New computer help

[fazersharp]

The maximum sized DIMM this will support if 4GB. There are 4 slots and you only need to fill them one at a time

So do you mean 4gb in each = total max of 16gb

. Worst case is it will have 4x2GB DIMMS fitted. To upgrade this you would need to replace one or more of the DIMMS.

Before I buY I am asking if I can up grade to 12gb I am not sure how the ram is configured in the slots --- I see what you are saying if it is 4x2 then I will have to dunp/sell one or two so I can add more

If it is delivered with 8GB RAM, that will do you for a good while

So would my money be better spent on a ssd rather than bumping up to 12gb do you think because although it is s refurb one they have dosens and can upgrade parts before shipment

DDR3 PC3-10600 (1333 MHz) and PC3-8500 (1066 MHz) memory.  So is this one faster (1333 MHz) out of the two types and can i mix them

[BBROWN1664]

There are 4x DIMM slots. Only one must be filled with a DIMM.
Several permutations exist from 1x1GB up to 4x4GB to give you 16Gb which is the maximum that PC can support.
IF the PC has 8GB in it now, that could be 4x2GB or 2x4GB. If it is the former, then you will have to remove 2x2GB and replace them with 2x4GB to get you to 12GB.
If it is 2x4GB at the moment, then adding another 1x4GB will work as will adding 2x2GB.

8GB is plenty for a desktop unless you are doing some serious graphical work.

[fazersharp]

I see then I hope it is 2x4 in there or else I have to buy an extra 8 myself if it is 4x2 thats why it may well just pay me to get them to do it before shipment as they will only be charging for the extra 4.

There are 4x DIMM slots. Only one must be filled with a DIMM.

Not sure what you mean (sorry) --DIMM is the name of the connection isnt it and at least one has to have something in it otherwize I have zero memory all the memory is a DIMM connection isnt it ?

[BBROWN1664]

Yes. A DIMM is a Dual Inline Memory Module. This is the RAM chip thing.
The DIMM slot is where you fit the memory.
If you have no DIMMs fitted, you have zero memory.

If you really want or need to go to 12GB, then you may as well get them to fit it.

[fazersharp]

Thanks for your help
I do also I think have the option of instead of having it shipped with the HD I can instead pay £50 extra and have it shipped with a SSD
In your view what would gain the most speed
12gb and standard HD
or 8gb with an SSD

[Frosties]

I love PC's .......

[smg id=2688 type=preview caption="Phoenix"]

No shit Deadeye. Water cooling.....etc That's a cracking bit of kit  :eek

[BBROWN1664]

8GB with an SSD will be faster.

[fazersharp]

Thank you for your help

I think I may do it that way because I can easily add extra memory later, I use acronis true image for backups so I could swap the drive later but swapping the HD later will be a bit more of a faff and then also worrying about people accessing my "deleted" drive if I try to sell the old HD

[Val]

Thank you for your help

I think I may do it that way because I can easily add extra memory later, I use acronis true image for backups so I could swap the drive later but swapping the HD later will be a bit more of a faff and then also worrying about people accessing my "deleted" drive if I try to sell the old HD

There are some details here - if you are concerned about security do not buy SSD -the information never gets really deleted there and at some point if you change it somebody can read it.

That is the last thing to worry about SSD though - some SSD devices from some manufacturers have really bad reliability problems.

Generally SSD technology has very low endurance compared to HD - in the magnittude of 100x-200x worst.

Also it is very expensive per Mb.

For above reasons I will never install and rely on SSD only. IMO is better to have small and good manufacturer quality SSD for the operating system and the programs only - this way your PC will start and work faster.

But keep high volume and important data on a HD for reliability and cost reasons.

Backup is fine but usually disks fail before you do backup and you loose all that has not been backuped yet.

Even RAID 0 or RAID 5 configuratin HDs. Raid means several HD drives working together if one disk fails you do not loose your information and can change the disk and continue.

This way I know my information is protected.

Think about it are you ok if you loose all your data there? Probably yes if all important pictures are on flick and you keep other important famility documents in the cloud say Google drive or Microsoft OneDrive.

