SSD and PSU recommendations?

Hey there. I'm looking for some recommendations on a decent, budget-friendly SSD and a reliable power supply. I wouldn't mind picking up something used if the quality is there. Thanks in advance.

My current setup is a total relic, but it still gets the job done when I need it to.🙂

Intel Core2Duo E4300
ECS P4M890T-M
Sapphire Radeon HD 3870, 512MB GDDR4
2x2GB DDR2 6400
2xSATA, 1xATA, DVD drive...
Right now, I'm running on some generic 400W unit, but it’s definitely time for an upgrade.

If your power supply is running steadily, there’s really no reason to swap it out just because an SSD pulls a measly 2-3W. The only logic in changing it would be if you’re already planning a major hardware overhaul down the road and want to upgrade early for peace of mind—but even then, I’d say it's hard to justify the expense. You're better off putting that money into savings.
As for the SSD,
this is the most budget-friendly option I've come across:
Kingston 120 GB SSDNow V300 sat 3 2.5
Just a heads-up: it doesn't come with a 2.5" to 3.5" mounting bracket, so you'll need to pick one up separately (maybe $3 or so), unless you opt for a kit version, though I doubt that's worth the extra cost.
But if you're curious about something a bit more premium,
Samsung evo kit SSD 120 GB SATA3
The Samsung drive actually performs better in benchmarks, but honestly, you won't notice a significant difference in day-to-day use compared to the other one when you're making the jump from an HDD.

If I were looking to pick up a new SSD myself, I’d definitely lean toward Samsung—their drives are honestly top-tier, especially those 840 models. If you do decide to go with that specific SSD, just make sure you install the Samsung Magician software to get everything optimized, because 👍

It isn't really about saving a few watts on the SSD. I’m upgrading for peace of mind. My power supply died on me, and this backup unit has been running for at least five or six years now. I practically never turn this machine off...

thanks

P.S. I have a quick follow-up question. I'm not sure if this is the right place for it, but here goes🙂
Which version of Windows would be best for this setup given the hardware limitations? I'm thinking about moving away from Windows XP—should I jump to Windows 7 or 8?

It’s got a 5-year warranty, top-tier quality, and it's modular... I guess you could just set it aside for later if you wanted.

With a 3-year warranty, it'll probably get the job done...

Hey everyone, I need a little more help here...
This ancient motherboard is barely managing to handle that nice Samsung SSD, and honestly, everything about moving to Windows 7 is becoming a headache. I really need a full upgrade to make it work.

intel core2duo e4300
ECS P4M890T-M
Sapphire Radeon HD 3870, 512MB GDDR4
2x2GB DDR2 6400
2xSATA, 1xATA, SSD, DVD...
Chicony HPA-400W, Advanced Highly HPA Series

The machine isn't for gaming. I just run basic office apps, browse the web, watch movies, and maybe do some light video editing in Avid or Premiere—just for fun.
I’m looking for recommendations on the cheapest possible upgrade that won't die on me immediately. I need a motherboard, RAM, and a processor. I wouldn't mind a motherboard with integrated graphics if it outperforms my current card, provided it has an HDMI port. If you think it's absolutely necessary, I could put some money toward a newer graphics card. My absolute limit is $333, though I’d prefer to stay a few hundred less if possible. My hardware requirements are truly minimal. I've always stuck with Intel, but I'm open to a budget AMD build if it doesn't compromise performance.

Sorry for this low-fi hassle, and thanks a million to everyone. 🙂

Maybe some Adata DDR3 4GB 1333MHz (AD3U1333B2G9-R) would work here. I guess.
Gigabyte GA-H81M-DS2V motherboard, LGA 1150 socket, iH81 chipset, DDR3 support, SATA3, USB 3.0, DVI, mATX.
Maybe an Intel Celeron G1820 would work, I guess.

Total comes to $954.20 or so. $13 Shipping via FedEx.

Just so you know, you won't find an IDE/ATA connector on any modern motherboard anymore. I guess that's just how things work now.

