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PC Upgrade - €300-400

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    #2
    TitianGerm
    Registered Users Posts: 28,096 ✭✭✭✭TitianGerm


    Gbear wrote: »
    I've a really old CPU/Motherboard/RAM (an Intel i5 3570k, 1155 socket motherboard, ddr3 RAM), and one of them (I suspect the RAM) has crapped out and my PC is currently dead in the water.


    Rather than fishing around for some old ddr3 RAM that mightn't even fix the problem, I've decided I'd be better off getting a whole new backbone for my machine.



    1. What is your budget?     [€400, but the less the better]

    2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [gaming, development, running virtual machines]

    3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [no]

    4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [HDDs/SSDs, GPU, PSU, Case, fans, peripherals, cables] (If possible state brand and model of the parts to ensure compatibility)

    5. Do you need a monitor? [No]


    6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [No]

    7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [No]

    8. How can you pay? [Card]

    9. When are you purchasing? [ASAP]

    I've currently the following picked out:


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-Ryzen-Processor-Wraith-Cooler/dp/B07B428V2L/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Ryzen+5+2600&qid=1582373288&sr=8-2


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-B450-PLUS-GAMING-Socket-Motherboard/dp/B07F71ZG35/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Asus+tuf+am4&qid=1582373751&sr=8-3


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0143UM4TC/ref=twister_B083JQXP4J?_encoding=UTF8&th=1


    Comes to about €325.


    I think they're all compatible, although I'm not 100% sure about the RAM.
    I've used OCUK in the past, but they seem to be more expensive, and/or out of stock on some of the parts.


    What do ye think?




    Also, will I need to reinstall windows, and what would be the best way to do it?

    Aria have a deal on a 2600X and Asus Prime motherboard at the minute for £205.

    https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/AMD+Ryzen+5+2600X+%2B+ASUS+PRIME+B450-PLUS+Motherboard+GAMING+BUNDLE?productId=70153

    Keep an eye on Amazon for RAM. They had loads of offers on Crucial Ballistic last week. You could pick up 16GB of 3200mhz for £55.

    I'm sure someone else can probably give better tips though.


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    #3
    Gbear
    Registered Users Posts: 12,775 ✭✭✭✭Gbear


    TitianGerm wrote: »
    Aria have a deal on a 2600X and Asus Prime motherboard at the minute for £205.

    https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/AMD+Ryzen+5+2600X+%2B+ASUS+PRIME+B450-PLUS+Motherboard+GAMING+BUNDLE?productId=70153

    Keep an eye on Amazon for RAM. They had loads of offers on Crucial Ballistic last week. You could pick up 16GB of 3200mhz for £55.

    I'm sure someone else can probably give better tips though.


    That actually works to a few quid more expensive than what I picked out. Also I get free delivery with Prime, but thanks for mentioning that about the RAM. I'll keep an eye out.


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    #4
    Gbear
    Registered Users Posts: 12,775 ✭✭✭✭Gbear


    I've been sleuthing all day and my current selection is this:

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07W837QSF/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1
    MSI B450-A Pro - £80


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07STGGQ18/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1
    Ryzen 5 3600 - £155

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0143UM4TC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1
    Corsair 16GB 3200mhz - £80

    It's about €370 when you take currency ****ery into account.
    A little on the high side, mostly down to deciding on the 3600, but my last lot did me for 6 or 7 years, so I reckon it's a bad thing to quibble over for the sake of a few quid.

    I'll probably pull the trigger on it shortly, but any suggestions in the mean time would be appreciated.


  • Options
    #5
    GHOST MGG
    Registered Users Posts: 940 ✭✭✭GHOST MGG


    Gbear wrote: »
    I've a really old CPU/Motherboard/RAM (an Intel i5 3570k, 1155 socket motherboard, ddr3 RAM), and one of them (I suspect the RAM) has crapped out and my PC is currently dead in the water.


    Rather than fishing around for some old ddr3 RAM that mightn't even fix the problem, I've decided I'd be better off getting a whole new backbone for my machine.



    1. What is your budget?     [€400, but the less the better]

    2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [gaming, development, running virtual machines]

    3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [no]

    4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [HDDs/SSDs, GPU, PSU, Case, fans, peripherals, cables] (If possible state brand and model of the parts to ensure compatibility)

    5. Do you need a monitor? [No]


    6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [No]

    7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [No]

    8. How can you pay? [Card]

    9. When are you purchasing? [ASAP]

    I've currently the following picked out:


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-Ryzen-Processor-Wraith-Cooler/dp/B07B428V2L/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Ryzen+5+2600&qid=1582373288&sr=8-2


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-B450-PLUS-GAMING-Socket-Motherboard/dp/B07F71ZG35/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Asus+tuf+am4&qid=1582373751&sr=8-3


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0143UM4TC/ref=twister_B083JQXP4J?_encoding=UTF8&th=1


    Comes to about €325.


