[SOLVED] Rise and shine old pc

[Nemesis101]

Hello everyone,

I need some advice if it's worth to (minor) upgrade my old gaming pc. 10 years ago I bought a gaming pc but I stopped using it a few years ago. It was working very slow, very slow, and I had no time anymore. Three kids and a busy job and rebuilding my home.

Yesterday I opened the computer to check it out and my god it was filled with dust, a lot. I did clean it sometimes, but not in the last years. Since it wasn't working properly I disassembled everything and I discovered that the builder op the pc placed my plower supply upside down. So I checked it, opened it and it was completely filled with dust. Long story short, I removed all the dust from everything and placed everything back and updated everything the past day. The slow proces of turning on my pc (took 30 mins) is gone, but it still not operating smoothly. 100% HDD is used and RAM is wrestling. It is better now everything is upgraded, but not where I want it.

Goal is to speed it up, so I can use it properly for 2 years and playing some games. Then I'll buy a new one. The SSD will then be transfered to the new pc. In the table below my current computer and the two places I want to upgrade. My three questions:

1. Is it worth?
2. Is it possible?
3. What else?

PART	CURRENT	UPGRADE
MOBO	ASUS P7P55D-E P55
CPU	Intel i5 CPU 750 2.67GHz
RAM	Corsair 2x2 GB 1600mhz	Kingston HyperX Genesis 2x4 1600 mhz (+ the old 2x2 1600 mhz)
GPU	GeForce GTS 250 (512MB)
STATION	HDD 1TB 5400 rpm	SSD 500GB (OS and primary games) + HDD 1TB 7200rpm (Mass storage)
PSU	Corsair 650W
CPU Cooler	Master Cooler V8
CASE	Master Cooler CM690

 

[USAFRet]

1. Start with a full software reinstall. What OS is on it now?
2. The ONLY $$ thing I might suggest is to go to 2 x 4GB RAM, totaling 8GB

After that, its as good as its going to get.

 

[Nemesis101]

I am running Windows 10 atm, fully updated.

 

[USAFRet]

The GPU is woefully inadequate for any gaming, but a new GPU would cost more than the rest of it is worth.

 

[USAFRet]

I am running Windows 10 atm, fully updated.

OK...full reinstall, of everything.
(with only the SSD connected. Reconnect the HDD after)

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[Nemesis101]

The GPU is woefully inadequate for any gaming, but a new GPU would cost more than the rest of it is worth.

True, at that time it was my idea to upgrade that as soon as possible. But I didn't. It still could play games like CoD MW3 perfectly. It only became troublesome with Diablo III Now I suppose it's not worth it to upgrade it for this pc. Next one will get a nice 8 gb.

OK...full reinstall, of everything.
(with only the SSD connected. Reconnect the HDD after)

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

A full reinstall instead of transfer to the SSD? May I ask why? It's quite new for me this.

I can also get 4x4 DDR3 1600 mhz RAM for 50 euro's, but I quess that's overkill.

 

[USAFRet]

True, at that time it was my idea to upgrade that as soon as possible. But I didn't. It still could play games like CoD MW3 perfectly. It only became troublesome with Diablo III Now I suppose it's not worth it to upgrade it for this pc. Next one will get a nice 8 gb.



A full reinstall instead of transfer to the SSD? May I ask why? It's quite new for me this.

Where is the OS now? SSD or HDD?

But yes, start fresh. Any "transfer" is just dragging along years of old gunk.
$0.

 

[Nemesis101]

Where is the OS now? SSD or HDD?

But yes, start fresh. Any "transfer" is just dragging along years of old gunk.
$0.

It's now on my old HDD. Don't have the SSD yet. And is it worth to upgrade the RAM to 16gb for 50 euro or is 8gb more than enough for this pc?

 

[USAFRet]

It's now on my old HDD. Don't have the SSD yet. And is it worth to upgrade the RAM to 16gb for 50 euro or is 8gb more than enough for this pc?

OK.
Absolutely a fresh install on the yet to be installed SSD.
Which one are you looking to get?