If you keep all important data locally on that PC SSD only is a no go for me and you need fault tollerant HD configuration 

[fazersharp]

DAMIT just been told that they are out of the 8100s but have the 8000 with 2core duo E8400 and not the i3
here is a side by side spek http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare_CPUs/In...70PJ0806M/
the only ovious thing to me is it has 2 threads and the i3 has 4

[darrsi]

Sounds like you need a DeLorean  :lol

[joebloggs]

Sounds like you need a DeLorean  :lol

:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin

To bloody confusing this computer jargon

Bring back the spectrum...............

[fazersharp]

That is the last thing to worry about SSD though - some SSD devices from some manufacturers have really bad reliability problems

Come on then name and shame so I can avoid

[BBROWN1664]

Regarding the CPU, the E8400 benchmarks at  2178 and the i3-540 @ 2708 so the E8400 will be about 20% slower.

[NorthWestern]

I wouldn't bother with an SSD to be honest.  We build AAA video games for PS4/XB1/PC etc and our PC's are pretty cutting edge but we don't bother with SSD drives due to reliability and they just don't offer any real performance other than load times but HDD load times are hardly a problem especially for a home machine. 


If your not doing very large file edits and/or playing the latest games then pretty much anything will do.  I have an old laptop I occasionally use at home and that can run Photoshop CS6 with 4k images just fine.  I think its an 2.0ghz intel duo with 2 gig ram and the intel on board gfx so waaay inferiour to your current machine.  Win 10 is also much easier on hardware so if your moving to that it will give you a minor boost.


Your current PC spec looks fine for what you say you want to use it for, maybe it just needs a good cleanup, maybe a new gfx card and hdd, fresh install of windows etc  Even modern games don't tax the CPU much anymore its all on the GFX card really - most photo editing software use the gfx card nowadays.  We occasionally get a batch of different spec PC's from dell etc and without question the biggest performance factor is GFX card (for games)  CPU makes little difference and anything with over 8G+ is more or less the same be that 8GB or 16GB.

[fazersharp]

Regarding the CPU, the E8400 benchmarks at  2178 and the i3-540 @ 2708 so the E8400 will be about 20% slower.

Thanks for that
Even I am starting to loose the will to live -----------its turning into a noggy "what bike shall I get"

the 8000 is coming in at £40-£50 cheaper

Now started to look at Dell OptiPlex 790 Small Form Factor i3 3.3GHz 8gb ram anyone have any view on that machine

[fazersharp]

I wouldn't bother with an SSD to be honest.  We build AAA video games for PS4/XB1/PC etc and our PC's are pretty cutting edge but we don't bother with SSD drives due to reliability and they just don't offer any real performance other than load times but HDD load times are hardly a problem especially for a home machine. 

Your current PC spec looks fine for what you say you want to use it for, maybe it just needs a good cleanup, maybe a new gfx card and hdd, fresh install of windows etc    CPU makes little difference and anything with over 8G+ is more or less the same be that 8GB or 16GB.

So it sounds like I should steer clear of SSD although the pc never has much on it to lose as it was only 40GB hd so never kept much on it and always saved to DVD any photos.
So a SSD will just make start up quicker --- I thought it made everything quicker.

Also just to recap the current pc is
10 year old + HP D530
P4 2.4GHz 
3gb ddr pc2700 166MHz
40gb HD
onboard graphics
xp pro (not sure how much ram is available)

Thats the family pc for general --- not a lot, but find things like the google maps painfully slow and it randomly restarts -- which of course is my fault cause its old and its broken and Im too tight to buy another one :uhuh
(only one of those statements is correct) 

[NorthWestern]

The ssd has vastly increased read/write performance over a hdd. It will make some things quick but only if it is involving disk access which won't be happening most of the time. Once you load your photo etc it's loaded into ram so the ssd offers nothing performance wise beyond that. Also loading times isn't bad with hdd so if you half the load time you've saved a second

[fazersharp]

So I shouldnt get too eat up about the differences between i.3 3.06GHz and a core 2 duo 3.0GHZ both with 8gb ram then and not bother with a SSD

Also being offered it with a NV 290 graphics card for an extra £10

[NorthWestern]

There will be a difference, but you may never notice in real world terms. Benchmark results can be misleading, you may not see a difference between two cpu even if one has 30% better. It's not really 30% better.

If your buying new they are all pretty matched in the price brackets. One bundle might give better speakers, the other better gfx.  You won't really go wrong