[SOLVED] I need to upgrade my desktop

[Coldvirus]

Greetings everyone

Its been about 4 years since my last upgrade and i kinda lost track of what is good right now, so i need some advice.
I am not gaming that much anymore, thats why my GTX970 and my i5 are sufficient for now. I am basically just coding and cutting videos. The biggest problem is waiting for about 2+ minutes until i can use my pc, plus the noise.

My goal is to:

• Make it more quiet (So maybe a new fancy Case)
• Increase RAM to either 16 or 22 GB
• Finally get an SSD, 2 times 500 GB for each OS

I used to have 2x8 GB of RAM, but one of them failed me. I am not sure if the mobo or the RAM is faulty , however everything else works.

My rig consists of:

• OS: Windows 10 64 bit & Ubuntu 17.4 dual booted
• MOBO: AsRock H97 Anniversary, https://www.asrock.com/mb/intel/h97 anniversary/ for the specs
• RAM: 1 * DDR3 8 Gb
• PSU: Corsair CX 500 with 500 watts
• CPU: Intel Core i5 4690
• GPU: Gtx 970

I hope I did not forget anything important and want to thank everyone that helps me in advance !

Here a rough idea: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/NjNHzN

 

[Lutfij]

First, change the PSU out to a Seasonic M12II 620W unit, at the very least if you plan on retaining the rest of the hardware in your build.

Second, in order to upgrade the ram, you should look at a 4x8GB DDR3-1600MHz 1.5v~65v kit. Mixing and matching will only induce headaches and issues.

Third, since you're on the SATA 3 ports, I'd suggest looking at an Adata SU800 just to keep costs down. You should also make sure you're on the latest BIOS update for your motherboard after which it's imperative that you figure out if the ram slots aren't compromised.

You can source a kit of ram from a friend or neighbor to see if the slots work. If they don't then the option for a ram upgrade is moot.

 

[Coldvirus]

Thanks a lot for the input!

Why the PSU upgrade? PcPartPicker says my watt usage should be around 350 Watt which should go well with the new hardware.

And budget is not too much of an issue. Is there a significant pro to choosing a Samsung or Crucial SSD instead of the Adata SU800 ?

One more question, do you by any chance have a good brand for the RAM ?

 

[DSzymborski]

Thanks a lot for the input!

Why the PSU upgrade? PcPartPicker says my watt usage should be around 350 Watt which should go well with the new hardware.

And budget is not too much of an issue. Is there a significant pro to choosing a Samsung or Crucial SSD instead of the Adata SU800 ?

One more question, do you by any chance have a good brand for the RAM ?

The problem isn't the wattage, it's the quality. The old green letter Corsair CX units weren't very good and if it's been in there since you put together your Haswell build, it's likely on its last legs.

 

[Coldvirus]

Okay, gotta switch my PSU.That was the last thing i thought i have to change 😀

One more thing about the mobo. I have 2 RAM moduls. If i put only module a into the mobo everything works. If i put only module b in the mobo the pc keeps on restarting over and over again.

Is that enough information for me to know that the mobo is working properly?

 

[DSzymborski]

Okay, gotta switch my PSU.That was the last thing i thought i have to change 😀

One more thing about the mobo. I have 2 RAM moduls. If i put only module a into the mobo everything works. If i put only module b in the mobo the pc keeps on restarting over and over again.

Is that enough information for me to know that the mobo is working properly?

It's likely that it's the RAM stick if it works fine with the other one.

Slow startups can frequently be caused by a dying hard drive or simply a Windows issue. If you're installing an SSD, that's a good time for a fresh install, obviously.

 

[geofelt]

Use memtest86 to test ram.
You should be able to complete a full pass with NO errors.
Take the single known good stick and test it in each of the motherboard ram slots.
If you have a bad slot, you will need to replace the motherboard.

If the motherboard is ok, buy a 2 x 8gb DDR3 kit that matches the specs of your good ram stick.
You will be guaranteed 16gb. Then try the old 8gb stick.
If it works, great, you now have 24gb.
16gb will run in dual channel mode, and the odd 8gb will run in single channel mode.
That is called flex mode.

A ssd is a great performance enhancer.
Everything you do will be much quicker.

On the case, I heartily concur.
Looks count.
Bust your budget for a case you love.
An efficient cooling case will be quieter.
Look for at least two 120/140mm front intakes that are filtered.
The 140mm fans will be quieter.

The stock intel cooler will do the job.
But, it will get noisy as it spins up under load.
Consider a tower type cooler with a 120mm fan.

On a psu replacement, I suggest a 550w seasonic focus.

 

[Coldvirus]

Use memtest86 to test ram.
You should be able to complete a full pass with NO errors.
Take the single known good stick and test it in each of the motherboard ram slots.
If you have a bad slot, you will need to replace the motherboard.

If the motherboard is ok, buy a 2 x 8gb DDR3 kit that matches the specs of your good ram stick.
You will be guaranteed 16gb. Then try the old 8gb stick.
If it works, great, you now have 24gb.
16gb will run in dual channel mode, and the odd 8gb will run in single channel mode.
That is called flex mode.

A ssd is a great performance enhancer.
Everything you do will be much quicker.

On the case, I heartily concur.
Looks count.
Bust your budget for a case you love.
An efficient cooling case will be quieter.
Look for at least two 120/140mm front intakes that are filtered.
The 140mm fans will be quieter.

The stock intel cooler will do the job.
But, it will get noisy as it spins up under load.
Consider a tower type cooler with a 120mm fan.

On a psu replacement, I suggest a 550w seasonic focus.

Thanks