8 or 16GB RAM....kind of a tossup.
If you can get 16GB for 50EUR, go for it.

 

[Nemesis101]

OK.
Absolutely a fresh install on the yet to be installed SSD.
Which one are you looking to get?

8 or 16GB RAM....kind of a tossup.
If you can get 16GB for 50EUR, go for it.

I want to buy a Samsumg EVO 500 gb. A good one which I can use for the next pc as well. Thanks for your advice.

 

[USAFRet]

I want to buy a Samsumg EVO 500 gb. A good one which I can use for the next pc as well. Thanks for your advice.

Perfect choice. I have several in that line.

 

[Nemesis101]

Perfect choice. I have several in that line.

Thanks!

 

[MrBigMaus]

Thanks!

About memory. On your motherboard new memory with 8 chips won't work. You must find memory with 16 chips.

 

[Nemesis101]

About memory. On your motherboard new memory with 8 chips won't work. You must find memory with 16 chips.

I can get 16GB G.Skill Ripjaws DDR3-1600 (4x4gb) for 50,- euro's. Are those compatible?

 

[MrBigMaus]

I can get 16GB G.Skill Ripjaws DDR3-1600 (4x4gb) for 50,- euro's. Are those compatible?

Maybe. I can't find information about what kind of chips in these memory bars. but on images they look compatible

 

[Nemesis101]

Maybe. I can't find information about what kind of chips in these memory bars. but on images they look compatible

I thought so too. Your comment surprised me actually and I thought oops, what did I miss. xD

 

[Krotow]

OP, I had nearly same build just 3 weeks ago. If you can't build completely new PC now, then it is possible to make this antic to behave quite a bit better. What you must do:

1. Install fresh Windows 10 instance on SSD. With (quick) format over everything. This is mandatory.
2. Put games (separate ones and Steam library) on SSD too. Also mandatory. Keep HDD drive(s) only for archives, software installation images and other rarely used stuff.
3. Upgrade RAM to 16 GB, DDR3-1600. 2 x 8 GB modules or 4 x 4 GB modules. Rule of thumb - both modules must be exactly same model. Even better, if they come as one kit.
4. Get decent GPU. In descending order from RTX 2060 Super / RX5600 to GTX 1070 / RX580. At least 4 GB VRAM. FULL STOP HERE. Go no lower and spit on anyone who mutter about CPU bottlenecking.
5. If you still have a bit of courage and like 30$ left, replace i5@750CPU to Xeon X3470. It give small nice performance boost. Not enough for 4K gaming, but that tiny weeny something to avoid visible lag in games like Far Cry 5 on 1440p.

You can see my old build part list here (CPU and PSU are wrong - read description). In 1440p it was able to run Far Cry 5 at 40-60...110 FPS on medium graphic settings and Borderlands 3 at 50-90 FPS on high graphic settings. Yep, Xeon X3470 + RTX2060S.

 

[Nemesis101]

OP, I had nearly same build I had just 3 weeks ago. If you can't build completely new PC now, then it is possible to make this antic to behave quite a bit better. What you must do:

1. Install fresh Windows 10 instance on SSD. With (quick) format over everything. This is mandatory.
2. Put games (separate ones and Steam library) on SSD too. Also mandatory. Keep HDD drive(s) only for archives, software installation images and other rarely used stuff.
3. Upgrade RAM to 16 GB, DDR3-1600. 2 x 8 GB modules or 4 x 4 GB modules. Rule of thumb - both modules must be exactly same model. Even better, if they come as one kit.
4. Get decent GPU. In descending order from RTX 2060 Super / RX5600 to GTX 1070 / RX580. At least 4 GB VRAM. FULL STOP HERE. Go no lower and spit on anyone who mutter about CPU bottlenecking.
5. If you still have a bit of courage and like 30$ left, replace i5@750CPU to Xeon X3470. It give small nice performance boost. Not enough for 4K gaming, but that tiny weeny something to avoid visible lag in games like Far Cry 5 on 1440p.

