"Emergency" Upgrade

[Master Sigma]

So, and this is embarrassing as heck to admit, but in the process of moving my hardware to a new case and heatsink/fan I accidently killed by motherboard. My current setup was this:

Core 2 Quad Q9550
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P <-- I broke something, not sure what, while in the process of removing an old fansink backplate that was attached with some sort of godforsaken adhesive. Fortunately the new one uses screws.
A-Data 4GB DDR2-800
Corsair HX620 PSU
Crucial M4 256GB SSD
HP ZR22W (1920 x 1080) LCD
EVGA GTX560Ti 448 Core <-- Its all this thing's fault! I was moving my hardware to a new case because I wanted better cooling for it!
Corsair Carbide 400R

<generic placeholder for a bunch of hard drives and optical drives>

All I need is a new CPU, motherboard and RAM. I'm keeping everything else. The issue is that this upgrade wasn't exactly planned, so I don't really have any cash set aside for it. I only have $200 to spend for the CPU and motherboard (RAM is cheap, so I'm not factoring that into the cost). I can't really go over $200, and I'd like to keep it under that if possible.

The only prereq besides cost is that the motherboard needs to have at least 6 SATA ports and 2 useable PCI-E x1 slots.

----

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Web application development (important), games (important), web surfing, and chatting. It'll be doing a bit of everything.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

~$200

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

U.S.A.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

It looks like Intel is the better value right now. So I guess Intel.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Everything except the CPU, Mobo, and RAM.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

No overclocking.

8. What resolution will you be using?

1920 x 1080

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Now, as I don't have a desktop. I'm getting by on my employer supplied laptop.

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

None.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128539

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115078

Should be about on par with the Quad core you have now.

You might be able to find a deal on a used i5 or something for a similar cost. You can also get an i5-3450 from Microcenter for $150 w/ instore pickup.

You could also just hunt down a used S775 motherboard. Probably cost you around $50.

When you say your budget is $200, are you considering that you can probably sell the Q9550 for around $100?

 

[mfenn]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128539

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115078

:thumbsup: to this. Even leaves $20 for 4GB of DDR3 1333 if you wan to keep the whole thing under $200.

 

[Charlie98]

EVGA GTX560Ti 448 Core <-- Its all this thing's fault! I was moving my hardware to a new case because I wanted better cooling for it!
.

It thought it deserves a better processor!!! :sneaky: Nice choice of GPU, though!

 

[RaistlinZ]

OP,

You can't stretch the budget just a tab more? If you sell your Q9550 you can jump up to maybe an i5-2400, which is quite a bit faster than the i3-2100.

Since you won't be overclocking, you'll want to get the fastest stock CPU you can afford, especially if it's going to last you the next few years.

 

[Master Sigma]

Thank you very much for all the advice. A progress report:

I wound up buying a Core i3 2120 on another forum for $100

Got a Newegg Open Box on an MSI H77MA-G43 motherboard for $67.99. I figured it was worth the risk since I know many people have had good luck with Newegg's Open Boxes.

Finally, got 4GB of G.Skill DD3-1600 for $30

Managed to keep it a few bucks under $200.

 

[Master Sigma]

OP,

You can't stretch the budget just a tab more? If you sell your Q9550 you can jump up to maybe an i5-2400, which is quite a bit faster than the i3-2100.

Since you won't be overclocking, you'll want to get the fastest stock CPU you can afford, especially if it's going to last you the next few years.

I had considered getting a i3-2300, but I'd already decided that this build was going to be strictly budget. Since I got an H77 board I'll be able to upgrade to an Ivy Bridge quad later in the year. Or just wait until Haswell is out and rebuild from scratch again.

 

[mfenn]

Thank you very much for all the advice. A progress report:

I wound up buying a Core i3 2120 on another forum for $100

Got a Newegg Open Box on an MSI H77MA-G43 motherboard for $67.99. I figured it was worth the risk since I know many people have had good luck with Newegg's Open Boxes.

Finally, got 4GB of G.Skill DD3-1600 for $30

Managed to keep it a few bucks under $200.

:thumbsup: Nice haul.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Overpaying a bit for the RAM but aside from that you got some nice deals!