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Thread ID: 140557 2015-11-02 03:35:00 NZ Forum for advice on PC building? ITchy (11705) Press F1
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1410789 2015-11-02 03:35:00 I'm looking for advice on building an upgrade box for my own use.

I've built many computers for customers over the last 30 years but nothing since I retired in 2013, so I'm way out of date on current hardware.

Anyone know of a NZ forum that specializes in this area?

Or should I just ask the question here on PressF1?

Cheers :-) 		ITchy (11705)
1410790 2015-11-02 03:38:00 Ask away. :) wratterus (105)
1410791 2015-11-02 04:00:00 We do our best, be sure to mention what you plan do use it for or what's most important performance wise, and an Idea of budget can be useful. The more info the better.
Computer Lounge forums are ok too, but they are also going to want to sell you something possibly :) (not that it's a bad choice of supplier, I like them myself) 		dugimodo (138)
1410792 2015-11-02 18:44:00 Here and also www.gpforums.co.nz pctek (84)
1410793 2015-11-02 21:41:00 Hi guys, thanks for your responses .

To expand on my first post, it's been three years since I built my current machine, so I'm pretty much out of touch with recent hardware .

I want to build a new tower and while I'd love to have the latest and greatest parts, I can't afford it .

Consequently, my requirement is for components that are better than my current rig, but still economical .

Here's my current equipment:

CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad 6600 2 . 40GHz

Ram - 8 . 00GB Dual Channel DDR3

Mobo - Asustek P5G41T-M (LGA 775)

Graphics - 1023MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti (EVGA)

I've got several 7200 SATA drives I can use, but I'll probably go with a new SSD for the system drive . OS will be W7 . Cases I've got, and I may buy a new PS if I need it for the CPU and GFX card .

As far as computer usage goes, my habits are pretty straightforward: emails, writing with Word, surfing the net, playing fairly modest games .

However, I'm a big fan of really good graphics, and hate fuzzy pictures or games with bad or laggy resolution . My monitor is a very nice Asus PA48 16:10 LCD and I love it .

I'm not into the 1st person action games that most young guys seem to enjoy, like Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty and the like . Grimrock 2 is my current favorite, and I'm still playing Zuma 2 :-)

However, I might try some of the new stuff if I had a better GFX card, but as I said, I can't afford anything too flash . (I have to plug EVGA NVidia cards . Their support is excellent)

Re all-up outlay - hmm . $500 - $700 maybe?

So, to sum up: Suggestions for the four items above (CPU, Ram, Mobo, GFX) would be very much appreciated :-) Thanks . 		ITchy (11705)
1410794 2015-11-02 22:40:00 Grimrock is cool, played through both of them. Very Nostalgic from my dungeon master days.

With a budget that small and wanting an SSD you may want to consider continuing with the 560Ti for a while, graphics is the priciest bit.

Maybe something like;
i5 6500
8GB RAM
Cheap Asus MB
120GB Crucial or Samsung SSD (remember to enable AHCI before installing windows)

And your budget is gone so re-use the rest of your existing parts.

something like a GTX960/970 or AMD equivalent would be half your budget by itself and is only mid/medium high range graphics - still good enough to max out 1080P most of the time though. 		dugimodo (138)
1410795 2015-11-02 23:53:00 it's been three years since I built my current machinewhile I'd love to have the latest and greatest parts, I can't afford it.

CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad 6600 2.40GHz

Ram - 8.00GB Dual Channel DDR3

Mobo - Asustek P5G41T-M (LGA 775)

Graphics - 1023MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti (EVGA)

I've got several 7200 SATA drives I can use, but I'll probably go with a new SSD for the system drive. OS will be W7. Cases I've got, and I may buy a new PS if I need it for the CPU and GFX card.


I'm not into the 1st person action games that most young guys seem to enjoy. Grimrock 2 is my current favorite, and I'm still playing Zuma 2 :-)
.
Then don't.

Upgrade it instead.
There are 2 main upgrades.
CPU - which generally involves the motherboard, CPU and RAm at once - unless the board still accepts the current RAM.

So CPU and board.

Then there is GPU, the important part for gaming.
But your games don't require the highest spec card anyway.

Just upgrade the parts you really need, and leave the rest, far cheaper than compromising on sad hardware.

And BTW, some of us OLD females like FPSs too....it's not the realm of young and male. (GTA is NOT an FPS either) 		pctek (84)
1410796 2015-11-03 21:48:00 To further mangle a quote from George Bush, I obviously misunderestimated the cost of new computer hardware. Durn.

Also, I apparently misunderestimated the quality of my Intel Core 2 Quad 6600 CPU. It doesn't stack too badly against the cheaper i3's and i5's.

However, I think I'll still go for an i5-4460 and drop it into an Asus B85M-E board. It'll take my 8GB DDR3 and I can maybe slot another 8GB alongside.

GFX card I'll need to think about.

So, thanks for your tips, people.

And pctek from the Wild West (Henderson? I used to live in Te Atatu Nth before shifting to the deepest, darkest South) More cows than computers down here, hence little work to help pay for upgrades :-)
I didn't know Grand Theft Auto wasn't an FPS. Shows how much I know about current games :-)

Cheers all. 		ITchy (11705)
1410797 2015-11-03 22:28:00 You'd still go for a new SSD too right? wratterus (105)
1410798 2015-11-03 22:33:00 8GB is still proving to be plenty for most home uses, I only have 16GB in my rig because I was hoping that would prove worthwhile in the longer term.
the rig in my signature was a recent upgrade from an i7 3770 with 8GB of DDR3 RAM (kept the graphics card) and honestly I have yet to notice any difference. I like to stay ahead of gaming requirements though so I can just crank things up and expect them to work.

The other way you could approach it is to get a nice SSD now and if you want to spend the money grab a graphics card upgrade as well. The SSD will make your old Q6600 feel like a new machine and both parts could be re-used if you end up upgrading again at a later date. Check out these articles to help choose www.tomshardware.com www.tomshardware.com - or just grab a Samsung 850 evo and an Asus GTX 960 or 970 :) - making sure your PSU is up to it of course. 		dugimodo (138)
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