CPU/Mobo Time to upgrade

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Anand from Anandtech used to say, the SSD is arguably the single best upgrade you could give to your present setup. I do concur with him. I got myself a SSD sometime back and have been extremely happy with the upgrade. Windows boots and shuts down faster, games load faster, .pdfs load much much faster - I probably don't do anything else with my gaming setup so I am happy with the upgrade. Any other application similarly, should load faster since access times are nearly 0 for these SSDs. :D

I'd say get one of those 40GB SSDs from Corsair/mushkin which sports the Sandforce 1200 controller and you are set. Although, your motherboard SATA controller (SB chipset more specifically) might hold the results a bit back, you should experience a definite improvement over your present setup. :)
 
I think the 32 bit version of win7 should give you a boost. The 64 bit one has higher memory requirements ( min required is 2GB v/s 1 GB for the 32 bit version), so while it also should give you a boost, you may experience slow downs in some extreme conditions.
You'll benefit from a faster start-up anyway, and your system will seem to run more smoothly.
But, there's only one way to know for sure. Upgrade your OS, and if you aren't happy, then decide what you'd like to upgrade.

I've read your requirements, and since you don't game, and you use Open Office, I think you should try using Linux instead. Your system will run smoother, everything will look prettier and you won't have to bother with a hardware upgrade. Your sig says you've got a spare 500GB hdd that's due back soon. Install win7 and/or linux on that, and see how they run on your current system and then decide.
 
seriously you are underestimating a fast hard drive.. once you get one its something you do not have to upgrade until it dies. I have gone from various cpu architechture to the other and different memory capacities nothing has matched the speed boost from a fast hdd. especially looking at your usage , I think its worth a shot
 
I confirm that my CPU is a AM2 socket chip.

I hear you all. Yes the SSD is something I am considering and I have been asking what it would cost. I have seen pricing starting from around 5.6K for a 40GB(or was it 32GB) and it looks good. However, the arrival of 25nm later this year will probably result in significant price drop even for existing devices so I feel it would be wise to wait for a few months.

The Win 7 32 bit looks good not so much for the possible speed improvement but because it is a big step forward in productivity from the XP I use currently. Never bothered with Vista as I did not like the initial experience of it and I did not feel it had any advantages worth the learning curve. I have to consider that right now I am the minority user of my home system and the other users have to be comfortable with it more than me. That is why I am a little hesitant about ubuntu or similar linux. We have several small productivity tools and utilities we use and some are probably not available for linux. I will have to look at all of those before I decide to migrate. Migrating to Win 7 is comparatively a no-brainer.

I might go with the suggestion of using linux on one partition and progressively loading all our required tools on it as I find them. Then switching over may be less painful though user resistance might still be an issue.

Question: Would I get a AM2 CPU to replace my current CPU and give me significant improvement in speed today with a small investment? Would I have to change my RAM to 800 MHz to work well with the new CPU? I can then put off the SSD till December, put off purchasing the Win 7 for sometime and Install Unbuntu in a dual boot when I get my RMAed WD back.

Thanks for all the inputs from all of you. You have given me a good many options to consider.
 
I might go with the suggestion of using linux on one partition and progressively loading all our required tools on it as I find them. Then switching over may be less painful though user resistance might still be an issue.

Question: Would I get a AM2 CPU to replace my current CPU and give me significant improvement in speed today with a small investment? Would I have to change my RAM to 800 MHz to work well with the new CPU? I can then put off the SSD till December, put off purchasing the Win 7 for sometime and Install Unbuntu in a dual boot when I get my RMAed WD back.
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Define significant improvements, for the applications you use? Faster load-up times, nothing but an SSD can help you with it. But you need to judge your threshold for "faster loading" times, if you get irritated at 45-50 seconds of loading times for Win 7 (other applications you use is not going to be impacted by faster SSD) then get it. Else just add another 2gb of RAM, and wait till system breaks down/ or you feel either of your applications is getting slow upgrade. A minor bump in clock speed is not going to change anything. To prevent a breakdown in your system maintain it well (I think you would be doing that already), buy a better cabinet with good airflow to all components including the HDD, engineer some rubber footing for HDD to dampen vibration etc. The components to die the quickest are HDD, and mobos. I dont think much can be done about mobos.

