Upgrade my old desktop or just buy a new one?

urbanowl81 MemberOP

27 messages
joined Nov 2019

#1 · Jan 29, 2021

Since I haven't played anything in ages (last thing was BF2), I just need a desktop for browsing the forums 🙂, running accounting software plus a stock trading app, Excel, Word, YouTube, etc. Basically, my requirements are pretty basic. I honestly think this old rig could keep going if the memory wasn't such a massive bottleneck; I was thinking about letting it retire gracefully. It’s running a Q9650, which back in the day (around '07 or '08) was top-tier, along with G.Skill DDR2 memory (4x2GB). The ATI 4850 was swapped for a GTX 580, added an SSD and an HDD, and so on. But man, this memory is killing me. If I have accounting software running in the background, I can barely open a few tabs before it tells me I'm out of memory—maybe one or two more if I don't have YouTube open, which is incredibly annoying. Even though 8GB shouldn't be *that* pathetic, I don't know. From what I can see, it isn't easy to find DDR2 sticks that would actually help (like 4x4 or 2x8GB). The motherboard (Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3) supports up to 16GB, but right now it's sitting at 8GB. I found some used Kingston 8GB 1600 stick on AliExpress LINK, but I have no idea if it'll actually work properly. To be honest, I really don't want to dump $70+ into this old machine, though if it actually fixes the problem, it's still way cheaper than buying something new. What do you guys recommend?

If I decide to go for a new build, what's the best move? Like, how much should a decent modern PC cost? I saw someone in another thread put together a build with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and a GTX 1660, only to get told it was "bottom of the barrel" because the parts are older generation (LINK). I'm out of the loop; I've been reading that there's a shortage and prices for older components are driving up (makes sense, given the pandemic).

fadedorca66 Regular

372 messages
joined Nov 2022

#2 · Jan 29, 2021

What does that out-of-memory error actually look like? I guess it shouldn't even be happening, since it's supposed to just swap over to virtual memory when you run out...

urbanowl81 MemberOP

27 messages
joined Nov 2019

#3 · Jan 29, 2021

fadedorca66 said:What does that out-of-memory error actually look like? That shouldn't be happening. If you run out of RAM, the system is supposed to swap to virtual memory...

Exactly. I tried searching online for an identical screenshot—which would have been easier if I hadn't just kept opening more tabs 🙂—and all I found was a mountain of "fixes." I already tried switching from Chrome (my usual driver) over to Edge or Opera, but the exact same thing happens.

ps. turned off hardware acceleration, so I'll test it out.

pps. looks like disabling hardware acceleration fixed it 🙂 (opened a bunch of tabs and everything works fine), but I went to check my virtual memory settings and—it was disabled. No idea why. Probably messed something up when I installed the SSD.

Bryan Taylor6 Active Member

179 messages
joined Oct 2017

#4 · Jan 30, 2021

You absolute genius, you actually managed to kill the VM🤦

And that hardware setup? Pretty mediocre...

Your SSD is probably faster than that DDR2 RAM. Bump that virtual memory up to 12GB or higher—it usually defaults to under 8GB by default

urbanowl81 MemberOP

27 messages
joined Nov 2019

#5 · Jan 30, 2021

I turned on hardware acceleration because there was zero logic in thinking it would fix anything—that was clearly just a fluke, even if the internet claims it’s the go-to solution for the issue mentioned above. Anyway, it's on now and everything seems fine, though I don't see much of a performance boost from it. Not sure if the SSD feels any faster since it's on an old motherboard without SATA 3, so the drive is bottlenecked anyway, but whatever. I clicked the option to auto-adjust (at the top, not per item), and it set itself to 7.6GB. I'm leaving it alone while it runs. 😁

As for that VM situation, I can't even be surprised; it's pure madness. I can't quite remember, but maybe during some late-night session when an update wouldn't download or something else needed space on my C drive, I noticed the pagefile was massive and just toggled it off, then forgot about it. Back when I was using XP or Vista, a few GBs was plenty, and an 80GB C partition was total overkill. Once that filled up later on, I didn't have the option to change it anymore. It's also possible that back in 2007 or 2008, someone advised me to disable the VM because I had enough RAM for the time, so there was no point pairing it with a slow HDD. It's wild how that setting managed to fly under my radar all this time.

fadedorca66 Regular

372 messages
joined Nov 2022

#6 · Jan 30, 2021

Yeah, suggesting you shut down the VM is honestly pretty useless and kind of a dumb tip 😁

Since everything seems to be running fine now, I'm guessing you won't be picking up any new gear because this setup should be plenty for what you need...

