Looking to boost a Xeon's performance without certainty
Looking to boost a Xeon's performance without certainty
Perhaps there was a time when it was possible. Look for a reasonably priced motherboard that’s still in good shape today. It seems people often ignore the reality that while CPUs can last a very long time, motherboards have a much shorter lifespan. If your board has lasted five years, that’s a solid chance. If it’s been seven years or more, the odds of it working perfectly without any problems drop significantly, especially if you’ve used it at all. Even if it’s been stored unused in a box, capacitor degradation will still occur. Since LGA 1366 boards were phased out in 2012, any board purchased today—even if it was brand new in 2012—is likely to be at least seven years old. It was once a solid choice, but unless you’re willing to pay very little, it’s not worth risking such an old platform.
I picked up a Dell T3500 for $20, and unlocked Nehalem Xeons go for about that also. Usually the T3500 goes for $75 complete system, and can run and overclock unlocked Gulftown Xeons. Typically $160 minus GPU. if you mange to blow one up spare Mb are $30-40.
Here's one at userbenchmark.com
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/7540614
I don't think these options make sense as potential investments. Whether you decide to do so depends on your own judgment, but they seem outdated enough to be dismissed unless you're using very old systems and playing legacy titles.
Thank you all for the help! I’m certain I won’t build it and will look for a solid deal on a PC with at least an i5 processor, 8GB RAM, upgraded power supply, and the Radeon HD 7870. I believe this should be sufficient for my needs. I don’t think I’ll play PUBG or any demanding games on it. Thanks again!
Hey guys, I found two systems that seem really solid for that price range (160-200$).
The first one costs 160$, has an i3 3220, 8gb RAM, a GTX 560ti, a 700w power supply, and a 500gb hard drive.
The second one is 200$, includes an i3 4150, 4gb RAM, a 1TB WD hard drive, the same 500w PSU, and it has only 4gb of RAM.
Which one do you think is better? I believe the second option is still a solid choice even with less RAM.
It really depends on the precise specifications of the power supplies included for each system. Regarding the CPU, the i3-4150 performs better, though it has less RAM and a lower capacity power supply. It might still be a good option if the other model offers a higher quality power supply, but we’d need to know the exact models to make an accurate comparison. You’d definitely need to look for another 4GB of memory to complement what’s already there, and understanding the memory model is important to see if it can work well together.
Darkbreeze :
It really comes down to the specific models of the power supplies included. For the CPU, the i3-4150 seems to perform better, though it has less RAM and a lower capacity power supply. But without knowing the exact models, it's hard to say which would be superior. We'd also need to consider adding more memory, like another 4GB, to see if it fits well with the system's existing specs. Finding a match is definitely important, but it doesn't guarantee everything will work together smoothly.
Honestly, for older systems, you really want something with at least an i5, preferably an i7. Those old i3 models were quite limited, especially for gaming. They're even worse now after all these years.
I've also found a system with an i5, 8GB RAM, good power supply, and decent price, but it's an older i5 (i5 750) with 4 cores and 4 threads. It should run well with the HD 7870 for most esports games, though it might not be as strong after a few years.
So yeah... you definitely want something with at least an i5, and ideally an i7. In my country, computer prices are quite high compared to the U.S. For example, an i5 Ivy Bridge model with 8GB RAM would cost around 300$. But there are good deals out there—like a system with an i5 Haswell, 8GB RAM, GTX 750 Ti, solid power supply, and 8GB RAM for just 200-250$.
I'll keep searching and will return if I find something interesting! Thanks!
By "i5 or i7", I refer to models from at least the third generation or newer. That one is the first generation, too outdated to be very helpful anymore. Ivy Bridge would be the oldest I'd like to see, Sandy Bridge if you had to choose. Haswell or newer would be a huge improvement. You typically find Haswell systems at affordable prices. It's possible they're not available in your area either.
Darkbreeze :
When I say "i5 or i7", I mean models from at least the third generation onward. That one is from the first generation. It's too outdated to be very helpful anymore. Ivy Bridge would be the oldest I'd like to see, Sandy Bridge if you had to. Haswell or newer would be a huge improvement. Usually you can get Haswell systems at fair prices. Though maybe not in your area.
Yeah, but as I mentioned before, you can usually get decent deals almost anywhere in the world, and I'm right! Last night I was thinking about how to look for good offers, and guess what...I spotted something in my room—a used Dell computer—and thought, Why not check Dell Optiplex systems? They offer solid parts at low prices, which is how I found an i5 3470 with 8GB RAM on a Dell Optiplex 7010 system. And wow, it's just $150$.
And yeah, I said the first generation i5 would be too old, even if it has four cores and four threads!
Yes, that seems like a good offer. It would be much better with a 3770 or 3770k included, but you could likely upgrade later and improve performance. Ivy Bridge i7 CPUs are also widely available on the used market at reasonable prices.