Help upgrading my existing rig

[petesamprs]

Hi,
Been a while since i've been on AT but I was looking to upgrade my current setup:

cpu: Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
mobo: Abit IP35-e
RAM: G.SKILL 2x2GB DDR2
HD : 1TB seagate 7200RPM + 3TB seagate 7200RPM
GPU: eVGA 7800GT w/ NV5 Rev. 3
psu: 450W SmartPower
OS: Windows XP 32bit

I had originally built this system in 2005 purely for gaming (with your help), then upgraded the mobo/cpu in 2009 for better video editing.

Over the years my needs have changed, where now I no longer play games on my system, but use it more for general multitasking, playing 1080p movies, serving 1080p movies via PS3 media server/Serviio (sometimes this maxes out my cpu and uses a ton of RAM), excel, and some photo/video editing. Startup takes longer than I would like and the overall responsiveness is not as quick as I would like, even after a clean OS install.

Also, I need to switch to Windows 7 (clean install, home premium 64 bit) since XP's support life is ending.

Some questions:
- Looking at my system and my needs, can my system handle Win7? All else equal, will Win7 be more or less responsive than XP for the same hardware?
- How much benefit would I get buying a SSD for my boot drive? Is that the best bang for buck in terms of general responsiveness?
- How can I tell if adding more RAM would help?
- Any obvious bottlenecks in my setup?

At first I was thinking of going all out with new i5 CPU/mobo, 8gb of DDR3 RAM, win7 and SSD, but that would cost >$700 and seemed overkill for my needs.

thanks.

 

[goobernoodles]

If you're looking for better responsiveness, you definitely want an SSD. They make a very noticeable difference in load times and responsiveness of everything running off of them. You could always buy an SSD and image/clone your current drive to an SSD as a start if you wanted to avoid reinstalling windows. I doubt adding RAM will get you an discernible increase in snappiness; besides, you would need to upgrade to a 64bit OS to actually be able to use the additional memory.

DriveImage XML is a free cloning tool I've used in the past, but I'm sure there's many out there.

 

[alangrift]

I recommend ddr3 ram sticks and upgrading the motherboard to an i7. 8gb or ram will probably run you 60 dollars. Also I recommend getting a video card by nvidia.

 

[Torn Mind]

A Haswell i5 has about double the performance of your C2Q and sips far less power. You can also get rid of the video card too, since the IGP of the 4670 has likely reached the level of a 7800GT.

Your current system is fine for Windows 7. I personally see no reason to avoid 8.1 except for the lack of Aero, but I guess there are some things that people don't like even with start menu programs like Start8 and the native option to boot to the desktop added to 8.1.

 

[nwo]

- How can I tell if adding more RAM would help?

Look at your RAM usage during peak times, or when you have the most programs open. If you are at 80% or higher RAM utilization, then adding more RAM would certainly help.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

If you're looking for better responsiveness, you definitely want an SSD. They make a very noticeable difference in load times and responsiveness of everything running off of them.

+1

That's the only item I would pay to put in that old box. If that doesn't fix the problems then go for a new build.

 

[petesamprs]

Thanks guys, I'll start with a SSD and clean Windows 7 install for now and see if that gets me where I want. If not, I'll do a more thorough upgrade (cpu/mobo/ram).

The only remaining issue is I was hoping to buy the OEM version of win7 to save some $$. But if I find I need to change my mobo/cpu after all, I'll be out of luck. Is my only option to buy the full retail version to avoid this risk?

 

[nwo]

I've never used anything but the OEM version, so I would like to know as well. But, I still think even the retail version is only for 1 PC (1 license key).

 

[Torn Mind]

Legally speaking, the System Builder OEM version of Win7 is meant for systems intended to be sold to another party. Of course, they can't check intent when the copy is activated.

As far as transferring the license to another computer, you would need to have a good reason as to why Microsoft should make an exception to the "tied to the motherboard" rule, such as motherboard death. You might be lucky and simply swap hard drives easy peasy, but it is highly unlikely that you can go from LGA 775 to LGA 1150 due to driver issues.

http://www.zdnet.com/is-microsoft-c...m-builder-licensing-for-windows-8-7000000431/

http://winsupersite.com/windows-7/no-oem-you-windows-7-oem-packaging-not-individuals

This is where Windows 8.1 is better. You can simply buy the full retail version for $110-$120, give or take. Get Start8 or Classic Shell, and set it to boot to the desktop on the Start Menu taskbar, and you have an Aeroless Win7 experience for the most part.

