Help - Suggestion for SSD & 16GB RAM for a Noob

LLegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 13:56

Hey all,

I'd like to upgrade my RAM to 16GB and also grab a 240GB SSD, but I really know nothing about these enough to know what to get. I'd like to stick to some good prices, given what site we are on.

Can anyone make any recommendations? I was speaking with someone from here recently but I unfortunately missed that train at the time because of timing, but when I was I was asked what I currently had RAM-wise and what CPU I have. Those details are:
CPU is an i5-3570k CPU @ 3.40GHZ
& I currently have this RAM http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=690343

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

Thanks in advance.

Computing

Comments

  • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 14:14

    how much can you spend?

    how much do you want to spend?

    what do you need the hardware for?

    240g isn't much but it would be okay to just store windows on…

    Your CPU can handle ddr3 1600mhz so you might as well buy that if your motherboard can run it? can you give me make and model?

    • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 14:45

      Hey mate. Just wanting to get things moving a bit faster mainly. And sort of have the plan to eventually upgrade different things here and there, starting with some of the cheaper stuff.

      As for motherboard, I'll have to let you know when I'm home after work, not too sure off the top of my head.

      Based on some of the deals that have flown around in the past I'd probably want to spend around $200, give or take.

      • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 14:51

        do you think you will do a rebuild soon? It might be better to leave the ram for now? all new computers will be running ddr4 and its the same price as ddr3 so maybe skip that and just get a bigger ssd?

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 15:06

          Probably not any time real soon, to be honest. I'm not in any real rush/have a tonne of expendable cash right now. I'm sort of happy to put up a few hundred to begin with for things like this now, and if they'll be outdated by the time I go to do a full rebuild then so be it, that'll be on me.

          But for now with my current stats, what would you recommend?

          Thanks for your help btw mate, I appreciate it.

        • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 15:15

          @LegendIsReal: upgrading to a SSD from a normal HDD they will all be super fast. it also depends on what sata version you have if your version of sata is older no point on spending the most for a SSD….
          i guess in general you should be able to fit in a 240g SSD and 16g of ram for around $200

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 15:18

          @aussieprepper: Oh I wasn't going to actually replace my HDD, I was just going to add in an SSD. Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't I do that and use the SSD as a boot device to run the OS faster?

        • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 15:21

          @LegendIsReal: Yea you can just set the SSD as a the windows partition and your computer will boot up in like 10 seconds…

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 15:22

          @aussieprepper: Yep, that's what I was hoping to use one for. I assume I can find an easy enough tutorial for loading the partition with windows etc, I was just looking for what the best SSD for this purpose would be for the best price.

        • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 15:26

          @LegendIsReal: i think they are mostly the same because your computer is a little older now its not going to matter a whole lot if you get the fastest SSD.

        • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 15:29

          @LegendIsReal:
          Msy has the scandisk ultra 2 for $94 that is cheap the samsung deal here today is good but its a little small if you have the money might as well get a bigger SSD.

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 15:31

          @aussieprepper: Ok, so between you and @Cheap Charlie, would you recommend I get the MSY Sandisk (http://www.msy.com.au/sa/adelaide/pc-components/14415-sandis…) or the Samsung 120 that was recently posted?

        • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 15:36

          @LegendIsReal: mate up to you because you can always add another SSD if need be? i would go for a bigger SSD personally it gives you more room to move you may have apps you want to run on the SSD also.

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 15:38

          @aussieprepper: I was leaning that way too. Is there much difference performance wise between the Sandisk and the Samsung?

        • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 15:47

          @LegendIsReal: reading the specs the sandisk seems faster but some one correct me?

          https://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&…

          http://www.cnet.com/au/products/sandisk-ultra-ii-ssd/

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 16:00

          @aussieprepper: Thanks mate :)

        • smpantsonfire on 06/04/2016 - 15:03

          @LegendIsReal:

          You won't notice any difference in real life. I'd get the Sandisk.

    • ronnknee on 06/04/2016 - 09:31

      240g isn't much but it would be okay to just store windows on…

      It's not a lot but certainly nowhere near "enough to just store Windows". I have an Zenbook with 128 GB SSD, and THAT's enough for Windows, Adobe Suite, Microsoft Office, and some storage remaining. With the extra 112 GB, you could have an extra few games or large applications. I'd say 240/256 GB SSD should be the bare minimum for a more-than-average user.

    • theguyrules on 06/04/2016 - 11:41

      240gb is plenty. You can just store Windows on a 60gb SSD (I have been running only a 60gb SSD for years).

