Repair My PC? Rebuild? Buy new? What do I do?

Acopic on 13/05/2021 - 09:57

Hi!
Im after some advice about my PC, I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

A recent lightning storm seems to have knocked out my PCs display ports. It runs - I can access Plex and stream from it, but cant get the screen back up and running.

This is a PC running Ubuntu. It originated as a Hackintosh build 8 years ago, but I gave up on that and have been happily running Ubuntu for the last 4 years. Really I use it for doing my tax 4 times per year, occasionally browsing the internet but mostly to run as a plex server for myself at home but also my parents remotely. Oh and I guess I use Sonarr/occasional torrents/usenet (for linux builds obviously). It really has served its purpose quite well.

Seems like I could probably just replace the motherboard without anything else, but then its a 4th gen i5 cpu so likely to want to upgrade that too, might as well start fresh??

Im a bit lost by the options. Do I rebuild? Do I buy a refurb. Do I need this component or that one etc etc

I really only want to spend $500 at most. Which seems that a new motherboard and cpu would be most economical, but I'm lazy these days and not actually very knowledgeable about components/computers etc.

Really I want something that can be always on, small, cheap but can handle streaming locally and remotely at the same time.

God even I barely know what I'm asking. Sorry!

Computing Computer Desktop Computer

Comments

  • bjdchwr on 13/05/2021 - 10:07
    +7

    You could just get a cheap graphic card and keep using the same hardware?

    Or you can try to buy a cheap Dell of HP SFF off eBay and they are quite decent.
    Like this one

    • Acopic on 13/05/2021 - 10:57

      the graphic card is a good idea, Im just worried I'd either stuff it up or it wouldnt be the problem. Already spent $200 on a new monitor haha

      • netjock on 13/05/2021 - 11:41
        +1

        Radeon R5 230 2GB Graphics Card or Nvidia GT710 is like $70 new. Could be cheaper picking up old cards.

        • Acopic on 13/05/2021 - 14:08

          Will I be able to just plug in and go do you think? I'm currently just using the motherboard graphics, but don't have access to the screen to update any drivers etc. Hopefully ubuntu is forgiving here.

          • netjock on 13/05/2021 - 15:54
            +1

            @Acopic: You need to check if you got a PCI-E slot, should just plug in and standard drivers should work. If you know the motherboard then the OzB community might be able to help.

            • Acopic on 13/05/2021 - 16:35

              @netjock: That would be amazing if anyone has a tip. Bear in mind I am likely to go out and buy exactly what you recommend so the pressure is on! Its a Gigabyte GA-z87m-d3hp.
              From memory I think Ive got a wifi card in one PCIe slot??

              • netjock on 13/05/2021 - 21:24
                +1

                @Acopic: Is this the board? Link

                If it is then it has 2x PCI-E x16 type graphics slots.

                I'd suggest getting something like this second hand for $20 delivered link

                • Acopic on 14/05/2021 - 06:33

                  @netjock: Yeah that's the one. That one you've linked to looks good. I'm a bit sick of not having a screen so i might buy new or local rather than eBay. Think I've got enough to go on now though. Thanks heaps for your thoughts, really appreciate it.

                  • Acopic on 14/05/2021 - 19:23

                    @Acopic: It worked! Bought a gt710 card and I'm back. Turns out the ethernet is kaput too, but at least I can backup and create a startup disk etc. Time to find a new motherboard.

      • wiipantz on 13/05/2021 - 12:03
        +1

        Buy one with a good returns policy?

  • Alan Laz on 13/05/2021 - 10:41
    +3

    Too old, problem could be anywhere

    Linux is very forgiving hardware wise and any working PC will be fine, so a wiped down/ refurbished HP or Dell PC for <$200 will be ideal. Some of the refurbs have quite small SSDs so recommend at least 256GB SSD for all your distro torrents ;)

    • Acopic on 13/05/2021 - 11:00

      Too old, problem could be anywhere

      yeah that's my thought

  • Bid Sniper on 13/05/2021 - 12:28
    +1

    As above, sawp in cheap GFX card and back to normal. Can get a mid teir card for better performance, used even.

    • Acopic on 13/05/2021 - 14:08

      Will I be able to just plug in and go do you think? I'm currently just using the motherboard graphics, but don't have access to the screen to update any drivers etc. Hopefully ubuntu is forgiving here.

  • Bid Sniper on 13/05/2021 - 14:33
    +1

    Yeah just plug in and go. I had PCs at work with blown internal graphics, plugged ina cheap GFX card and operated fine.

    If it doesnt post, remove the watch battery that hold BIOS settings. let it drain and will set default settings.

    • Acopic on 13/05/2021 - 14:35

      Thanks, that's really helpful. I'll give it a go.

  • Acopic on 14/05/2021 - 21:15
    Merged from Should I replace my old motherboard, get a new motherboard/cpu combo, or buy new?

    I'm hoping I can pick the brains of the ozbargain community again. Thanks in advance for reading!

    My motherboard connections got busted by a lightening storm and I'm not sure what to do.

    It's an 8 year old computer, running Ubuntu happily and doing everything I ask of it (until said lightening storm), main demand being a Plex server locally and remotely. With the help of ozbargain I got the screen working with a gt710 graphics card, but now realise the ethernet and one pci-e port is gone too. So it needs replacing.

    The question is, should I replace just the motherboard? Or should I replace the CPU and the motherboard? Or even buy a while new setup?

    CPU is Intel Core i5 4670 LGA1150 CPU 3.4Ghz 6Mb Cache Haswell, 2*8gb DDR3 ram. I don't even really know how this compares to current setups. Seems I can get a replacement gigabyte motherboard for $120 or so, but then am I just investing in old technology?

    Or should I get a new motherboard and CPU. Trouble here is I have no idea what compares to what I had or even what I need.

    I'm probably the sort of person that should just buy off the shelf but it just seems wasteful, but I realise I don't know enough to make a proper decision.

    I'd appreciate your thoughts!

    • oscargamer on 14/05/2021 - 21:24

      New build.

    • scrimshaw on 14/05/2021 - 22:01
      +1

      Personally wouldn't get a Haswell motherboard for $120 since it's very old tech, if you can find a second hand unit on Facebook / Gumtree for $30~50 then it might be worth considering doing a replacement.

      CPU / Motherboard combo's can be found fairly cheaply nowadays, there's a over-supply of computer motherboards (especially slightly older generation ones) and many retailers are doing combo deals, meaning it's cheaper to buy them as a package rather than individually.

      Examples

      https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/233968714401/ (INTEL CORE I5-9400F CPU + MSI Z390-PLUS for $264.77)

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/620992
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/621348
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/613582

      Ram should cost you no more than $120 or so. Just search for DDR4 3200mhz 16GB on eBay or Amazon and look for the cheapest listings.

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