Is that i7 you had—or maybe still have—really not cutting it anymore? Honestly, buying a whole new motherboard and CPU right now would be a massive waste of money, especially since you’re sitting on a processor that’s still perfectly capable.
If you're truly hell-bent on an upgrade, look into picking up an NVIDIA Quadro or perhaps an AMD workstation card instead. Or, if you must, just bump up the RAM.
Leave the CPU and the motherboard exactly as they are.
Jesse Jones15 said:Which GPU is better for this motherboard? The Radeon HD 4650 or the Nvidia 9600? The Radeon has 1GB of DDR2, or should I go with the Nvidia at 512MB of DDR3?
G6-Tapatalk
The 9600 ought to be faster. Honestly, you're better off finding something more substantial; both of those options are pretty weak. If your power supply can handle it, I actually have a Radeon 4890 with 1GB of DDR5 available for $50, complete with the full bundle.
The board features two slots, utilizing an LGA 1150 socket with an H81 chipset.
I am not inquiring because I have a desperate need for an extra 2GB of RAM. My actual reasoning concerns the fact that Intel HD graphics see a significant performance boost when memory operates in dual-channel mode. It effectively doubles the bandwidth to 128-bit, whereas running in single-channel limits the memory bus to a mere 64-bit.
That is why I am asking; I might put together a budget PC to save some cash by opting for 2GB instead of 4GB, since 4GB should technically suffice for this specific configuration.
However, I want that Intel HD graphics performance to be at its absolute peak.
Quick question for the group. I was wondering if anyone here knows whether dual channel mode will actually kick in if I mix a 4GB stick with a 2GB stick, or am I forced to run identical 4GB plus 4GB modules? Right now, I've got 4GB installed, but I'm thinking about tossing in an extra 2GB module. Specifically, this is running on an H81 chipset.
Robert Rodriguez2 said:Are you seriously suggesting all three of those builds include a complete set of Peripherals? I find that highly unlikely... just an SSD alone could easily run up the cost by $400-$150...
I didn't account for the Peripherals, my apologies. It slipped my mind.
Robert Rodriguez2 said:You have to consider the massive overhead for chassis manufacturers if they had to "license" modules for a single unified platform. It would limit their sales potential significantly. While certain boards might not play nice with specific chassis types, there isn't really such a thing as a dedicated chassis specifically for AMD versus one for Intel.
The whole issue with DDR2 memory being incompatible is mostly because the AMD versions lacked an integrated memory controller on the chip itself. Consequently, when you try to run them on an Intel board, the system simply won't recognize them. It’s a peculiar quirk specific to DDR2; you don't see these kinds of headaches once you move up to DDR3.
Robert Rodriguez2 said:these are just niche edge cases. RAM should work right out of the box regardless of whether you're running an Intel or AMD setup. 🕺
It doesn't need verifying. High-density AMD only memory is designed specifically for AMD platforms; on an Intel S775 platform, it simply won't function, barring some extremely rare exceptions.
Jesse Jones15 said:Is anyone actually planning on picking up RAM from this link? If so, which specific module? To my mind, those shown in the first photo look compatible too.
They should all be fine. Though, one really ought to ask the seller if the RAM is intended for Intel systems, just to rule out any compatibility issues with AMD modules.
Christian Miller48 said:Thanks for the input, everyone. I’m definitely leaning toward that Samsung model, even though I don't usually track price fluctuations. Is there any chance of seeing a discount right before or during the Christmas season at major US retailers?
It's possible, though nobody can give you a definitive guarantee on that. From what I've gathered, the IT industry tends to be largely immune to those typical Christmas sales; they rarely bother with discounts.😁
It is technically possible to squeeze in 8GB of RAM at that price point, but you’d be forced to swap in a GT 1030 and some cheap off-brand power supply from a place like Walmart. Honestly, it's better to leave things as they are for now; upgrading the memory later on is a simple enough task.
Jesse Jones15 said:A buddy of mine has an old bucket of a PC, but he needs some RAM. Does anyone know which sticks work with this motherboard? Or what's recommended??
The board is a Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3L
G6-Tapatalk
It takes DDR2 800MHz, though 1066MHz should work too. He checked Craigslist, but I doubt finding anything new is viable; if it exists, it'll be overpriced. It’s an LGA 775 board designed for Intel processors, things like the Q6600 or E8500.