Buy yeah I agree with Baatli and gang, a component where a real world difference would be apparent is an SSD. I personally have not invested in one, as I feel the technology is yet nascent, and with every product refresh the gain is significant. Besides anything less then 250 gb is too less for me, I dont want to un-install and install apps frequently as it beats the whold idea of faster loading times.
 
@Aces170 - A minor bump is not what am looking at. That is why I will not bother with OCing my 3600+. I might consider a X2 5000+ or something if it is a drop in replacement with no requirement to change anything else.

The first thing to work on is to clean up the system to reduce the startup load programs to the bare minimum. Next is to investigate feasibility(and availability) of a faster drop in replacement CPU. My original desire for a platform change is still there but not so strong anymore. The idea of a SSD of 32 to 40 GB appeals to me but I may wait a bit for that. I am reluctant to add more DDR2 RAM at this point in time because a) It may be a wasted investment when I do upgrade and b) not sure how much incremental benefit it will bring me.

Regarding the capacity of SSD drives, I would just use it for booting, OS, drivers and a few often used applications. May be also the page file. So 32-40GB should be more than adequate for that. What say?
 
The first thing to work on is to clean up the system to reduce the startup load programs to the bare minimum. Next is to investigate feasibility(and availability) of a faster drop in replacement CPU. My original desire for a platform change is still there but not so strong anymore. The idea of a SSD of 32 to 40 GB appeals to me but I may wait a bit for that. I am reluctant to add more DDR2 RAM at this point in time because a) It may be a wasted investment when I do upgrade and b) not sure how much incremental benefit it will bring me.

Regarding the capacity of SSD drives, I would just use it for booting, OS, drivers and a few often used applications. May be also the page file. So 32-40GB should be more than adequate for that. What say?
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X2 5000, would hardly make any noticeable difference I yet feel additional ram would be more beneficial. A cleanup should help a lot. 32-40GB should be ok, for anyone who don't install a lot of games. But do have a look at the reviews the Intel 40gb SSD's are significantly slower, as suggested earlier check if you can source an SSD with the Sandforce 1200 controller.

If you want to upgrade, I always suggest a platform upgrade rather than individual components upgrade. X2 5000 for eg. would be a 700mhz clock speed bump. Apart from games you will not be able to measure any performance difference (in games too, the effect will be negligible). But I suppose you have spent enough time evaluating options. In computer hardware purchase, waiting for a technology improvement is never fruitful, as there will be something better in future always.
 
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As per the requirements and Windows 7 OS. I would vote to stick with the current hardware or an upgrade to X2 240/50 without any additional RAM.
 
virus32win said:
As per the requirements and Wndows 7 OS. I would vote to stick with the current hardware or an upgrade to X2 240/50 without any additional RAM.
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That AM3 socket CPU certainly will not go with my Mobo.
 
Some old saying goes like- A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.
No matter how fast the processor and RAM, it's the HDD that always bogs down system performance.
As all the gurus have already mentioned, an SDD is the best gift one can present oneself for truly fast computing.
I am still trying to save up for mine- hope to get one latest by start of Q2 2011. :)
(I have been having this feeling for sometime that SSDs start getting significantly cheaper and/or better by the end of this year. :ashamed:)
 
Aces170 said:
X2 5000, would hardly make any noticeable difference I yet feel additional ram would be more beneficial. A cleanup should help a lot. 32-40GB should be ok, for anyone who don't install a lot of games. But do have a look at the reviews the Intel 40gb SSD's are significantly slower, as suggested earlier check if you can source an SSD with the Sandforce 1200 controller.

If you want to upgrade, I always suggest a platform upgrade rather than individual components upgrade. X2 5000 for eg. would be a 700mhz clock speed bump. Apart from games you will not be able to measure any performance difference (in games too, the effect will be negligible). But I suppose you have spent enough time evaluating options. In computer hardware purchase, waiting for a technology improvement is never fruitful, as there will be something better in future always.
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A 700 MHz speed bump from a base speed of 1900 MHz is significant if it translates into reduced total execution time to the same extent. But that will not really happen because of lower speeds of HDD et al. Worth if I get a really cheap X2 5000+.