In whatever case of transferring the retail license to a new PC, make sure to nuke your old installation or at least lock it up somewhere in an image or something that can't connect to the internet.

 

[Cerb]

- Looking at my system and my needs, can my system handle Win7? All else equal, will Win7 be more or less responsive than XP for the same hardware?

Yes and yes.

- How much benefit would I get buying a SSD for my boot drive? Is that the best bang for buck in terms of general responsiveness?

A lot, and yes. SSDs excel at handling exactly the problems you're describing.

- How can I tell if adding more RAM would help?

Task manager. You want 20%, ballpark figure, available, at any time, and the more the better. Also, your peak commit should (the right-side commit value), ideally, be less than your RAM capacity. I'd wager going to 8GB would help, provided you also upgrade the OS. Starting with Vista, MS got caching about right, so RAM applications aren't directly using is still used so as not to have to hit the drives. SSDs, while fast, are still slower by several orders of magnitude, than your main memory.

- Any obvious bottlenecks in my setup?

Lack of hearing protection from the 7800GT .

At first I was thinking of going all out with new i5 CPU/mobo, 8gb of DDR3 RAM, win7 and SSD, but that would cost >$700 and seemed overkill for my needs.

Buying new, look at either an FM2 AMD setup, or a 4th-gen Core i3. If you aren't editing lots of high-res photos, and i3 is still quite capable, and the current IGP from Intel and AMD are good enough that a non-gaming, non-professional rig generally won't need a video card. It would still be more expensive than an SSD and more RAM, but also much faster all-around. OTOH, if you try just an SSD now, you could then decide if you wanted to wait longer, or not.

 

[mfenn]

A key thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to upgrade your OS to a 64-bit version (7 or 8.1) in order to take advantage of more RAM. However, buying DDR2 these days doesn't make a whole lot of sense given the prices, so you'd be looking at a CPU/mobo upgrade to get to a DDR3 platform.

If you don't game at all anymore, you don't need to carry forward your 7800 GT, the IGP in either Intel or AMD's new platforms would be sufficient.

I think the following two items are the minimum upgrade:

Crucial M500 240GB $150
Windows 8.1 Full $120 - MS got retail pricing right with Windows 8
Subtotal: $170

Then you can add on a platform upgrade:

Core i3 4330 $125
ASRock B85M Pro4 $70
Team DDR3 1600 8GB $60
Subtotal: $255

If you want a quad, you can sub in the i5 4430 for $180

 

[petesamprs]

Ok got it. Will start with the SSD and 8.1 full version (64 bit) so I have the flexibility to upgrade the rest of my system later if necessary.

In terms of RAM, I agree it doesn't make sense to add more DDR2. Plus, my 32 bit winXP is only seeing 3.25GB of my existing 4GB, so I'll get a small increase anyway when i upgrade to 64 bit 8.1. Also, looking at task manager my system doesn't seem to be constrained by RAM during even peak usage.

Thanks for help.

 

[goobernoodles]

I would go to a store and play with Windows 8 before you spend $120 on it. A lot of people absolutely hate it.

If you already bought it and end up hating it; Classic Shell is freeware that adds some classic windows functionality to Windows 8, mainly the start menu. http://www.classicshell.net/

 

[Torn Mind]

I would go to a store and play with Windows 8 before you spend $120 on it. A lot of people absolutely hate it.

If you already bought it and end up hating it; Classic Shell is freeware that adds some classic windows functionality to Windows 8, mainly the start menu. http://www.classicshell.net/

Completely trivial complaints in most regards; the worst flaw of 8.1 is the axing of Aero Glass, imo. 8.1 allows booting to the desktop directly with a setting in the taskbar properties, and the Classic Shell program you mentioned brings back the Start Menu, essentially eliminating the new interface in 8.1. Otherwise, it retains the many similarities to 7.

 

[goobernoodles]

Completely trivial complaints in most regards; the worst flaw of 8.1 is the axing of Aero Glass, imo. 8.1 allows booting to the desktop directly with a setting in the taskbar properties, and the Classic Shell program you mentioned brings back the Start Menu, essentially eliminating the new interface in 8.1. Otherwise, it retains the many similarities to 7.

They may be trivial in your mind, but to others they may not be. That's why I said go and try it first. The annoyance of the apps feature and not being able to resize apps is a huge annoyance to me. Workarounds (for instance skype) can be very buggy.

Unless he was using touch, which he's not... I personally would just stick with 7 unless he wants the fastest possible boot times or wants the longest possible support from Microsoft.