Yeah, I think that’s how it’ll play out in the end. It doesn't look bad on paper, at least to me. With 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and a 260X, I don't think we're looking at any major bottlenecks—not if you're running an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400. If you can manage to ocati it, I'd say it would run pretty solidly. Wouldn't that Q9400 be roughly on par with those weaker Phenomi chips, like the 910?
I wouldn't go for the Q6600... maybe at least grab a Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 for $133 and then try overclocking it. I've spotted a few for $150, so if I could somehow get the price down to $133... then I guess it might be worth it.
Oh, and obviously, overclocking those chips is highly desirable—they were absolute beasts back in the day. The issue is the motherboard. It looks like one of those proprietary boards from an HP Compaq prebuilt, probably. There’s zero documentation on it, and honestly, the chances of getting any decent overclock out of it are basically zero.
Man, things have changed 😁 Personally, I'd probably lean toward the AMD setup. You can usually squeeze a bit more performance out of it, especially if you're planning on playing demanding multiplayer games or pairing it with a beefier graphics card.
crimsonstag84, I know how to put a motherboard and CPU together myself, thanks! 👏 It all depends on the build. 😬 The real question is whether it's worth investing $100 in a quad-core Q6600 paired with an R7 260X. 🙂
A buddy of mine is running a setup with a Foxconn motherboard (I think it’s a 2A8C from an HP prebuilt) paired with an Intel Core 2 Duo E7500. He wanted to upgrade, so I suggested jumping to a 260X and an Intel Core i7, which is exactly what he did. That board even supports DDR3. But man, he just can't stop tinkering, and now he's looking for the next step. Right now, he's rocking a $100 Q6600, even using some aftermarket coolers, so I'm debating if it's worth pushing this platform any further. Considering he could pick up a G3220 along with an H81 motherboard for $250 (which he doesn't have yet), that seems like a much more powerful route. What do you guys think?
Ryan Martin70 said:Can someone recommend a decent power supply? I sold my old Corsair CX500, so I'm looking for a replacement. I'd prefer to order from a US online retailer. Ideally, I want something fully modular, at least 600W, and preferably with an 80 Plus Gold certification... aiming for a budget around $85-$100.
My current build is Intel Core i5 4670k MSI Z87 G45 MSI Radeon R9 270x OC Samsung SSD Pro 2x HDD 3x fans
You don't really need a powerhouse like that, but hey, your money. 😛 SOMETHING LIKE THIS would be more than enough for you. 🙂
Carl Nelson5, this is the fourth thread you've started. If you're just here to troll, don't be an idiot and go do something productive. If you aren't trolling, for heaven's sake, just ask everything in one single thread.
David Sanders4 said:Yeah, but it can't actually deliver 60A, only 41.5A... it's like saying you can lift 50lbs with your left hand and 70lbs with your right, but together you can only manage 41...
David Sanders4 said:You can't look at it that way. There are two different rails, and some manufacturers list the total maximum current, the maximum power output, or both... like for example
I know, there are two rails—one at 25A and one at 35A.
Sure, the issue could be the SATA drive. But even if they go that route now, they won't need to upgrade anything for years unless they decide to start gaming, in which case they'll just grab a dedicated graphics card. If they do it this way, they’ll blow $133300 bucks and then end up needing to spend $500 more when they eventually get a new PC.
I'm really not sure what makes more sense here 😬
They aren't going to drop 300-$133, why would they? They should just grab a stick of RAM for $17 at Best Buy and call it a day. 😉 Better to save that $200 for a new build later on, if they ever decide to go that route. This dual-core Intel Core i3 6100 will handle Mozilla Quote 😬 just fine.
Jonathan Hill4 said:Thanks for the advice. What do you think about me putting an NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 in there instead? Would that work for $67...
Like I suggested before, if I were you, I'd just stick with the integrated graphics on the motherboard for what you need. Don't waste $67 money on a 730 when you won't get absolutely NOTHINGnew out of it. I don't get why you're even thinking about buying a GPU when they're primarily for gaming—which isn't even your plan.
Why would you bother? That board has integrated graphics—just plug the monitor straight into the motherboard. Maybe toss in another gig of RAM and let it run for another year like you mentioned for basic stuff. We're talking web browsing, music, movies, Office, etc. If you aren't planning on doing anything heavy, there’s really no point in upgrading the whole platform.
Jonathan Hill4 said:Hey there. Here's what I'm running: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600 1 GB M2N68-AM SE2 FEEL II 400 ATX Modecom and my old GeForce 7600 GS just fried on me..
First off, I'll be honest—I don't know the first thing about computer parts, but I know this setup is pretty terrible. I don't need it for gaming or heavy lifting; I just want to upgrade it enough so it lasts maybe another year or two for basic stuff. What kind of graphics card would you recommend for under $200? After that, I might invest more into a processor, but who knows. Thanks 😉
For basic daily tasks, you can honestly just plug your monitor cable directly into the motherboard and use the integrated graphics. Spending $200 on a dedicated card for that specific processor doesn't make much sense, especially since you said you aren't planning to game on it. Honestly, I'd rather you pocket those $200 and save them toward a whole new build. 😉 The integrated graphics will be plenty for browsing the web, YouTube, watching movies, and whatever else you need for basic use.
Nah, it’s just an old, useless platform that's good for nothing. Maybe someone eventually picks it up to use as a Desktop PC, but honestly, it isn't worth $200. Plus the monitor is ancient, so whatever.
The Kepler can run on an AM3+ socket, so it'll work there. Of course, if he’s just looking for a basic replacement for a stock cooler, it'll do the job fine without any overclocking. That Hyperion is a solid cooler, sure, but it's over $50, and the guy didn't even mention he was planning on overclocking anyway. For a case, you could go with the Zalman Z1.
You need to keep this in mind—Intertech Energon is a hard pass. The same goes for Linkworld, Naviatec, Spire, EVC, and all that other junk with Office in the name... A power supply similar to that one—I can't recall exactly which one right now—has concrete inside of it. 👍
First thing you need is a decent 400W 80+ power supply (whatever you can grab right now), like a Hexagon from Fortron... $100 +/-
That’s pretty much the standard, though you can definitely stumble upon some interesting outliers here and there. Take the L-Cova Office series, for instance—the 600W model. It features a dual 12V rail at 20A, active PFC, and all the necessary protections. A buddy of mine used one to power a Phenoma 955 and a 6850 without any issues, and it stayed surprisingly quiet. Some testers were actually running... CLICK At $250, that power supply is an absolute steal. I don't think you can find them in stores anymore, but if you look around online, you might still stumble upon a decent one that’s worth picking up.