    • macrocephalic on 07/04/2016 - 09:25
      +1

      240GB should be plenty to store windows and apps on (unless you have lots of large games). I run off a 120GB SSD.

      Keep your old drive to store media on.

    • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 15:19

      Thanks for the suggestion mate. I currently have 2 sticks of 4 without room for another slot, so it's basically 16 or leave it (unless I have that wrong).

      What you mentioned with the SSD is what I was thinking of doing, using it as a boot device.

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 15:27
          +1

          Right on, I can see the logic in that. Is there much use in getting a 240gb over the 120gb you mentioned above or vice versa? Or will that just be a matter of how much I want at a faster speed on the SSD?

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 15:33

          @Cheap Charlie: Ah snap I can't tag you properly. Can you scroll up a bit for me and see what aussieprepper just said and perhaps weigh in on what you'd recommend?

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 16:01

          @Cheap Charlie: Right on man, I probably don't require stacks to be on the SSD. I just have a 1TB in the PC at the moment, I also have an external that I'm bouncing between, but I'd prefer to only use that when I really need to. Truth be told, like I'm sure anyone would say, I could clear a stack of space from the HD. But really it's more about faster boots for the OS and things I use more than others.

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 16:14

          @Cheap Charlie: Yeah I can budget a bit over that, no issues there, now that I've knocked out the RAM part.

          Currently on Windows 10, for better or worse.

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 16:29

          @Cheap Charlie: Hey thanks man, I appreciate the effort you took in writing that out for me. I'll try to grab myself by the end of the week and try to get this all set up over the weekend. Thanks so much for all of your help!

        • LegendIsReal on 05/04/2016 - 17:17

          @Cheap Charlie: Haha, awesome!

        • LegendIsReal on 06/04/2016 - 09:53

          @Cheap Charlie: Thanks mate! Would we be talking not as good, but still good on the whole? As in, purchase-worthy?

        • LegendIsReal on 06/04/2016 - 10:48
          +1

          @Cheap Charlie: Totally man, and I appreciate your help, you rock.

          I…. bit the bullet on a Samsung EVO 850. I just closed my eyes and clicked purchase. I figured that sounds to be the best, and after knocking the RAM option out I had some extra cash to put towards it, so I bought one.

    • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 15:22

      yea but also he is running ddr3 1333mhz so he would need to use either buy another stick of the same 1333mhz or upgrade both to 1600mhz.

        • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 15:27

          This is also true i have 16g of ram most i have ever used is 12gs and that was maxed out!

        • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 16:25

          @Cheap Charlie: i done the intel stress test and then i added on my own apps at the same time just to push it more…

        • enzioFirenze on 05/04/2016 - 17:30

          @aussieprepper: I've maxxed out my 16GB plenty of times when I run memory intensive code, grabbed another 16GB recently to upgrade it to 32GB :D

        • aussieprepper on 05/04/2016 - 18:08

          @enzioFirenze: well depends on your CPU also

  • oscargamer on 05/04/2016 - 19:43

    if i was you i'd buy a 1tb SSD and forget about the ram

    load everything on SSD - use old HD as backup

    re-install OS (not copy from HD to SSD)

    it will fly

    i did this for my i5-2500 - it has been reborn

    850 evo ssd from amazon france (or US is also good value)

    • dogboy on 06/04/2016 - 09:13
      +2

      I agree. You will not see any performance improvement going from 8 -> 16 Gb RAM; 8 is plenty. Get a bigger SSD or a better graphics card if you want to improve performance.

      • Ausbob on 12/04/2016 - 11:17

        Aside from less stress in space management, is there much performance to be gained from upgrading to a bigger SSD? I don't think they work on % used do they?

        • dogboy on 12/04/2016 - 15:48

          No performance difference based on size. You can get a performance improvement if you get 2 the same size and run them in RAID 0 though.

    • LegendIsReal on 06/04/2016 - 09:55
      +2

      Thanks for the suggestion mate. Certainly looking at just doing the SSD over RAM now, it seems to be a highly recommended move here :)

  • muncan on 06/04/2016 - 08:55
    +3

    What are you planning to do with your computer? If you need something to receive email, you'll need a top of the line machine for that.

    • LegendIsReal on 06/04/2016 - 09:55

      FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS?!

  • gimli on 07/04/2016 - 07:14

    Get second hand ram

    Still good

  • edgar28 on 07/04/2016 - 11:17

    if it's purely to boost the OS startup speed and microsoft office

    sandisk readycache/ seagate hybrid - works alright for my case

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