Updating my computer hardware...need some tips

Carloh · 8 Dec 2013, 12:20

hey,

i'm thinking about updating my work pc hardware so it's more suited for rendering. since the last time i updated my CPU and motherboard has past quite some time, so i'm not really up to date with that.

I already have updated my graphics card to a Geforce GTX 670 and also put 8 GB of ram in my win 7 64 bit system. now i'm considering to update my CPU.

At the moment there is a AMD Phenom 9950 Quad-Core CPU in my system....now i don't have a clue if there are some kind of new sockets or mainboards or if i just can buy a new CPU for the mainboard i already have (which would the solution i'd prefer). Or would you guys recommend to get a new mainboard and then buy the most up to date CPU?

The question would also be if i will have to reinstall Windows when i change my hardware like this.

As you see I'm not really up to date with CPUs and mainboards, so any tip would be helpfull!

numerobis · 8 Dec 2013, 20:01

This depends on your mainboard. It is possible that AM3 CPUs will run in AM2 boards but only with a lower bus speed (after a BIOS update). I think AM3+ CPUs can not be used because they need DDR3 - as far as i know.
So you have to look at the support page of your mainboard which CPUs are supported.

But i don't know if this would be the best solution to stick with such an "old" mainboard... no SATA3, no USB3, max 8GB.

But if you want to upgrade it an SSD could speed up the system, even if you are limited to SATA2.

Carloh · 8 Dec 2013, 21:47

i guess i will invest some more and will get a new mainboard and a i7 instead of keeping the old mainboard...thank you for your advise