PS, watch out. He was browsing a lot of DDR2 memory on Craigslist that's specifically for AMD, so don't buy the wrong thing. Generally, you'd want to grab a 2x2GB kit.
wiredotter14 said:Just call an authorized service center for one of the brands you ordered and ask them. Honestly, it probably just comes down to the specific shop and their individual contract with the manufacturer. There aren't any federal laws governing this specific issue. I doubt everyone will honor it.
I don't even feel like calling them. I’m not going to stress myself out over a few extra bucks. I’d much rather buy locally and leave some money in the pockets of people right here in the States—whatever you want to call them. If I need something specific that isn't available domestically, then maybe I'll order from overseas, but that's the exception, not the rule. Local workers need to eat, feed their kids, and make a living. Besides, prices for gear here are pretty fair anyway. At least I know I have an authorized service center nearby that will actually handle my warranty claim. I'm not interested in mailing a broken product somewhere else and wasting my time just to save a handful of dollars. No thanks.
I end up spending those extra couple hundred bucks on coffee and cigarettes anyway, so what's the difference?🙂
Kimberly Gomez34 said:Where on earth do you even find such inaccurate information in the age of the internet? 😬
Every pci-e x16 slot delivers 75w
On the Lenovo website, they state that—likely because of the PSU design—but it explicitly says what I just said: a maximum of 40W! I am well aware that a slot can provide up to 75W without needing a 6 or 8-pin connector, but that is simply what they wrote.👍
Anyway, the power supply puts out about 12V at 14A, if that even means anything! At least that is what is printed on it.
Every product comes with a manufacturer’s warranty valid at an authorized service center, but my actual concern is whether items bought directly from them can be serviced here locally. If they can, then fine, no issue. If not, then the whole thing is just a massive headache and a complete waste of time and sanity.
I was just reviewing the specs again—thank goodness I remembered! It says the pci-e 2.0x16 slot is capped at 40W max, and I already ordered the GT 1030🙂. Those 75W models simply won't work here.
crimsonstag84 said:The GT 710 isn't really any stronger than integrated graphics (though the DDR5 version might give you a tiny bump), and I don't think you can even find a GT 720 around here lately. I guess you only see a real jump in performance once you move up to the GT 1030.
Well, you aren't wrong about the 710. It isn't stronger. But that's specifically because I'm running on single channel RAM. From what I've gathered online, single channel memory drastically throttles whatever potential the Intel HD graphics actually have.
Single channel operates in 64-bit memory mode, whereas dual channel runs at 128-bit. The difference is massive—it's practically double the bandwidth.
crimsonstag84 said:Assassin's Creed Origins feels pretty sluggish on most quad-core processors, especially if you're running one of the weaker ones. It might not be able to fully push an RX 560 or a GTX 1050, but I guess you'll still run into some frame drops regardless.
I am playing it myself. I wouldn't say I'm complaining too much; it works fine for me since the game isn't some frantic shooter where you're flying around everywhere. Still, that occasional stuttering is a bit of a nuisance.
I suppose I'll just leave the r7 360 inside for a while longer, at least until I decide to overhaul the entire platform.
On another note, what do you think about whether a Lenovo 180 w 85 + can handle a GT 1030 paired with a Pentium g4400? If my math is correct, the total draw for the CPU, GPU, hard drive, and memory should sit around 100W.
Lenovo mentions compatibility with a GT 720 or a GT 710, but they don't specify anything else. If I pick up the GT 1030, I’ll just have to see how it goes. It ought to work.
I’ll skip starting a new thread here. I’ve got an AMD CPU x4 840 and I'm wondering what the absolute ceiling is for a GPU paired with it. I might even overclock if it becomes necessary. Currently, I'm running an r7 260 x—basically just a rebranded 7790—with 2GB, but it simply lacks the muscle for modern titles. As for the platform itself, I won't be upgrading that for at least a year or two.
I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable regarding CPUs and GPUs, yet I am uncertain if I would encounter excessive bottlenecking by stepping up to a more powerful card. I am looking at something in the neighborhood of a GTX 1050 or perhaps an RX580.
I am not chasing High or Ultra settings; I just want decent performance on Medium. For instance, Assassin's Creed Origins currently runs for me on Medium at roughly 20-35 fps, occasionally dipping below 20 (down to 17-18), with a peak of maybe 45-50 fps.
Also, I picked up a Lenovo SFF for the kids yesterday. It has a Pentium g4400, 4GB of RAM, and a 1TB HDD. The SFF unit uses a Lenovo 180 w 85 + power supply. Would a GT 1030 actually work in there given the weak power supply? They mostly play legal games like Lego titles, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and things of that nature.