what should I be buying first motherboard + ram or processor + ram

[nishalimrit]

well, I really don't have any idea what to buy.. processor or motherboard. My motherboard is not good at all.please I need some answers. I dont even know if a good processor is compatible with my motherboard.


here are my computer specs

System Model
Hewlett-Packard HP 500B Microtower

Main Circuit Board
(got just 2 ram slots)
Board: FOXCONN 2A8C 1.0
Bus Clock: 800 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 6.04 07/05/2010

Processor
2.80 gigahertz Intel Pentium Dual-Core
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
2048 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded

Display
NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 [Display adapter]

 

[Anas Bashar]

what will this PC be used for?
how much are you planning to pay?
any future plans?

 

[nishalimrit]

for the motherboard and ram I can spend $300-$350.
Each year I buy new stuffs for my pc. Im thinking of buying a better processor next year.

 

[IRONBATMAN]

If you buy a new motherboard of a different socket , which is recommended , you would have to buy a new CPU , and vice-versa. But if you increase your RAM space to 4 -8 GB you wouldn't see a big improvement as compared to upgrading your graphics card

 

[IRONBATMAN]

did you mean US$ 300 ?

 

[Anas Bashar]

ok, what will the PC used for? gaming? video editing? web surfing only? do you have a video card? are you planing on getting a video card?

 

[Anas Bashar]

If you buy a new motherboard of a different socket , which is recommended , you would have to buy a new CPU , and vice-versa. But if you increase your RAM space to 4 -8 GB you wouldn't see a big improvement as compared to upgrading your graphics card

+1

 

[nishalimrit]

Yes I meant US$ 300

I got a video card ( GeForce GT 640 2GB)

i will use the pc for gaming

 

[Anas Bashar]

OK then, upgrade mobo now, then the CPU (or now if you can), then the RAMs.
what PSU do you have? are you currently using this GT 640?

 

[IRONBATMAN]

GT 640 DDR3 2GB ? not very good GPU :/ It's aabout 10% less than an entry-level card such a HD 7750 1GB GDDR5

 

[nishalimrit]

OK then, upgrade mobo now, then the CPU (or now if you can), then the RAMs.
what PSU do you have? are you currently using this GT 640?

yes im using the gt640.

do you think I will get a good mobo and cpu with 300 US?

 

[Anas Bashar]

yes
MSI Z77MA-G45: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130647
Intel Core i5-3570: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115233

total: $305
this mobo is very nice, you can instsll two GPUs if you like.

then in the future, get 8GB 1600Mhz rams (2x4GB).

 

[Anas Bashar]

keep in mind your current Mobo is of microATX form factor, thats why i suggested that MSI mobo.
what case do you have? what PSU?
BYW, the rams i suggested will cost you $50~70, depending on the manufacturer. (of course you can get one 4GB stick now, and another one later).

 

[Anas Bashar]

if you want my advice, get these RAMs with the mobo and CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231546
these rams have perfect rating on newegg, plus a promo code for %15 off.
total: $380
if you buy them together, you will feel the difference better.

good luck.

 

[IRONBATMAN]

he doesn't need all that.
he should get these

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($172.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock B75 PRO3-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $487.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-28 05:52 EDT-0400)

 

[IRONBATMAN]

with the extra money , you could buy anew , cool case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147166

or get 8 GB of RAM in total. But you could also use your previous RAM sticks so buying 2x2 GB of RAM should be fine

 

[nishalimrit]

well thanks for your answers, I'll have to buy all this items locally as I live on an island where their isn't much shipping facilities.

I wont be able to buy a motherboard and cpu at the same time. here are the prices of motherboards and processor at my country.

Intel Core i7 4770 LGA 1150 3.9GHz NEW 500 US

Intel Core i5 4570 LGA 1150 3.6GHz NEW 330 US

Intel i7 3770K 3.4GHz/8MB Overclocked 479 US

Intel i5 3570 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz 6MB 320 US

Intel i5 3470 3.2 GHz 6MB/quad 283 US


Motherboards

Asus P8H61-M LE/USB3 /1y 150 US
Asus P8B75-V/1yr 150 US
Asus P8H61 PRO/1y 180 US
MSI Z77MA-G45 (SATA III/3.0/xfire) 166 US
MSI ZH77A-G43 PLUS (SATA III/3.0/xfire) 160 US
Asus P8Z68-V/GEN3 /1y 300 US

MSI Z87-G45 NEW haswell SOCKET 261 US
MSI Z87-G41 NEW haswell SOCKET 185 US


4GB Kingston Hyper X 1600 MHz Lovo CL 64 US
4GB Corsair Vengeance™ Low Profile 1600 64 US
4GB Corsair Dominator Platinum 1600 83 US

 

[IRONBATMAN]

why don't you tell us where you live so that we can show you the links to the cheapest parts sold at online retailers. You don't have to convert the currency to USD

 

[Anas Bashar]

you cannot get a mobo or CPU without the other. save up and get them together later. use your old RAMs until you can afford new ones.

 

[nishalimrit]

I live at Mauritius..1 US = RS 30

 

[IRONBATMAN]

Wow...

never heard of that country.

can't find any retailers online 😛

 

[IRONBATMAN]

the CPUs you mentioned are all overkills for your puny GT 640 DDR3 2GB

 

[nishalimrit]

you cannot get a mobo or CPU without the other. save up and get them together later. use your old RAMs until you can afford new ones.

I will do so, I'll just buy more rams this year. I will buy my cpu and mobo later on...thanks. I'll try to save like 500 US for next year hope this will be enough.

Thanks a lot for the reply guys

 

[Anas Bashar]

you are welcome.

your local prices are rip off.
anyway when you save up, you can get the i5 2500. it should be a bit cheaper but still good.
regarding the Mobo, get something that will fit in your case, can hod all your PCI cards (graphics, sound etc.) it should have at least two PCI-e2 slots (X16 or Dual X8) or higher.

good luck.