PC upgrade using motherboard, processor, CPU cooler, RAM bundle

Showing the PC upgrade example of a motherboard, processor, CPU cooler and RAM memory bundle
Showing the PC upgrade example of a motherboard, processor, CPU cooler and RAM memory bundle

Problem

PC upgrade or buy a new computer. – I’ve been having problems with my desktop computer and I think it’s a hardware issue. It’s pretty old. I reinstalled Windows 10 but it keeps crashing and jamming. I think I might buy another PC. I don’t need anything fancy as I use it mainly for the internet, a few letters and occasionally watching TV. What would you recommend?

Answer

It would be difficult to find out what is causing your problem. It’s an old PC, any one of the components could be on the blink, including the power supply unit (PSU), so taking it to a repair shop might fix the problem but probably only temporarily.

The cheapest option: upgrade using a motherboard-processor-RAM-memory bundle

In my opinion, the best and cheapest option is a PC upgrade that involves buying a motherboard-processor-RAM-memory bundle  – if the PC already uses a standard ATX case for an ATX motherboard.

The following bundle from Amazon would make a very good inexpensive upgrade for your computing needs. If your PC is old, you may also consider upgrading the power supply unit (PSU). I recommend EVGA and Corsair PSUs. I know a system builder and his first choice from plenty of experience is PSUs made by EVGA. A bundle like the one at the link below would not require a PSU that is rated at more than 550W.

ADMI CPU Motherboard Bundle: AMD Ryzen 3 3200G 4GHz with Radeon Vega 8 Graphics, ASUS Prime B450M-A Motherboard, 8GB 2400Mhz DDR4 RAM [June 2021] –

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ADMI-CPU-Motherboard-Bundle-B450M/dp/B07V12N6LW/

The motherboard in the bundle is an ASUS PRIME B450M-A AMD B450 DDR4 mATX model. – “The AMD B450 chipset delivers high performance and flexibility with the latest AMD AM4-socket Ryzen processors. With Aura Sync RGB header, DDR4 3200MHz memory, M.2 NVMe SSD, HDMI 2.0b, SATA 6Gbps and USB 3.1 Gen 2.” – Cost – £230.00 in June 2021.

The AMD Ryzen 3 3200G processor also provides the graphics. A Ryzen CPU with the letter G at the end of its model name provides built-in graphics. Unfortunately, due to the Covid lockdowns, graphics cards are hard to come by, so the built-in graphics means that you don’t need one. The motherboard provides the available graphics ports – VGA, DVI, HDMI, etc.

You should opt for an M.2 NVMe SSD that the motherboard provides a slot for, which is four times or more faster than an SATA SSD and hugely faster than the fastest mechanical hard disk drives. Note that the motherboard must provide support for an M.2 NVMe SSD. Note that the higher capacities – 500GB and 1TB (1000GB) NVMe SSDs have the longest life.

Amazon provides several such bundles – the higher the specifications, the greater the cost – and they are also available from several other online computer stores. But the example is an inexpensive one that suits your computing needs very well.

PC upgrade – Remove the existing motherboard and replace it with the bundle

You just have to remove the existing motherboard and replace it with the bundle. Alternatively, you can buy all those components individually if such a bundle is not available in your country or you want to choose your own components.

Note that AMD Ryzen CPUs are finicky about the RAM memory that then run. If the memory is incompatible, the PC will not boot or even enter the BIOS. Therefore, it’s best to use one of the memory selectors on crucial.com, because the memory is tested with the motherboard or brand-name PC and, if incompatible, you get your money back. For your information, I have never bought incompatible memory from Crucial.

The only tool you need is a Phillips screwdriver.

The existing power supply unit, hard drive and DVD drive connect to the motherboard. Just note where the connections are and then reconnect the cables to the new motherboard.  There are a few other cables to connect, such as the Start button, cables for LED lights and any USB ports at the front of the case.

