How to upgrade my PC for music production?
How to upgrade my PC for music production?
Hey, I own an old computer I got a while back. Lately I've been working on music production and it's been causing problems with large projects. The software says I should get the fastest CPU possible for one core that fits my budget. Sometimes I also play games, but the current setup works fine for me.
My system details are:
CPU: Intel Core i5-6500
CPU cooler: Bloody Tiger A40
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B150M-HD3
RAM: 16GB DDR4 stick
Power supply: Antec VP-500
Graphics card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 10606GB
My upgrade budget is around $430 to $680 (just for the top options) and I think I might need to replace the motherboard as well, not just the CPU.
AMD 9000 series arrives in July: PCPartPicker Part List CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 4.5 GHz 8-Core Processor ($280.69 @ Amazon) CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($37.90 @ Amazon) Motherboard: Gigabyte B650M AORUS ELITE AX Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard ($179.99 @ Amazon) Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6400 CL32 Memory ($94.99 @ Newegg) Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS GX-750 ATX 3.0 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ Amazon) Total: $683.56 Costs cover shipping, taxes, and any available discounts Created by PCPartPicker 2024-06-04 09:08 EDT-0400
Having only a single stick of RAM means no dual channel.
Having only 16 Gb is starting to become too little RAM these days.
How old is your power supply? Because if it's out of warranty, it's something you should replace either now or in the near future.
How much room in the case have you got for a tower cooler? What is the case?
Here's one upgrade path ~$450:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
Intel Core i5-12600K 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor
($169.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler
Motherboard:
ASRock Z690 Extreme ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory:
Patriot Viper 4 Blackout 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
($118.99 @ Newegg)
Total:
$418.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-06-04 09:51 EDT-0400
Gets you 64 Gb RAM, a new 10 core CPU, and a motherboard that allows even faster 12/13/14th gen CPUs in the future.
Sell your single stick of RAM. Don't try to mix it with the new 64Gb kit.
If you need a PSU in the near future, i recommend something of this caliber:
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xV...-f...tex-px-750
It's costly but also efficient, quiet and reliable for many years. Saving $50 or $100 is not much use if you need to replace PSUs too often. My opinion.
Hello,
I have your questions. Why should I replace the PSU? I checked the power needs of my computer and the current one seems sufficient even after upgrading the processor. Regarding memory, 16 GB is enough since FL Studio doesn't require much space. You think my CPU cooler will be affected? I know it's near the limit, but I'm not sure it can handle the upgrade. Unfortunately, prices in my country are higher, and shipping costs add another 10%. My model is Antec GX 500. Thank you for your help.
The Anrec VP-500 isn't an excellent power supply. What's its age? If it's past warranty, I'd recommend a fresh quality PSU. You're looking at a basic 4 heatpipe model—it'll be noisy. The thermalright options aren't costly. Either the Peerless Assassin/Phantom Spirit or the Deepcool AK620.
The PSU is only slightly out of warranty but still sufficient for my requirements. Is there a solid reason to replace it? I tend to save money by not purchasing a new one unless absolutely necessary. Also, why avoid using the Intel 14600 CPU? Thank you again for your assistance.
You're testing the limits with an old, non-certified PSU that's no longer covered by warranty. Consider whether you'd install a low-quality $50 motherboard, a generic 4GB RAM stick, a used graphics card with visible damage for a $100 price, or an outdated processor. Even a second-hand hard drive from an unfamiliar supplier?
You wouldn't risk your system by using only mediocre parts. A faulty PSU can fail and harm other components. Investing heavily in a PC without a fresh power supply puts everything in the case at risk.
Check online forums for experiences with poor PSUs. Don’t forget to specify your location, as prices differ widely. If you’re considering the i5 14600, it’s likely too costly to justify. For 16GB RAM, dual-channel performance is minimal—two 8GB modules are a better choice now.
Here’s a budget-friendly PC option, but I can’t confirm pricing or availability until I know where you’re shopping.
The i5 14600 comes with a high price tag, possibly the reason it wasn’t recommended.
A 16GB RAM stick offers only limited benefit and doesn’t take full advantage of dual-channel setup. Generally, having at least two 8GB modules is preferable today.
Here’s a more affordable PC, though I can’t guarantee exact costs or stock availability until you confirm your destination.
You might not be able to purchase this motherboard.
But really, what matters? The LGA1700 CPUs and parts won't disappear completely. A PC built on this platform can remain functional for a long time without any upgrades. I've kept the idea of a CPU upgrade in mind since the person posting has a limited budget right now and doesn't really need a 14th generation processor. It's not gone, just not likely to get new CPUs soon. All the other components like RAM, GPU, power supply, NVMe drives, and SSDs will still be available and work with Intel systems from the 12th, 13th, and 14th generations.
Its EoL, cant refute that. And the platform is dead, no other way of saying it.
The question of if it can last a decade depends on the OP's needs and how he uses it. I am not going to comment on that. He might use it for 5 years or even 10 like you are suggesting.
Would AM5 be a better choice for long term support? 100% yes.
Will the 7700X perform similar to the 14600k? Yes again.
So I leave the choice to the OP.