Jerry Murphy3 Newcomer

9 messages
joined Nov 2020

#7 · Jan 30, 2021

urbanowl81 said:Since I haven't really played anything in ages (the last thing I touched was BF2), I just need a desktop for browsing the forums 🙂, running some accounting software, a stock trading app, Excel, Word, YouTube, and so on. Basically, my requirements are pretty basic. I honestly think this old machine could keep going if memory wasn't such a massive bottleneck; otherwise, I'm planning to let it retire gracefully. The old rig has a Q9650, which was top-of-the-line back in the day (around '07 or '08), G.Skill DDR2 RAM (4x2GB), an ATI 4850 that was swapped for a GTX 580, plus an SSD and an HDD. But man, that memory is killing me—if I have an accounting program running in the background, I can only open a couple of tabs before it tells me it's out of memory. Maybe a few more if I don't have YouTube open, but it's frustrating. Even though 8GB shouldn't be *that* little by today's standards, I don't know. From what I can see, it isn't easy finding DDR2 sticks that would actually help (like 4x4 or 2x8GB). The motherboard (a Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3) supports up to 16GB, but right now it's sitting at 8GB. I found a used 8GB 1600 Kingston stick on AliExpress LINK, but I have no idea if it'll even work properly. To be honest, I'm a bit reluctant to sink $50 or so into this old computer, though if it fixes the issue, it's much cheaper than buying a new one. What would you recommend?

If I go the route of buying something new, what's the best move? How much would a decent, modern PC cost these days? I saw someone in another thread put together a build with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and a GTX 1660, only to get told it was "bottom of the barrel" because the components are older generation (LINK). I'm a bit out of the loop; I've been reading that there's a shortage and prices for older parts are climbing (understandable, given the pandemic).

I wouldn't suggest building a configuration with an AMD Ryzen. You mentioned yourself that you aren't a gamer, and I assume you want a computer that lasts and stays reliable for the long haul.
Go with an Intel's motherboard; the ones you'll need aren't expensive. You can find them for under $500.
Grab a 4-core processor (don't go lower than 4 physical cores; things run much smoother with at least 4), and nowadays, an NVMe drive is standard practice (and they aren't pricey either).
I know some people might criticize me for not giving specific suggestions for processor types or memory, but if you're interested, I can put together a reasonable build for you.
Just pay attention to the chipset. It doesn't have to be the latest 1200 series, but remember, once you pick a motherboard, you have to choose your processor based on that.
For example:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/motherboard-example-link
and then
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/intel-core-i3-9100-link

You won't even need a dedicated graphics card (though you certainly can buy one and plug it in).

Bryan Taylor6 Active Member

179 messages
joined Oct 2017

#8 · Jan 30, 2021

Come on, please... that platform is a total wash. What kind of motherboard from $400 is he even going to use for basic web browsing and office work?

Are you just trying to offload old stock that nobody else wants to touch?

urbanowl81 MemberOP

27 messages
joined Nov 2019

#9 · Jan 30, 2021

fadedorca66 said:Yeah, suggesting you shut down the VM is honestly just useless, dumb advice. 😁

Since everything is running fine now, I assume you won't be buying anything new since this setup handles your needs just fine...

It’s actually surprising how smoothly this thing runs considering the PC is about 13-14 years old. I pushed it to the absolute limit last night. It almost gave up the ghost near the shipping containers (not the first time either), though it's definitely nearing its expiration date.

I still remember the old build: an AMD Ryzen 5 3600, a 1660ti, some SSD—probably a Samsung EVO 500—and 16GB of G.Skill 3200 RAM on an ASRock motherboard. No monitor, no peripherals, no HDD since I already had those. Maybe a $6,000 or $6,500 budget back then; nothing crazy.

Bryan Taylor6 Active Member

179 messages
joined Oct 2017

#10 · Jan 30, 2021

If you aren't gaming, you could easily save $667 by just sticking with your old GPU... an older setup is plenty for browsing and basic office work, and what you listed is totally fine...

wiredotter14 Regular

433 messages
joined Aug 2007

#11 · Jan 30, 2021

Jerry Murphy3, that i3 9100 and motherboard combo is hands down one of the worst deals out there.

@urbanowl81/">@@urbanowl81, what’s the actual budget for this new build? And what are you even doing with it? I didn't catch the specifics in your previous posts.

P.S.

Yeah, like Bryan Taylor6 said, you can just hang onto the old GPU if it's still decent.
Instead, maybe build something around an i3 10100 f. It’s an awesome processor—basically performs like an i7 7700—but costs next to nothing.

Jerry Murphy3 Newcomer

9 messages
joined Nov 2020

#12 · Jan 30, 2021

Bryan Taylor6 said:Come on, man, that platform is totally obsolete. What kind of motherboard would he even need for just browsing the web or basic office tasks from $400?????

Are you just trying to offload old stock that nobody else wants to touch?

Back in the day, those vintage computer magazines used to claim you could still use old hardware for light web surfing. Those days are long gone. Today’s internet is incredibly hungry for processing power. Just opening up Facebook can make an older processor start sweating under the load.
That's why he needs something decent. This motherboard isn't expensive at all, and it'll serve him well for quite a while.

The CPU I mentioned has 4 cores, which is a standard Intel i3 that won't break the bank.
The worst thing he could do right now is buy an AMD build, only to find himself needing to swap everything out in three years.