The motherboard user manual provides installation information

All of the major motherboard manufacturers provide downloads of the user manuals in the PDF format for their boards. Here is a link to download the motherboard manual of the Asus A68HM Plus motherboard that the example bundle provides. It provides all of the component installation instructions and shows where the sundry cables connect to the motherboard.

https://www.asus.com/uk/Motherboards/A68HMPLUS/HelpDesk_Manual/

Don’t throw the components of your old PC away. You may still be able use them as spares.

The power supply unit (PSU) might be faulty, so buy a new one. Corsair are the best, in  my opinion – £40.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CP-9020097-UK-PLUS-Power-Supply/dp/B00TE4XSMA/…

Then you have a new PC for £180.

The PC upgrade requires an ATX case that can take an mATX motherboard

But your existing PC must have an ATX case that can take the mATX Asus motherboard. Your existing PC might use a different form factor. For example, a mini PC uses Small Form Factor (SFF) motherboards. Most HP Compaq desktop PCs use SFF motherboards.

To find out what its form factor is, conduct a web search of the computer’s make and model if you don’t have its user manual. You could also open the case to find out what the make/model of the motherboard is and look that up on the web.

If you haven’t got an ATX case, you can buy one. Here is an excellent ATX case for £35.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooler-Master-MasterBox-Computer-MCW-L5S3-KANN-01/…

Installing Windows 10 or a free distribution of Linux

Your installation of Windows 10 on the PC’s hard disk drive won’t work because the new hardware uses different device drivers.

If you have a Windows 10 install disc with a retail licence that allows Win10 to be installed on any number of computers as long as only one of them is in use, you can reinstall it. If your existing PC was made by a brand-name manufacturer, Win10 will have an OEM licence that cannot be used on another computer. If that is the case, you have to purchase Win10. Its setup process will install the new device drivers.

Or you could just download Ubuntu Linux or Linux Mint for free. They would both work well for your computing needs.

Switch to Linux Mint, a secure, reliable operating system

I still use Windows XP  – support ended in 2014 – and have had no issues with virusues etc.

Once set up that setup should last at least 8 years.

A computer repair shop can install everything for you

If you don’t  want to install the components yourself, just take them in to a PC repair shop. The small ones are the best. Make sure that you get a quote before the work is done or risk being ripped off. The job shouldn’t take an experienced installer any longer than about an hour. Also provide the Win10 installation disc (if it doesn’t have an OEM licence) the existing hard disk drive and DVD drive. That said, the installation of those components and Win10 is fairly simple to do yourself.

The  video below shows how to remove the old motherboard from the case and install a similar Novatech AMD APU motherboard bundle.

Buy a new PC

If you want to buy a new PC, the AMD Ryzen processors are now beating Intel. Here is a desktop PC from Mesh with a Ryzen processor with its inbuilt Radeon graphics for £379 without a monitor and keyboard, which you already have. You just need the basic configuration. Win10 is included. You have a choice of alternative components.

I would only change the 400W power supply unit (PSU) to the brand-name 500W option that costs an extra £18, because the one that comes with the PC might be a cheap unit that might not last as long as the rest of the components. It looks as if 400W and 500W are made by the same manufacturer, but you could get a different 400W PSU. In any case, a 500W PSU would leave plenty of overhead.

There is no description for the 400W PSU, but 500W CPU is described as a “500W Aerocool Integrator Certified Power Supply”, so, if you choose it, that can be checked when you receive the PC. The PSU is a very important component, so having a quality unit is essential.

See the image below showing the choices of PSU.

https://www.meshcomputers.com/professional-desktop-pcs/home-office-pcs/ryzen-3-2200g/

Power supply options for the Mesh PC
PC upgrade – Power supply options for the Mesh PC. Click on the image to view its full size.
About Eric 275 Articles
I am an experienced PC technician who has been the owner and sole writer of the PC Buyer Beware! website since 2004. I am learning all the time in this very dynamic, ever-changing field.