Need more ram = new MB

scubasteve101

New Member
To begin with, I do a lot of panorama rendering and work a lot with very large pictures. I am running two monitors so I usually have several large images open in full view at any given time.
With this said, my computer can't seem to handle this. I am using Windows 7 Professional x64 with a Core 2 Quad (Q8400) processor and only 4GB of ram. I also have a NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT gpu but I really think my issue is with a lack of RAM.
I have a MSI G31M3-L V2 motherboard which is maxed out with this 4GB of RAM.
I am looking to upgrade my motherboard to something that will allow me to add more RAM as well as give me the possibility to overclock my processor later down the road (my current mobo doesn't do well with this either). I would like to be able to transfer my current RAM (Kingston PC2-6400) to the new board and simply buy another stick or two to add to it to make a total of 6 or 8GB.
My only limitations now are money (I'd like to spend as little as possible, $200 max) and my current power supply (a wimpy 420W). Do you guys have any particular motherboards that you would suggest in order to accomplish this? Is this possible with my current PSU and money limitations?
 
Sell the mobo, Ram, & PSU then...

Get a new mobo
6gb of 1066 or 800mhz ram DDR2 most likely...
and get a legit PSU 600 watts name brand min.

Just my suggestions...best of luck
 
Sell the mobo, Ram, & PSU then...

Get a new mobo
6gb of 1066 or 800mhz ram DDR2 most likely...
and get a legit PSU 600 watts name brand min.

Just my suggestions...best of luck

For what he's doing I don't think he is really going to need 600 watts. I would say he's fine with what he has or at least get a 500 Watt powersupply. As for a motherboard, you would have to get new RAM, meaning it can't be 1 GB sticks, it has to be 2 GB sticks.

This motherboard is really good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359

It supports up to 16 GB of RAM.

If you want to go cheaper, there's this Asus which is good too: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131393

It supports up to 16 GB of RAM.

If you really want to go with a new powersupply, then go with one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016
 
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I am unclear as to why I would need to buy new RAM. I was under the impression that if I found a new mobo that is compatible with my current 4GB (2x2GB) I could simply buy more of the same type (brand and speed) and it should work with everything else. Unless what I have is so out of date/crappy that it wouldn't be worth it...
Also, if I were to add a second internal HDD and a blue-ray drive would 500-600W be sufficient? I read about people using a 1000W+ PSU and I don't understand what they could possibly be using that would take twice as much as what I have.

Thank you for your help.
 
I am unclear as to why I would need to buy new RAM. I was under the impression that if I found a new mobo that is compatible with my current 4GB (2x2GB) I could simply buy more of the same type (brand and speed) and it should work with everything else. Unless what I have is so out of date/crappy that it wouldn't be worth it...
Also, if I were to add a second internal HDD and a blue-ray drive would 500-600W be sufficient? I read about people using a 1000W+ PSU and I don't understand what they could possibly be using that would take twice as much as what I have.

Thank you for your help.

Nevermind, i skipped the part where you said that you have 4 Gb, sorry my mistake. All you would need to do is get a new motherboard and 4 more GB of RAM.
 
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