Recommendations for "Upgrade" of Existing Desktop

RightSaid

Master Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
2,500
Reaction score
0
Hi guys,

My D.I.Y desktop is working fine since September 2009 but recently there's some buzzing sound coming from the HDD whenever I boot up my system. The processor fans are also getting louder even though I added a TX3 to "reduce" the noise produced.

Just in case it decides to die on me someday., I thought of "upgrading" my desktop with the advice of the experts here to get what I really need as I've lost track of the latest recommendations based on my needs.

I mainly use the desktop to surf the net, watch 1080p movies, listening to music and the occasional gaming of CS:GO, Dota 2, and L4D2.
Perhaps I could get some advice on what to get based on my current setup and usage which would not hurt my wallet too much. And most importantly, it needs to be a much more quiet desktop unlike my current one now :(

My current setup is as follows:-

Processor
Phenom II x3 710 w CoolerMaster TX3
Mainboard
Biostar TA785GE 128m T-Series
Graphics Card
Powercolor HD4870 512MB DDR5 Stalker Edition
Memory
2 X 2GB Kingston Hyperx
Display
Dell ST2410 24" Full HD
Storage
2 x Seagate 7200.12 500GB + Seagate 7200.12 1TB
Optical Storage
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM
Casing
Cooler Master Elite 342 w SilverStone FN121 and Zalman ZM-F2BL
PSU
Andyson 500W
Audio
Creative X-Fi Xtrememusic w Harman Kardon Soundsticks 3

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64

Thanks in advance for the help!

P.S. If I would like to try out newer games like Evolve, Ryse of Rome etc, what is the recommended upgrades I would need, just for my information only.
 

Swiftbladez

Master Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2006
Messages
4,383
Reaction score
10
Best get whole new system. Can reuse storage, casing, optical storage, and all your peripherals. Change CPU, GPU, motherboard and PSU.
 

koroshiya8

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
37,687
Reaction score
496
I think evolve is quite GPU intensive. A 290x can last you a long time if u dun game much.
 

RightSaid

Master Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
2,500
Reaction score
0
Best get whole new system. Can reuse storage, casing, optical storage, and all your peripherals. Change CPU, GPU, motherboard and PSU.

which CPU GPU MOBO and PSU would you recommend me to get? i'm not very sure because some CPU might not fit into certain MOBO etc

I think evolve is quite GPU intensive. A 290x can last you a long time if u dun game much.

any brands in particular that is good and can last me a long time?

Get SSD for OS + Apps

hmmm i'm also considering a SSD, heard that Samsung is good?
 

RightSaid

Master Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
2,500
Reaction score
0
Hi guys,

I'm still stuck with my old setup as I'm still confused by the correct pairing of peripherals. However based on my recent readings on certain threads, I've narrowed down to the following parts for my main usage (surf the net, watch 1080p movies, listening to music and gaming of CS:GO, Dota 2, and L4D2).

Budget about $800
Prices are estimated based on Pricelist from PC Themes or Lazada

CPU + MB - Asus H81-Gamer w i3-4160 @ $306 , any alternative MB to recommend for me to slot my GFX and Soundcard (Creative Xtrememusic) with sufficient ventilation?
PSU - FSP 550W 80+ HEXA PLUS (3 Yrs) @ $68
RAM - Crucial DDR3-1600 CL11 8GB @ $60
SSD - SanDisk Internal SSD 240GB 2.5-Inch SDSSDA-240G-G25 @ USD$60 (Amazon) or Samsung 850 EVO Solid State Drive 250GB @ $128.50 (Lazada)
GFX - Palit Geforce GTX750 StormX 2GB GDDR5 @ $170 (Lazada)
Casing - No idea yet, any recommendation? Preferably able to contain the fan noise produced from the internal components.

Appreciate your expert opinions as I'm not sure if it's too over/under kill of a setup. And how much of a futureproof will this setup be?

Thanks in advance!
 

kaixax555

Honorary Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2007
Messages
126,059
Reaction score
223
i5-4460 + MSI H81M-E35 @349
Kingston 1x8GB DDR3-1600 @65
Samsung 850 EVO 250GB @128 (Lazada)
WD Blue 1TB @77
Zotac GTX750Ti @ 199 (Lazada)
FSP Hexa Plus 550W @68
Keep casing
Total 886

All from PC themes unless otherwise stated

Can accomodate both the graphics cards and your sound card, and you get a quad core. Added in a HDD because I am not sure if your HDD is failing. Went for 750Ti because it is just better for 20 dollars more
 

MoneyFace =p

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2010
Messages
34,965
Reaction score
94
Hi guys,

I'm still stuck with my old setup as I'm still confused by the correct pairing of peripherals. However based on my recent readings on certain threads, I've narrowed down to the following parts for my main usage (surf the net, watch 1080p movies, listening to music and gaming of CS:GO, Dota 2, and L4D2).

