Website to help check hardware compatibility for upgrades?

[Diana Doors]

It's been a while since I last upgraded my hardware, and I've got a little bit of cash at the moment, so I'm thinking it's time to get a new graphics card, motherboard and/or CPU. However, it's always tricky to ensure that everything is compatible with everything else. Is there a website that anybody knows of that can help me? Ideally I'd like to be able to tell it what I've got and have it suggest upgrades, and for me to be able to list various bits of hardware and have it tell me whether they'll work together. I understand that's probably a big ask, though, so anything helpful would be good.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
You might first use the link above my signature to Fill in your system spec's page.

 

[Diana Doors]

Done

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Thanks a bit limited so you did not look at the link did you

Click Start and type in the search box
system information
Go to the Components/ Hardware/ Storage/ Disks listings on the left column

Best basic upgrade is replacing an hdd/ hard drive with a solid state drive = ssd.

 

[Diana Doors]

Hi,
Thanks a bit limited so you did not look at the link did you

Yes I did and I followed exactly what it said.

Best basic upgrade is replacing an hdd/ hard drive with a solid state drive = ssd.

I have precisely zero interest in doing that. What I'm looking to upgrade is one or all of my CPU, motherboard and graphics card. That's why I'm looking for suggestions for websites that can help me find ones which will be compatible with each other.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
An ssd will give the best performance upgrade.
Next would be AddRam or max out the memory which now is 4gb's.
Crucial.com - Crucial System Scanner

How much money is "a little bit" by the way

 

[Diana Doors]

I have zero interest in getting a solid state drive. If I upgrade my RAM, it will be as part of the motherboard/CPU combination that I upgrade. I'm looking to upgrade one or more of my CPU, my motherboard and my graphics card. To this end, I'm looking for anybody that can help point me towards a site that can help me avoid compatibility issues.

I have actually tried the Crucial scanner you link to, but found it unhelpful , particularly as it seemed like little but an advertising tool for RAM and SSDs, one of which I'm not at all interested in, and the other of which I'm only interested in as part of a different upgrade all together.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
You're talking about a new build not upgrading this existing machine.
You still have not posted a budget

A new mother board will affect the current windows install
Could you at least state which case you have.

Also run this and post the report.
http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...ne-activation-issue-posting-instructions.html

 

[Diana Doors]

I'm not talking about a completely new build, I'm talking about upgrading the motherboard, CPU and/or graphics card, dependent on various factors, which I would be able to assess if someone could suggest a site where I can check the compatibility of various bits of hardware.

 

[ThrashZone]

https://pcpartpicker.com/

 

[Diana Doors]

That's helpful, thank you.

 

[Digerati]

I disagree that a SSD would be the best performance upgrade option for you at this starting point. No doubt SSDs boost performance (I personally see no reason for HDs when building new or upgrading). But SSDs only affect "drive" performance and "computer" performance is much more than just reading and writing to a drive. You see amazing boot times with SSDs compared to HDs, but once everything is loaded into RAM, the advantages (for most tasks) of a SSD diminish significantly - but ONLY IF you have a bunch of RAM. You don't.

You have only 4GB of RAM. That is, by far, your biggest (narrowest?) bottleneck right now. Since you already have 64-bit Windows (which can support more than 4GB), and your Gigabyte board will support 4GB sticks, I recommend you replace your current RAM with 2 x 4GB, upgrading to 8GB. Replacing all will ensure total compatibility.

You did not specify how your RAM is configured now. If you currently have 1 x 4GB, you might be able to add a second 4GB if you can find a matching stick. But again, to ensure compatibility, replacing all is best. Note most of us who have been doing this for awhile have a box or drawer full of perfectly good RAM because replacing all instead of adding was the best option. For around $50 for 2 x 4GB, this will BY FAR, give you the most bang for your money.

The other advantage to just upgrading your RAM is your current power supply will most likely support the increased demand for power so you will not need a new PSU. Note a graphics card can easily be the most power hungry devices in our computers, even more so than the CPU. So upgrading the graphics card often requires a more powerful PSU too.

You can replace your CPU, but that will cost considerably more than $50, and you will still have that 4GB bottleneck. A new CPU may also require a new PSU.

Replacing a motherboard (which may then require a new compatible CPU and new compatible RAM - and a new PSU to support them) will be much more expensive. But also a new motherboard, in terms of software licenses, is considered a new computer. That typically means you will need to buy a new Windows license too since the vast majority of Windows licenses are OEM/System Builder licenses and OEM are NEVER legally transferable to a new computer under any circumstances.