Wanting to upgrade my computer?
Wanting to upgrade my computer?
I usually use two Windows computers. The newest one is a Dell Inspiron 16 (5th gen) that I bought recently to swap out for my old one. It has an Intel Core i7-150U processor running at 1.8 GHz, a fast 256GB SSD, and runs on Windows 11 Home. It is working fine so far. My other computer is seven years old that I built myself. It uses Windows 10 Pro, a motherboard by ASRock with an AMD FX-8350 processor running at 4 GHz, 16GB of RAM, and storage for both the OS (256GB SSD) and my files (a 1TB hard drive). Its main job is watching security cameras via remote control. Most of the time I use this laptop. I do use a few programs to edit photos or videos from time to time, but it isn't smooth. Moving between Windows 10 and Windows 11 feels really frustrating. Also, Windows 10's support might be ending soon. I am thinking of replacing the motherboard, CPU, and memory because I already have a new power supply (750 watts) and my case is sturdy. I am leaning toward getting an AMD Ryzen processor instead. Would you recommend any specific combo for this? Thanks so much! Pops
I just bought a new 750-watt power supply because the computer case feels strong. How long have you been using that Seasonic Power Supply? What brand is your case and what are your hard drives made of? I'm trying to fix my RAM, CPU, and motherboard together. Please don't tell me anything about being a gamer. Remember to follow these rules when asking for help: respect everyone's opinion here because we created this post based on an old guide from Animal's thread about how to ask for upgrade advice. Also, let's know what apps or games you use so we can pick the right parts for your needs.
If you aren't into gaming, buying something from Intel makes sense because their motherboards get a lot of features for the price. They are really fast at multitasking and also handle single tasks well. The 265K is more powerful than the 9700X when you don't play games, but it costs less too. If you follow this plan, your PC will last a long time with lots of cool extras like Wi-Fi-7, fast ethernet, many USB ports, and three extra spots for big storage drives. I put an NVMe drive in because any new computer from the last five years should have one as its main hard drive. It had a DRAM cache, which helps it work faster. Sixty-four gigs of RAM are way too much right now, but they only cost about forty dollars more than thirty-two-gig kits. I added a CPU cooler just to keep the processor cool under heavy load. That's a great cooler for the low price. Here is what I got: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K ($294.99), Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE 66.17 CFM Cooler ($35.90), MSI PRO Z890-P WIFI ATX LGA1851 Motherboard ($224.99), Patriot Venom 64 GB RAM kit ($154.99), and Inland Performance Plus 1 TB NVMe M.2 drive ($74.98). The total cost is $785.85. All prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when you shop online. This list was made by PCPartPicker on May 6th, 2025.
It's a tough thing to say no to that price tag of 265k. Sometimes this is the best move, especially if you are using it for gaming or specific tasks where speed matters most. For other things like editing video or running light games, AMD often has a small edge here. The choice really comes down to what you actually need and whether you plan on upgrading your stuff later. Since you usually keep everything that's bought, maybe updating isn't super important right now, but it still makes sense to think about it before buying. Here is the link for more info: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel...5k/10.html If you want an AMD option instead, check out this guide on PCPartPicker Part List. CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X 3.8 GHz 8-Core Processor ($309.00 @ Amazon) CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE V3 70.84 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.90 @ Amazon) Motherboard: ASRock B850 LiveMixer WiFi ATX AM5 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Newegg) Memory: Patriot Venom 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($154.99 @ Newegg) Storage: Inland Performance Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($74.98 @ Amazon) Total: $763.86 Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-05-06 12:36 EDT-0400