Question Best Upgrade Option

[oldguygames]

I have a file server that I also use for other basic functions. It does fine for viewing stored media (tv, movies), but I get a lot of lag when streaming online content.

Here are the specs:

CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 250, 3000MHz, 1024KB L2 cache
MOBO: ASUS M4A78LT-M LE
RAM: 8GB

Would it be better to upgrade the CPU to prevent the lag, or just strap a cheap GPU to the system?

 

[turtletarget111]

Athlon II X2 250 is extremely outdated at this point. You're talking PCIe 2.0 and DDR3 memory. No amount of graphics horsepower will restore that chip. If you want to stick on the AMD train, pick up something like the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G. It has four very performant cores for the price, and comes with integrated Radeon graphics, so no video card required. If you want something on the higher end, you could step up to the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G. You could skip AM4 entirely and jump right to AM5, but that will cost significantly more money. A mid-range AM4 system will serve you well into the future. You will of course need to upgrade your memory and motherboard, but with significantly more efficient DDR4 and a newer motherboard platform, the benefits will certainly outweigh the costs. Hope this helped, take care.

 

[oldguygames]

turtle - Thanks for the quick response! I was hoping to stay with the motherboard, so I don't think any of the chips you listed will work. Is there any hope of staying with this motherboard, or should I just upgrade to a more modern CPU/motherboard with integrated graphics? This system won't likely do anything heavier in graphics or processing than its current use.

Thanks, again.

 

[turtletarget111]

It would certainly be a more worthwhile investment to pick up a new chip, RAM, and motherboard for around 250 bucks versus a 200 dollar video card. You can stay on your platform, but remember that your current chip is a dual core running on DDR3 memory. Spending a few hundred dollars on a video card to get a couple extra years out of the system is not worth it in my opinion. If you buy a very low end card, you will be poring money into what is essentially a dead-end platform that will leave no room for expansion or upgradability. If you go with a mid or high tier video card, you will have to sink money into it knowing you will never be able to unlock the full capability when it's kneecapped by the CPU and PCIe 2.0.

Having to spend a little more and rebuild a new system will be a hassle, but the results will speak for themselves. The new platform will last you significantly longer for the investment costs, and AM4 provides you a consistent upgrade path if you want to beef up your system 5-7 years down the road.

Here's a little configured system for your reference. Hope this helped, take care.

 

[oldguygames]

turtle - Thanks for the clarification and the effort. I know my path forward. Take care.