Advice on upgrading Foxconn A76ML-K - Video server

[simonmason]

A few years ago I built a video server using a Foxconn A76ML-K board, 2x1GB RAM, and an Athlon 64 x2 6000+ 3.00GHz processor.

It runs fine and serves up video throughout the house using Plex. However, recently it has started to bog down when recording Video. I record with Plex and PlayOn on the server and I have had to keep dropping the video quality to ensure successful recording.

Before I think about replacing the mobo, I thought I would ask for some advice.

According to the specs it supports:

The Foxconn A76ML-K supports AM3 AMD processors including the Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64 X2, Sempron and the latest AM2+ K10 Phenom series AMD processors.

Also it supports 2x DDR3-1600(OC)/1333/1066 DIMMs, Dual Channel, Max Capacity upto 8GB.

I assume I can pick up a new processor and/or more ram. Would anyone recommend either option or bag it and start fresh? Thanks.

 

[rocktalkrock]

Although that is a very old motherboard, if it's been working well enough up to now, an inexpensive upgrade would make sense. I think the best upgrade you could make to that machine would be the RAM. 2GB may have been enough a few years go when you built it, but that's not much in 2017. If you can find 8GB that does not cost too much, that would be ideal. I would not upgrade the CPU unless you can find one very cheap.

Remember if you build a new machine it not only will cost you way more, but you will have the headache of getting it to work properly. It can sometime become very frustrating.