Budget about $800
Prices are estimated based on Pricelist from PC Themes or Lazada

CPU + MB - Asus H81-Gamer w i3-4160 @ $306 , any alternative MB to recommend for me to slot my GFX and Soundcard (Creative Xtrememusic) with sufficient ventilation?
PSU - FSP 550W 80+ HEXA PLUS (3 Yrs) @ $68
RAM - Crucial DDR3-1600 CL11 8GB @ $60
SSD - SanDisk Internal SSD 240GB 2.5-Inch SDSSDA-240G-G25 @ USD$60 (Amazon) or Samsung 850 EVO Solid State Drive 250GB @ $128.50 (Lazada)
GFX - Palit Geforce GTX750 StormX 2GB GDDR5 @ $170 (Lazada)
Casing - No idea yet, any recommendation? Preferably able to contain the fan noise produced from the internal components.

Appreciate your expert opinions as I'm not sure if it's too over/under kill of a setup. And how much of a futureproof will this setup be?

Thanks in advance!
CPU+MB: Intel Core i3-4160 + MSI H81M-E35 V2 @ $247 (PC Themes)
RAM: Kingston ValueRAM DDR3-1600 CL11 8GB @ $56*
GPU: Palit GTX 950 2GB StormX Dual @ $233*
Does not spin on low load.
See acoustic test below.

SSD: Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB @ $123
PSU: FSP Hexa+ 550W [80 Plus] @ $60*
CASE: Fractal Design Define Mini @ $79^

Total: $798

Optional:
HDD: Western Digital Blue 1TB @ $77 (PC Themes)

Buy others from Lazada Singapore.

Lazada Web prices after Shopback.sg 5% electronics rebate
*Price after Lazada Web MasterCard Monday / DBS/POSB Appy Friday / CITIBank Wild Weekend 10-15% off max $25 discount
^Price after possible Lazada App 12/12 Online Revolution Sale Spin Wheel $50 off $100 voucher [TBA later]

 

xxDonmaxx

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2010
Messages
144
Reaction score
0
CPU+MB: Intel Core i3-4160 + MSI H81M-E35 V2 @ $247 (PC Themes)
RAM: Kingston ValueRAM DDR3-1600 CL11 8GB @ $56*
GPU: Palit GTX 950 2GB StormX Dual @ $233*
Does not spin on low load.
See acoustic test below.

SSD: Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB @ $123
PSU: FSP Hexa+ 550W [80 Plus] @ $60*
CASE: Fractal Design Define Mini @ $79^

Total: $798

Optional:
HDD: Western Digital Blue 1TB @ $77 (PC Themes)

Buy others from Lazada Singapore.

Lazada Web prices after Shopback.sg 5% electronics rebate
*Price after Lazada Web MasterCard Monday / DBS/POSB Appy Friday / CITIBank Wild Weekend 10-15% off max $25 discount
^Price after possible Lazada App 12/12 Online Revolution Sale Spin Wheel $50 off $100 voucher [TBA later]


So to be sure, $233 for 950 requires shopback + posb Friday promo?
 

RightSaid

Master Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
2,500
Reaction score
0
Thanks kaixax and moneyface.

Does i3 and i5 have much impact on performance in terms of my usage? Because the price difference is about $100 between your recommendations.

And would the GTX750ti fair as well as GTX950 in terms of noise/performance?
 

MoneyFace =p

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2010
Messages
34,965
Reaction score
94
Thanks kaixax and moneyface.

Does i3 and i5 have much impact on performance in terms of my usage? Because the price difference is about $100 between your recommendations.

And would the GTX750ti fair as well as GTX950 in terms of noise/performance?
Core i3 is already very well sufficient for your needs. Going further to i5 won't gain much.

And i've chosen GTX 950 for better at maxing out those games and also offers full hardware decoder for 4K HEVC since you are also using this for movies viewing. Make yourself 4K ready so you won't need to fret again next time.

Acoustics wise you can feel safer with its fanless profile on low load and with the following results:

noise1.png


noise1.png
 
Last edited:

Goodshot

Great Supremacy Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2013
Messages
59,423
Reaction score
2,894
i3 + ssd is enough indeed , but if got spare cash get i5 lo . Because if later need upgrade u gonna $200+ instead of now u add $97 to get a i5
 
Important Forum Advisory Note
This forum is moderated by volunteer moderators who will react only to members' feedback on posts. Moderators are not employees or representatives of HWZ. Forum members and moderators are responsible for their own posts.

Please refer to our Community Guidelines and Standards, Terms of Service and Member T&Cs for more information.
Top