How about the X2 7750? Probably has a 50% higher clock than the 3600+. Only thing is that it is a AM2+ so it may not give the full benefit on my Mobo. Moreover, I may have to check if it would require a BIOS upgrade to make it work. Then again, Jetway would have probably discontinued support on this Mobo.

I agree about the platform upgrade but let me try all the "free" upgrades first. Then I have to look at the other options like more RAM, SSD, faster, compatible CPU in existing rig and platform upgrade. Somewhere in there, there has to be Windows 7. Thanks for all your inputs. This thread has become very informative for me.
 
^ you can probably overclock the cpu. a 700mhz jump is hardly noticable unless you play fps games and get a kick of seeing 43 vs 40 fps

If you really want to see difference as I said pick up a 150 gig velociraptor for about 7 or 8k or else get a ssd

If you are running into bottle necks then get more ram. It wont make your system faster but it will help maintain existing system speed
 
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^ you can probably overclock the cpu. a 700mhz jump is hardly noticable unless you play fps games and get a kick of seeing 43 vs 40 fps
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Aptly put, the difference in games is insignificant. If you are going for an overhaul, go for more cores rather then clock speed increments. Software developers have to enable multi-threading optimizations in future.
 
It is worth waiting for 3x3 applicable for Desktop & Notebook;

SATA 3 HDDs [SSD, HDD, RAID0]

USB 3 [Pen Drives]

Esata 3

Above 3s with 6 core Processor.............................. Remarks please
 
There's no need to change/upgrade for the apps you're using. You will not get noticeable improvement for regular apps with a faster Intel processor. Just add a ssd and you're good to go for years! Or a Velociraptor
 
Thanks to all for their excellent contributions to this thread. My sequence of tasks is settling down gradually in my mind.

I am leaning towards SSD rather than Velociraptor simply because a) better speed I think and b) longer life. On the other hand, the capacity of the velociraptor would let me have all my applications on it for a long time to come.

Am I right in presuming that a SSD will be much faster and last far longer than a Velociraptor?
 
Emil said:
Thanks to all for their excellent contributions to this thread. My sequence of tasks is settling down gradually in my mind.

I am leaning towards SSD rather than Velociraptor simply because a) better speed I think and b) longer life. On the other hand, the capacity of the velociraptor would let me have all my applications on it for a long time to come.

Am I right in presuming that a SSD will be much faster and last far longer than a Velociraptor?
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U can check the Velicopter performance in the link that i gave in the last page. Anand includes a Velicopter and laptop HDD in all reviews to illustrate the comparative SSD performance.

The Corsair Force Drives has 3 yrs warranty so that covers ur upgrade cycle :P The rate at which SSD's are progressing current speeds would be termed slow by that time. Technically specking the Flash drives should last 9-10 years. Practically it should at least last 5-6 years.

Also after seeing a review of a 240GB drive dont assume that a 40GB drive of similar model and controller will have similar performance. Smaller drives usually have lesser performance than bigger siblings due to less amount of lanes.(For eg., if 200GB drive has 10 20GB chips then 100GB will have only 5 20GB chips. So lesser parallel lanes to write a data to)
 
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Emil said:
Thanks to all for their excellent contributions to this thread. My sequence of tasks is settling down gradually in my mind.
I am leaning towards SSD rather than Velociraptor simply because a) better speed I think and b) longer life. On the other hand, the capacity of the velociraptor would let me have all my applications on it for a long time to come.
Am I right in presuming that a SSD will be much faster and last far longer than a Velociraptor?
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I have both.. the ssd is faster but velociraptor is a good balance between speed and capacity.

about hdd life theres no sure way to say ssd is better than a normal drive
 
OT but amusing. I got this little snippet from the Jetway site in their description of my Mobo:

Debug Port: The Professional Hardware Diagnosis System

Being bugged of abnormal system failure through the tossed and turned nights no more, the embedded Hardware Debug Port offers you the real-time visual system healthy for the demanding usage of computing. No more bugging by unknown system failure and no more time wasted in the first moment of 24-hour nonstop ping business computing, the embedded Debug Port will turn you into a well training hardware professional with the seeing system situation.
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:)
 
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