Question Upgrade my current rig or build a new one ?

[smurph123]

Right, I need a more up-to-date rig, this is for a desktop PC (NOT gaming), am UK based.
Mine getting a bit old and slow and newer HQ videos not playing, and won't upgrade to WIN11.

So, I want to spend as little as possible......can I upgrade my current rig, consisting of ATX case and Cooler Master 500 psu both ≥9 years old?
By removing mobo [Gigabyte F2A68HM-HD2] / processor [AMD A6-6400k] / RAM [8Gb]
and buying new bundle similar to as follows:
https://www.awd-it.co.uk/amd-ryzen-...hics-asus-b450m-k-motherboard-cpu-bundle.html
with 16GbRAM.
And then re-use the case, psu, SSD etc and my windows.
Will I need to re-install windows, or will it plug and play without (so that I can keep my setup)?

Any other potential pitfalls or advice appreciated?

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

By removing mobo [Gigabyte F2A68HM-HD2] / processor [AMD A6-6400k] / RAM [8Gb]
Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model.

Will I need to re-install windows, or will it plug and play without (so that I can keep my setup)?
New motherboard = reinstall your OS.

Mine getting a bit old and slow and newer HQ videos not playing, and won't upgrade to WIN11.
Besides Windows 11, what tasks will you be taxing the proposed build with?

So, I want to spend as little as possible......can I upgrade my current rig, consisting of ATX case and Cooler Master 500 psu both ≥9 years old?
You're advised to stylize your post with info asked of in this thread;

*How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice*

How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice First off, respect where respect is due - this is an adaptation of the Animal's *How To Ask For New Build Advice* Sticky. I created this because there's a lot of posts nowadays asking for upgrade advice both on here and on the CPU forums, and I feel...

forums.tomshardware.com

so community members can provide the best suggestion for your build/predicament. I wouldn't recycle a 9 year old PSU, IMHO not when it's highly possible you have a sub par Coolermaster unit in your build.

 

[LordVile]

Right, I need a more up-to-date rig, this is for a desktop PC (NOT gaming), am UK based.
Mine getting a bit old and slow and newer HQ videos not playing, and won't upgrade to WIN11.

So, I want to spend as little as possible......can I upgrade my current rig, consisting of ATX case and Cooler Master 500 psu both ≥9 years old?
By removing mobo [Gigabyte F2A68HM-HD2] / processor [AMD A6-6400k] / RAM [8Gb]
and buying new bundle similar to as follows:
https://www.awd-it.co.uk/amd-ryzen-...hics-asus-b450m-k-motherboard-cpu-bundle.html
with 16GbRAM.
And then re-use the case, psu, SSD etc and my windows.
Will I need to re-install windows, or will it plug and play without (so that I can keep my setup)?

Any other potential pitfalls or advice appreciated?

Personally I wouldn't go for swapping a dead platform for a newer dead platform.That PSU is also very old and should be swapped regardless.

You could go for something like this:

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/XcHhDZ

which is around £350 with wifi

Or you could go cheaper with this:

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/bKq4t7

For under £300.

The bundle you listed with 16GB of memory and a new PSU is about £210.

The 3400G was a good chip in its day but it's over 5 years old now and on an obsolete platform where the best chips have just been discontinued, (5800X3D). If you want to upgrade in another 5 years foe example you'll have to upgrade the platform anyway as the best chip available to you isn't much of an upgrade (5700g) and with the AM5 system you won't have to upgrade as soon because the chip is significantly better and you'll have options from at least 2027 to pick from meaning you won't have to do another platform swap