    I think they're all compatible, although I'm not 100% sure about the RAM.
    I've used OCUK in the past, but they seem to be more expensive, and/or out of stock on some of the parts.


    What do ye think?




    Also, will I need to reinstall windows, and what would be the best way to do it?

    You will need to make sure it is the ram that is dead in your board..it could possibly be the power supply..id hate for you to get your new parts to find out your power supply is borked...it has happened to me


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    #6
    Gbear
    Registered Users Posts: 12,775 ✭✭✭✭Gbear


    GHOST MGG wrote: »
    You will need to make sure it is the ram that is dead in your board..it could possibly be the power supply..id hate for you to get your new parts to find out your power supply is borked...it has happened to me

    The PC is turning on. It's not posting. I'm getting an error code on the debugger.


    I've removed everything bar the CPU, the motherboard and the memory. I've tried reseating everything, checked every connection, swapped the RAM sticks to the other slots and I'm getting the same error code every time.


    CPU post-memory initialization. System Management Mode (SMM) initialization.


    Is what the code means. What that means in the Queen's, I haven't a clue.


    I might have a spare PSU, so maybe I can try to swap that out and see if its the issue.


    I'd be surprised though. It's a pretty solid seasonic one, and it's a fair bit younger than everything else. 3 or 4 years at most.


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    #7
    GHOST MGG
    Registered Users Posts: 940 ✭✭✭GHOST MGG


    Try clearing the cmos as this has worked for some with the same problem as yours https://www.howtogeek.com/131623/how-to-clear-your-computers-cmos-to-reset-bios-settings/


  • Options
    #8
    Gbear
    Registered Users Posts: 12,775 ✭✭✭✭Gbear


    GHOST MGG wrote: »
    Try clearing the cmos as this has worked for some with the same problem as yours https://www.howtogeek.com/131623/how-to-clear-your-computers-cmos-to-reset-bios-settings/


    Yeah, I gave it a go a few times but no luck.


    I've the parts ordered now anywho. The Motherboard and RAM arrived this morning. Hopefully the CPU should get here tomorrow.


    On the other point, does anyone know whether it should be plug in and play, or will I need a fresh install of windows?


    There's also a potential problem with B450 chipsets and the newer gen of Ryzen chips, so I might have to flash the BIOS. I'll see how it goes.


  • Options
    #9
    Gbear
    Registered Users Posts: 12,775 ✭✭✭✭Gbear


    After a small amount of panic when my system failed to post and thinking I would indeed have to get a new PSU (because that's the only thing left I haven't replaced), I realised that the BIOS issue might be what's causing it, and sure enough it causes similar problems in other users I've seen, so I'm going to get a version of the new BIOS onto a USB and see if I can get the flash BIOS update thingy to work.

    I will update, for the sake any other users who might encounter a similar problem.


  • Options
    #10
    Gbear
    Registered Users Posts: 12,775 ✭✭✭✭Gbear


    Soooo....

    Got my new PSU today.

    Installed. Didn't work.
    There was an error light on the motherboard, suggesting it wasn't detecting a display output, or something similar, and there was a suggestion in the manual that I might need to install the GPU. Didn't make much sense, but I tried it, and hey ho, it worked. Straight into the BIOS. A little more fiddling and it booted straight into Windows, no problem. No reinstall required. I'll test some programs and some games to make sure everything is up to snuff.

    Just to make sure, I then switched in my old PSU. Also works no problem.

    So I bought a new one for no reason apparently. Ah well. I'll see what the returns policy is for Amazon.

    Just a bit puzzled that it wouldn't post without the GPU installed. I removed it when I was troubleshooting to rule it out. I'd never heard of a machine needing one to function.

    Anywho, it would suggest that the previous problem was my old CPU, Mobo or RAM. The RAM was the oldest so my bet would go on that. Thanks for the suggestions.


  • Options
    #11
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    If your CPU doesn't have integrated graphics then it needs a discrete graphics card to get a display signal.


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    #12
    Gbear
    Registered Users Posts: 12,775 ✭✭✭✭Gbear


    Deleted User wrote: »
    If your CPU doesn't have integrated graphics then it needs a discrete graphics card to get a display signal.

    Ah. Yeah, I double checked the spec there and you're right.

    My last couple were Intels and they did have that, so I just took it for granted.

    I presume that had been the standard for years, but with GPUs now ubiquitous for gaming, maybe it's a way for them to get an edge on performance by sacrificing the integrated grapics.


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    #13
    K.O.Kiki
    Registered Users Posts: 18,707 ✭✭✭✭K.O.Kiki


    No, Intel are ditching iGPU in a lot of their CPUs now, too (any Intel ending in 'F' doesn't have it either).


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