Jerry Murphy3 Newcomer

9 messages
joined Nov 2020

#13 · Jan 30, 2021

wiredotter14;84341407 said:Jerry Murphy3, that i3 9100 and motherboard combo is easily the worst deal I've ever seen in my life.

Well, that depends entirely on why you think so.

wiredotter14 Regular

433 messages
joined Aug 2007

#14 · Jan 30, 2021

Jerry Murphy3 said:It works if you actually explain why.

Look, it's just an old-gen chip without Hyperthreading—basically like an old i5-7400. For $67 less money, you can grab an i3 10100 f with Hyperthreading, which performs more like an i7 7700. Plus, pairing an expensive overclocking motherboard with a chip like that is just pure nonsense.

A B460 board paired with an i3 10100 f at roughly $267 and $233 puts you at about $500 total, and you'll get way better performance than that combo you're looking at for over $667.

P.S.

What does the motherboard have to do with CPU power? You're recommending a weak, overpriced entry-level processor on a high-end board....

P.S.2, saying a $400 board isn't expensive for this setup? Total troll move.

Jerry Murphy3 Newcomer

9 messages
joined Nov 2020

#15 · Jan 30, 2021

wiredotter14 said:Since that's an older generation chip without Hyperthreading—kind of like an old i5 such as a 7400—for $67 a little less, you can grab an i3 10100 f with Hyperthreading, which performs more like an i7 7700. Plus, pairing a pricey motherboard with an overclocking chipset for that specific CPU just doesn't make much sense.

A B460 motherboard for, say, $267 combined with an i3 10100 f at about $233 brings the total to roughly $500. That setup offers significantly better performance than your current combo, which sits north of $667.

P.S.

What does the motherboard have to do with the actual processing power? You're recommending a weak, poor-value entry-level processor paired with an expensive board....

P.S.2, you claim a $400 board isn't expensive for this build, but honestly, it feels like you're just trolling me here....

By all means, she should look into your suggestion too. I really don't mind. Instead of an Intel i3, you're suggesting an Intel i3. Fine by me.

urbanowl81 MemberOP

27 messages
joined Nov 2019

#16 · Jan 31, 2021

wiredotter14 said:Jerry Murphy3, that i3 9100 and motherboard combo is a terrible deal.

@urbanowl81/">@@urbanowl81, what's your budget for a new build and what are you actually doing with it? I haven't quite caught that from your posts.

P.S.

Yeah, like Bryan Taylor6 said, you can just stick with your old GPU if it's still decent.
Maybe build something around an i3 10100 f instead—it's an excellent processor (roughly i7 7700 territory) for next to nothing.

Thanks. Since my current setup is working fine, I'm not sure I'll pull the trigger on a new one right now. Don't want to waste anyone's time needlessly.

I'll keep these tips in mind, though. I was thinking of something beefier, like the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (surprised people were hating on it in another thread), a 1660ti, etc. That feels like a solid, mainstream PC for a reasonable price. Basically, whatever counts as the current generation for those parts, just so I don't feel stupid waiting two years only to pay more in 2021 for the exact same machine that's been out since 2019.

wiredotter14 Regular

433 messages
joined Aug 2007

#17 · Jan 31, 2021

Just ignore that one post about the 3600, especially since it was totally taken out of context.

Alexander Moore67 Active Member

137 messages
joined Jun 2013

#18 · Jan 31, 2021

Jerry Murphy3 said:She’s more than welcome to look at your suggestion. I really don't mind. You're basically suggesting an Intel i3 instead of an Intel i3. Fine by me.

"I don't mind"?! After lecturing everyone about the i3 9100 having a 6692 CPU mark when the i3 10100 f hits 8845—which is over 30% faster—and then pushing expensive motherboards? It just shows you don't know what you're talking about. Maybe try actually learning before giving advice.

fadedorca66 Regular

372 messages
joined Nov 2022

#19 · Jan 31, 2021

urbanowl81 said:I guess I'll jot down those suggestions, though I was hoping for something beefier—like what I mentioned before, maybe a Ryzen 5 3600 (surprised to see people hating on that elsewhere), a 1660ti, etc. That feels more like a solid, mainstream build for a decent price. Basically, just staying current with this generation so I don't feel like an idiot for waiting two years only to drop even more cash in 2021 on basically the same rig from 2019.

The thing is, there’s a massive hardware shortage right now, so prices have gone through the roof. Everyone's stuck at home with nothing to do but buy PC parts. On top of that, factories are slammed making the PlayStation 5 and Xbox, plus crypto mining is blowing up again since prices are climbing. So, someone might have said that CPU and GPU combo isn't worth it right now simply because they're overpriced. Honestly, a 3600 is a great chip, and the card is fine too; it just hurts to recommend that specific setup when you could've picked up the exact same thing for $333 less
just a month ago.

Upgrade my old desktop or just buy a new one?

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