Upgrading components on Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H compatability?

[Bogdan_11]

Hi all,

I am thinking of upgrading my 6 year old PC with some new components.

The motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H with a Intel I7 core 870 CPU installed.

I would like to upgrade my graphics card and possibly setup a triple/quad monitor setup.
I also would like to up my RAM.

The graphics card I have at the moment is the ATI Radeon 5850 1gb. I was hoping to buy the Radeon R9 390X with 8gb of ram, as listed here:

https://www.amazon.fr/Sapphire-11241-04-20G-Carte-graphique-Express/dp/B017NEMG9I/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1462992120&sr=1-6&keywords=radeon+r9+390#productDetails


My motherboard has PCI Express 2.0 , will this card fit this motherboard? I heard that all new cards will retrofit older motherboards even with PCI-Express 2.0 when they prefer 3.0 .


My memory is DDR3 1600 mhz, 2 x 4 Gb and I was thinking of upgrading with DDR3 1866 Mhz 16 gb memory as listed here: http://www.conrad.fr/ce/fr/product/874400/Mmoire-vive-CORSAIR-Dominator-Platinum-16Go-DDR3-RAM-1866-MHz-9-9-9-24-240pin-DIMM?ref=list

I believe the max Mhz for my motherboard is 2200 Mhz so I think 1866 is probably the best I can get for a reasonable price. This should fit and be compatible, right?

My CPU socket is H1/LGA1156 so as far as I can tell the CPU I have at the moment is probably the best I can get, which is the I7 870.

WIth regards to a triple monitor setup I have read that the R9 390X graphics card is capable of handling triple monitors on its own. Does anybody have experience in this and is it a better idea to buy this card on it's own or perhaps by 2 cheaper ones and crossfire them?

Many thanks for any info/advice you have guys!

 

[cin19]

1) For the 390x GPU, the pcie2.0x16 is fine for it, and you may need to update the MB BIOS for the r9 390x, also you want to check your PSU, usually when you upgrade the GPU, you have to check your PSU can handle the new GPU or not. PSU requirements for the GPU http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

2) For the 16GB RAM, you have problem with that set. Because your MB can only support up to 16GB, and the MB has 4x RAM slot, so you can buy 4x4 GB set only, not the 2X8GB kit.

That RAM can only support the intel 6 series or up MB only. Check the info from CORSAIR site. http://www.corsair.com/en-us/dominator-platinum-with-corsair-link-connector-1-5v-16-gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cmd16gx3m2a1866c9

One more buy the 1600mhz 4x4GB kit, because your MB is old and not all the RAM can fit with it. If you can find it like this http://www.corsair.com/en-us/vengeance-low-profile-blue-16gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cml16gx3m4a1600c9b Your cpu can support up to 1333mhz, it may not support the 1866mhz RAM. http://ark.intel.com/products/41315/Intel-Core-i7-870-Processor-8M-Cache-2_93-GHz

 

[Bogdan_11]

Hi Cin19,

Thanks for your answer. Technology has gone mental since the last time I was really into PCs and components, it's difficult to keep up with it all!

Thanks for providing that link regarding the PSU for graphics cards. I have a 750W supply at the moment with 2 x 6+2 pin connectors that are currently connected to my Radeon 5850 graphics card (uses only the 6 pins though). Looking at the tables am I right in saying that if I wanted to get a R9 series card I could only get a R9 380 or R9 380X in the 2x6 pin config? and if I wanted a 390 I would use the 6+2 pin and a 6 pin?

The biggest problem regarding these modern cards is that their physical size just won't fit my case. I have about 30 cm length available and these cards are 38 or 40 cm in length.

RAM-wise, yeh I read somewhere that this motherboard won't take 2x8 gb after I posted this. The sticks I have at the moment are 2x4 gb Corsair at 1600Mhz with a 9-9-9-24 (latency?). I was thinking of getting these, what do you think?

https://www.grosbill.com/4-g_skill_extreme_3_ares_16go_4x4go_pc12800_1600mhz_1_5v_cl8_8_8_8_2n_-157172-informatique-memoire_ddr3

I has a lower latency number I think so technically should be slightly better. It's still 1600Mhz and 1.5V so should be stable.

