Upgrading rig for 20-25k (max)

[rajaram_s]

Current config:
AMD Athlon X2 3800+ (2.0 Ghz)
Asus M2N MX MotherBoard
Asus Nvidia GT 520 Graphics Card (1 GB DDR3)
1.5 GB DDR2 800 Mhz RAM (1 GB Corsair Select + 512 Transcend)
Corsair CX 430 PSU
Segate 160 GB IDE HDD (currently not working)
Some cheap Mercury / Zebronics ATX Cabinet

This machine has been around for 5 years now. One of the main reason for my upgrade is that,
1. My usage pattern has changed
2. The machine has developed lot of small but irritating issues, like really long boot up time (even after many fresh installations of Windows 7), the machine won't boot back, if I switched it off using the power button. Have to switch off the UPS / Electric switch and a while later I can boot back using the power button (probably something wrong with the cabinet)
3. Component keep failing one by one. Like how recently, the hard disk got corrupted for some random reason.

Before I start with the questionnaire, can someone advise me if it is worth the upgrade or not, in the first place, considering my usage. Or is it okay to just replace the HDD and move on?

1. What is the purpose of the computer? What all applications and games are you going to run? (Stupid answers like 'gaming' or 'office work' will not work. Be exact. Which games? Which applications? Avoid the word 'et cetera.')
Ans:
Very casual gaming. May be like GTA or AoE 3. Not bothered much about excellent gaming performance or frame rates. Office work on VPN (some 10 putty sessions), extensive browsing (15-20 Tabs open), Virtual box with around 2 virtual machines, development using Visual Studio 2010, Eclipse for java, a db and web server (postgresql and apache) for development purposes only. I plan to start using 3D modelling software like Auto CAD soon.

2. What is your overall budget? If you can extend a bit for a more balanced configuration, then mention this too.
Ans:
Overall budget shall be around 20k. For a balanced config the max that I can stretch is 25k.

3. Planning to overclock?
Ans: Never

4. Which Operating System are you planning to use?
Ans: Windows 7 Ultimate / Ubuntu Linux on Virtual Machine

5. How much hard drive space is needed?
Ans: 1TB

6. Do you want to buy a monitor? If yes, please mention which screen size and resolution do you want. If you already have a monitor and want to reuse it, again mention the size and resolution of monitor you have.
Ans:
No. Using Samsung 740n 17" (Resolution 1280 * 800)

7. Which components you DON'T want to buy or which components you already have and plan on reusing?
Ans:
Corsair PSU, NVidia GT 520 Graphics card. So, the budget is only for the rest of the components.


8. When are you planning to buy the system?
Ans:
Within this month.

9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
Ans:
Have installed components etc. Planning to assemble it myself for the first time.

10. Where do you live? Are you buying locally? Are you open to buying stuff from online shops if you don't get locally?
Ans:
I live in Chennai. Might consider buying it locally, or from online shops. Most components must be available locally as well. The choice will be based on the price.

11. Anything else which you would like to say?
Ans:
1. Please suggest if the upgrade is a worthy investment at all in the first place. Also, if it is possible to get it on track without changing the motherboard processor combo.
2. I am personally more inclined towards Intel than AMD. Since my present experience with AMD Athlon isn't being that great.

Thanks a lot in advance,

Rajaram

 

[thetechfreak]

You wont need a Graphic card after you get the rig below

BTW by saying you dont need Corsair PSU, which PSU do you own?
Posting full config with everything-

Component | Make | Price Processor |AMD A6-3500|4650
Motherboard |Gigabyte GA-A55M-S2H|4500
RAM |G-skill Ripjaws X F3-10666CL9S-2GBXL|836
HDD |WDC 250GB Blue WD2500AAKX|3766
DVD Writer |ASUS 24X Sata Black DVD|1150
PSU |FSP Saga II 500W|2200
Case |Zebronics Bijli(w/o psu)|1200
Monitor |Dell IN1930 (18.5")|5300
Keyboard & Mouse |Amkette ClASSIC DUO|406
UPS |Zebronics 600VA|1275
Speakers |Altec Lansing BXR1221|1000
| Total |26283

 

[rajaram_s]

Thanks for the quick info..

I meant, it's an upgrade. I plan to keep the Corsair CS 430 PSU and the gt 520 that I had bought just around a month ago thinking this will solve some of the issues that I had with the machine.

Also, i do not want the Monitor etc., which I plan to retain as well. It will be more like, all the components that I'll replace (if I should) are:

1. Processor
2. Mother Board
3. HDD
4. RAM since new mobo will come with a DDR3 slot, which I want to make use of.
5. Cabinet (hoping it will resolve the power button problems)

With this, is it possible to go with an Intel based config? Like Core i5 2400? In such a case will I be able to put it into a board which will support this Asus Nvidia GT 520?

Thanks,

Rajaram

 

[skeletor]

I am personally more inclined towards Intel than AMD. Since my present experience with AMD Athlon isn't being that great.

First and the foremost. Processor isn't the cause of your "problems." Infact, a processor is very very rarely the _cause_ of any problem. It's the motherboard or other equipments.

Time progresses, applications get heavy and need faster processor. I mean seriously, you are trying to run Windows 7 on a processor which was launched in 2004? Can you run Windows 7 on a Pentium 4? No. Athlon 64 3800+ running @ 2.0 Ghz is faster than Pentium 4 running @ 3.8 Ghz btw.

