So I here is my current rig:
CPU: AMD Phenom 720 X3 with unlocked 4th core currently running at 2.8 GHz (Plan to OC though since I got my new cooler)
Mobo: Gigabyte 790X Chipset
RAM: 2 x 2GB of DDR3
HDD: 2 x 500GB WD Caviar Blue Drives in non-raid (one for linux and various data, other is windows system)
GPU: ATI Radeon 4870
PSU: 500W OCZ
I was looking into what possible Christmas upgrades I could do on this thing. I'm already going for 4 more GB of RAM as somehow prices magically dropped on DDR3. Other that that, everything else I'm looking into is mostly superficial, a Drive Tray, a hot swap bay, and a single fan controller.
Is there anything that is cost effective (top off around 275$, 300$ if it can be justified) that I can upgrade as well for any kind of performance boost?
(11-21-2010, 10:13 PM)Cloud_9ine link Wrote: [ -> ]So I here is my current rig:
CPU: AMD Phenom 720 X3 with unlocked 4th core currently running at 2.8 GHz (Plan to OC though since I got my new cooler)
Mobo: Gigabyte 790X Chipset
RAM: 2 x 2GB of DDR3
HDD: 2 x 500GB WD Caviar Blue Drives in non-raid (one for linux and various data, other is windows system)
GPU: ATI Radeon 4870
PSU: 500W OCZ
I was looking into what possible Christmas upgrades I could do on this thing. I'm already going for 4 more GB of RAM as somehow prices magically dropped on DDR3. Other that that, everything else I'm looking into is mostly superficial, a Drive Tray, a hot swap bay, and a single fan controller.
Is there anything that is cost effective (top off around 275$, 300$ if it can be justified) that I can upgrade as well for any kind of performance boost?
I doubt you'll actually ever need 8GB, sounds like upgrading just for the sake of upgrading. I would consider upgrading your video card first, but you might need a stronger PSU before that (as I learned the hard way).
SSD for OS, Back up drive for redundency, Peripherials you don't have or want to upgrade such as mouse, keyboard, monitor etc.
You're gonna need a better PSU if you get a new card, RAM is take it or leave it, but never hurts. OS on an SSD is always a good bet.
Yea, Ram has been a limiting factor for me as of late as I have been taking up some heavy CAD and trying to multitask with that on 4GB of RAM isn't fun. I would get a videocard but once again this would require a new PSU if anything. An SSD for system sounds interesting, any drive suggestions or guides on how to keep system folders to that drive? I may also consider a new keyboard as I am working off of a keyboard from 2001 that came with a Compaq. If anything all I know for sure is some RAM, and the rest is superficial.
Honestly, I don't see much reason to upgrade this. I mean, you could always get more RAM, but to me it seems fine as it is.
If you have the cash to burn, check to see if your mobo can run the new
X6 Phenom
Mine gives me hardons when I just think about it. (and it does really cool things like rape things that a cpu rapes)
Essentially at this point I'm just getting some RAM so I can finally have a bottomless pit of memory and be done with it, after that, I am just getting a new keyboard. I would get a new video card, possibly some mid tier fermi or some 5800 but I would probably want a new PSU at that rate. Hell, by the time I have all these upgrades with a few extra purchases I could scrap my leftovers together for a 2nd machine x3.