And honestly, this is just the bare minimum... since the graphics are built right into the processor itself.

So, yeah—this is pretty much the baseline. I basically just grabbed the cheapest parts I could find at Best Buy. I noticed crimsonstag84 went with a budget-friendly setup too, so you can definitely follow that route if you want to 😉... Like I mentioned before, you've got an Intel processor with integrated graphics, so you just plug a DVI cable straight into the motherboard and you're good to go. Since it's a newer motherboard, it actually has a SATA III interface—that's the 6gb/s stuff—which is great for getting the best performance out of an SSD. And well, since you're still running on DDR2 RAM, you'll need to pick up something new, so I picked out 4GB of DDR3 RAM to fit the board. The motherboard also has a PCIe slot, so once you've saved up a bit more cash, you can just grab a dedicated graphics card, pop it in, and call it a day.

The HD 3870 actually crushes that integrated graphics 😬

If they really need HDMI, I guess they could grab an Asrock H81M-HDS motherboard. They could sell the HD 3870 then, but honestly, they’ll have HDMI anyway once they pick up a new card 😁

crimsonstag84 said:The HD 3870 actually crushes that integrated graphics 😬

If they really need HDMI, I guess they could grab an Asrock H81M-HDS motherboard. They could sell the HD 3870 then, but honestly, they’ll have HDMI anyway once they pick up a new card 😁

But I’m assuming my current card is still viable. It runs on PCI-E and has HDMI for 1080p, right? Is that enough?
The fan started making this grinding noise, so I'll have to spend some time playing handyman at home. 😁D

Fair enough, it works. I guess I misread your first post and thought you didn't have an HDMI port on that thing. If that's the case, then we're all good...

Oh, right, one more thing. I need at least one standard PCI slot—specifically for a card with a parallel port. Are there even many motherboards left that actually feature those? :/
Or maybe I saw some models that come with a built-in parallel port?

thanks

So, this Asus s1150 H81M-C actually features a PCI slot plus a COM port.

Is it junk?

Specifically, does that whole H81M series run all the way up to $133

You could probably do this too:

Alright, here’s the plan based on your advice, with a few tweaks:

Intel Pentium DualCore 3.0 GHz LGA1150 3MB (G3220) - $133
RAM DDR3 PC12800 1600MHz 4GB Kingston HyperX Blu CL9 - $100
ASRock s1150 H81M-GL motherboard - $113

Totaling $346, from Edigital

Is this setup safe on a Chicony HPA-400W?
The ASRock site claims the memory is compatible, but please just tell me if I'm better off sticking with the Sapphire Radeon HD 3870, 512MB GDDR4, rather than relying on the integrated graphics on this processor.

The issue is I'll need to swap out the fan on that Sapphire card. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's even worth the effort. I'd probably just slap on some cheap cooler; it's not like the 3870 runs incredibly hot, and I'll just grab a proper GPU down the road anyway. Is the D-Sub output on the motherboard sufficient as a temporary fix?

@crimsonstag84, thanks for everything.

Your RAM is compatible, the HD 3870 will run just fine with those parts, and honestly, that Chicony power supply is more than enough for this setup.

Just a little heads-up—save yourself the headache and grab your parts from a different shop. That Edigital place is honestly a joke when it comes to service... plus, if you ever have to deal with a warranty claim, you'll be waiting forever because they ship everything back to Mexico for repairs.

G3220
Asrock H81M-HDS
Kingston 4GB 1600 MHZ

graniteharbor85 said:Your RAM is compatible, the HD 3870 will run just fine with those parts, and honestly, that Chicony power supply is more than enough for this setup.

Just a little heads-up—save yourself the headache and grab your parts from a different shop. That Edigital place is honestly a joke when it comes to service... plus, if you ever have to deal with a warranty claim, you'll be waiting forever because they ship everything back to Mexico for repairs.

G3220
Asrock H81M-HDS
Kingston 4GB 1600 MHZ

I wish we could actually have a different shop for once instead of always dealing with PayPal.