Secondly, AMD A6-3500 (tri core @ Rs. 4500) and A6-3650 (quad core @ Rs. 6200) have Radeon HD 6530D graphics. And 6530D is at least twice faster than your nVidia GT 520. You can sell it off if you want. AMD Fusion is the platform where bang for the buck lies for really budget graphics.
----

Since you seem to have enough budget as you already have some components, here is the config:

Intel i5-2320 @ 10300.
Intel Dh67Cl @ 5200
Seagate 1TB Hard Disk @ 7200
2*4Gb DDR3 1333 RAM @ 3000
NZXT Gamma cabinet @ 2200

Total = ~28000.

 

[coderunknown]

Component | Make | Price Processor | Phenom II 960T |6826
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H |3796
RAM | Corsair DDR3 4 GB |1199
HDD | WDC 500GB Blue |4329
DVD Writer | LG GH22NS70 |1008
Case |Zebronics Bijli(w/o psu)|1200
Total ||18358

i have not included keyboard, mouse, speaker & UPS. i think you can reuse your existing ones if you have. i'll suggest investing the rest in getting a Gigabyte HD6770 @ 6150 from SMC (else get Gigabyte HD7750 for 50 bucks more). you have GT520 but it is one of the slowest GPU you can buy and will not help in anything. neither games nor 3D modelling.

 

[thetechfreak]

1 Casual gaming like Gta? Gta 4? It wont run well on your Gt 520.
2 the configuration I posted above will be a better performing in gaming etc than a i5 + gt 520 rig. Reason is the IGP on that rig.
3 i5 rig would be possible as you donot want monitor

Intel Core i5 2400 @Rs.11150
Intel DH67CL B3 @Rs.5750

Keep rest of components same

 

[skeletor]

i have not included keyboard, mouse, speaker & UPS. i think you can reuse your existing ones if you have. i'll suggest investing the rest in getting a Gigabyte HD6770 @ 6150 from SMC (else get Gigabyte HD7750 for 50 bucks more). you have GT520 but it is one of the slowest GPU you can buy and will not help in anything. neither games nor 3D modelling.

yup. Big point. He should go for something balanced.

Phenom II X4 + discrete card is the way to go.

 

[rajaram_s]

@ico : True. I was actually mentioning about the Processor Mother Board combo. The IDE interface for HDD is probably the biggest of problems I feel, which I don't understand, for what reason did my computer vendor choose, despite the board having 4 SATA ports!
Guess what, it was actually running most of what I had mentioned as my requirement, and I seemed pretty happy with it's performance I am not insisting on an Intel. Are you saying AMD A6-3650 will do better than core i5 righ that you had suggested, even if I don't have a constraint on budget?

@Sam : Will Phenom II 960T do better than core i5 or you had suggested that for the budget constraint? This looks very attractive for it's price.

@thetechfreak : I think it is some age old version of gta. It runs fine even on my laptop with no GPU and a 1.73 Ghz processor!

 

[coderunknown]

^ if you can increase budget, go for a faster GPU as it is the one part where you need to pour more money. i5 + a suitable H67 board will shoot total cost by 5k and for that cost you can have much better GPU.

 

[whitestar_999]

core by core i5 is faster than any amd 4 core.960T has a high chance of being unlocked to 6 cores & then after overclocking it may equal i5 but you will need a good mobo(at least ~6000)for this.unlocking & overclocking a 960T is not recommended on a 3-4000 budget mobo.

 

[skeletor]

Processor wise, Intel i5-2320/2400 will rape A6-3650 and Phenom II X4 960T. There is a reason why it i5 processors cost twice.

But the point is - budget. For viewports in modelling, you need a fine GPU as well. i5 doesn't leave you any money for that.

I suggest Sam's config + HD 7750 or 7770.

 

[rajaram_s]

Let's say I am stretching the budget a little further as well. In such a case, can I still use HD 7750 or 7770 on Intel Dh67Cl? My question might seem lame, but does a Gigabyte graphics card mean that I can use it only on a Gigabyte board? I've heard that i5 has an IGP as well, in which case, how does it actually work? WIll a dedicated graphics mean, it will not use up the graphics capabilities of i5?

 

[skeletor]

My question might seem lame, but does a Gigabyte graphics card mean that I can use it only on a Gigabyte board?

No one here will answer this question. If you are clicking the "New Thread" button, this means you have read every sticky thread. If you haven't then better do so.

*www.thinkdigit.com/forum/graphic-c...ormation-regarding-graphic-cards-newbies.html

I've heard that i5 has an IGP as well, in which case, how does it actually work? WIll a dedicated graphics mean, it will not use up the graphics capabilities of i5?

No.

 

[rajaram_s]

@ico : Thanks a lot. Got the answer. Had read through the sticky threads in PC Components / Configurations - Digit Technology Discussion Forum but missed the ones on others.

Is there anything specific that I should be looking for while choosing a cabinet?
Will a Zebronics Bijli(w/o psu) do? Or should I for for something like CM?

Is it only the looks and cable handling capabilities for which the other cabinets cost more?

Also, should I invest on an additional fan or something or the one on the cabinet itself will do if I am finalizing on i5 2400?