but you forgot the links
damn you edited as I was typing
gary67 (56)
1206585 2011-06-03 05:10:00 I know it's Friday but you forgot the links
damn you edited as I was typing

Gotcha. :p
wratterus (105)
1206586 2011-06-03 05:44:00 There is absolutely nothing wrong with that case, if you like the look of it, great. Me personally, I like crisp and clean, like one of these.


www.ascent.co.nz

www.ascent.co.nz

www.ascent.co.nz

www.ascent.co.nz

I especially like this one.

www.ascent.co.nz
wratterus (105)
1206587 2011-06-03 06:01:00 Hmm, lovely. Don't like the low end graphics but as you say - you don't game much so I won't comment.


Sorry for butting in but for photo and video editing are graphics cards not so important for these tasks nowadays?
FoxyMX (5)
1206588 2011-06-03 06:05:00 Ok, great feedback and food for thought so far - Cheers lads/lasses.

CPU and motherboard do not match? Could you clarify that for me and perhaps suggest a different motherboard that suits the i7 better?

Thank you for the heads up on the corsair PSU PCtek, I will definitely explore it! ;)

Well the graphics card is a huge step up from my ancient ATI Radeon 9550, I thought, and still won't do much gaming anyway ;)

I will steer away from WD black drives based on that feedback - cheers!

I believe the H55 is an 1156 and I could go for 1155, but in all honesty this would see me good for another 6/7 years and then I will have to get a better one for my kids coming of (computer) age!!!

I have considered the SSD drives but at this stage they are waaaaay too expensive compared to plates ones - am I wrong???
Sanco (683)
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