You can see my old build part list here (CPU and PSU are wrong - read description). In 1440p it was able to run Far Cry 5 at 40-60...110 FPS on medium graphic settings and Borderlands 3 at 50-90 FPS on high graphic settings. Yep, Xeon X3470 + RTX2060S.

Thanks for the help. I don't know if I'm willing to get the new MOBO and GPU. I only want to cover two years with a decent computer which can play games I already have and use for home. Spending money on a GPU when I want a new one of 8gb in my new computer in about two years it seems like a waste to buy a 4gb now. I don't play games like Far Cry and such, so it's not neccesary. In about two years I will buy the newer games. If it's possible to place a 8gb GPU on this MOBO I'll consider it, once I have the money. Building my "new decade" PC can be done piece by piece.

When I monitor how my computer works at doing games like CoD MW3 it only shows that the RAM and Harddrives are lacking. So I am going to take a closer look once I have upgraded those. Now I just need to figure out how I can install my OS on the SSD. That's new to me.

 

[Krotow]

I mentioned all what is needed to pimp up your existing system to play something decent still without serious overclocking. However while you still want to remain with games which have system requirements like CoD MW3 require then you have no problems. Fresh Windows installation on SSD and games on SSD is still mandatory requirement. Also RAM upgrade, which you already figured out.

 

[Nemesis101]

I mentioned all what is needed to pimp up your existing system to play something decent still without serious overclocking. However while you still want to remain with games which have system requirements like CoD MW3 require then you have no problems. Fresh Windows installation on SSD and games on SSD is still mandatory requirement. Also RAM upgrade, which you already figured out.

True, the GPU does need a major upgrade to be able to play modern games. Is it possible to place a 8gb GPU on this MOBO?

 

[Krotow]

Is it possible to place a 8gb GPU on this MOBO?

RTX 2060 Super have exactly 8 GB RAM. So yes. And I believe that 3060 Ti with 12 GB would work just fine too. Though with i5@750 CPU it definitely is a waste of resources. Except you are like me who purchased 2060S 18 months ago with intention to build completely new system with this GPU 3 months later. For me that didn't happened at that time due to sudden and extreme need of money elsewhere. So I had a plenty of time to test this GPU on my old machine 😉

FYI: Lynnfield desktop CPUs (i3/i5/i7) officially support only 16 GB RAM. So 2 x 8 GB or 4 x 4 GB only. For 32 GB you must get Xeon 34xx CPU or take your courage and try 4 x 8 GB on your current CPU. Someone even succeeded with i7-860 CPU.

 

[Nemesis101]

Today I installed my new RAM (4x4 DDR3 G.Skill Ripjaw 1600 mhz) and the new SSD (Samsung EVO 860 500gb) and did a clean install of windows 10. I must say I am thrilled with it. Not a week ago this pc needed 30 mins to turn on (cause of the dust everywhere and especially in the PSU). Without the dust the pc turned on "normally", but now it's speeding faster than Max Verstappen in his Red Bull. I have an SSD in my laptop from work, but even that one isn't this fast.

So let me thank everyone who helped me with it on this board. It was really helpful for me.

And to let you all know how my pc is doing now besides the turning on. Where I began this proces with a RAM that was struggling and a HDD which couldn't keep up and a CPU which couldn't do much, since the others were lagging (so it's max was at 38%). Now my CPU is running at full speed when the pc is downloading, updating or whatever heavy. So the new RAM and SSD are doing a great job. The good-old CPU may show his power now.

This proces made me smile, because it brought me back 11 years ago. At that time I really wanted exactly the RAM I have now. The RAM was on my list for further upgrading so this PC could be used for a few more years and a SSD was also on the list because I suck at waiting. I just can't. But it was bloody expensive at the time. The only thing that is missing is the GPU. Back that day I said to a friend that the GPU should be replaced when I had the change. I think now it's time that I do. So I will search for a nice one- 11 years later-, which hopefully canbe used in my next pc as well.

Thanks everyone!