All in all I could probably upgrade these 2 components for less than 500 euros or would it be better to not bother and just buy a whole new rig for 1400 euros and have a setup that will last me for years? I am not a hardcore gamer by any means but like to fire up the odd game and simulator.

 

[cin19]

Looking at the tables am I right in saying that if I wanted to get a R9 series card I could only get a R9 380 or R9 380X in the 2x6 pin config? and if I wanted a 390 I would use the 6+2 pin and a 6 pin?

You are right, 2x 6pin for 380/380x, 1x6pin +1x8pin (2+6 pin) for 290/290x.

For the RAM again, that set does not work with your MB too, according gskill site ( in the QVL tab) http://www.gskill.com/en/product/f3-1600c8q-16gab Because you had the H55 ( 5 series chipset MB), you have problem find the 4X 4GB set fo it. For the old intel MB, you need the low density RAM, keep in mind, this is only for the intel MB, not for the AMD.
How about this https://www.amazon.es/Corsair-Vengeance-LP-Memoria-DDR3/dp/B0058J1QII/276-4318021-3446508?ie=UTF8&tag=pcp02-21#productDetails

You can use the memory find like http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/memory-info?cm_re=top-nav-_-flyout-memory-_-us-memory ( this one does not work now for me), or http://www.corsair.com/en-us/memory-finder

 

[Bogdan_11]

I checked the corsair memory finder page and it says that this should work:

http://www.corsair.com/fr-fr/vengeance-low-profile-blue-16gb-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-kit-cml16gx3m4a1600c9b

This is pretty much the exact same product as you suggested apart from that it's blue or am I wrong?
When you say low density ram are you referring to dual channel instead of tripple or quad channel? It said in the Corsair FAQ that with 1156 I7 sockets it only supports up to dual channel memory.


I have found a Radeon R9 390 graphics card that should just about fit in my desktop case. It requires a 650 Watt PSU, I have 750 so should be ok I think. It also needs 1 6 pin and 1 8 pin connector so I can cover that with my 6+2 pins. Is there anything else I have missed out?

 

[cin19]

Yes, that RAM kit will work.
Low density RAM means it has the less chip on the module, e.g. for the 2GB DDR3 RAM: Modules with chips ( 256mb) on only one side (8 chips) is low density. Or the 4 chips ( 512mb) on one side too. So make it easy that why we need use the memory finder. It can be the dual, triple, even the single channel RAM. Some info http://www.ehow.com/about_5769573_low-high-density-pc-memory.html

Yes, 750W PSU is enough, but it depends on which brand, because not all the brands are the same. Check it out for high/low quality PSU http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

 

[Kaise]

I think 1600mhz would be a better option, I am stupid enough to put a single stick 8gb ram and turn my system on and my ram is faulty now.
I also tried to upgrade my CPU from I3 530 to I7 870 but it didnt work, it keeps on rebooting which i cannot even enter my BIOS, I updated my BIOS and still the same problem. I am using the same board as you H55M-UD2H. when i change back to my i3 processor it worked again.

 

[Alijericho]

I think 1600mhz would be a better option, I am stupid enough to put a single stick 8gb ram and turn my system on and my ram is faulty now.
I also tried to upgrade my CPU from I3 530 to I7 870 but it didnt work, it keeps on rebooting which i cannot even enter my BIOS, I updated my BIOS and still the same problem. I am using the same board as you H55M-UD2H. when i change back to my i3 processor it worked again.

Hi man, I got same MB H55 and i3 530. I'm looking to get i7 860 for a boost to games. Reading ur comment making me worry. why didn't 870 work? did u find solution?

 

[allangourd]

Hi Kaise,

I'm also using H55 mobo, got an i7 870, and my system also keeps rebooting, so I went back to my i3 and am having no stability issues.

Did you get a fix for your problem?

 

[cin19]

You should open the new thread next time.

Check your MB to see it had the newer BIOS or not, when you upgrade the CPU, check the BIOS.