Advice on Upgrading

[Khuds23]

I'm giving myself a little treat this Christmas and giving my older system some new life, and trying to keep my budget to around $500. Im wondering what would be some good choices these days in regards to video cards and CPU's. I'll be playing Fallout 3 and similar games at 16x10 and above if that helps. Thanks!

 

[s44]

The problem is, you could really use a replacement for everything, including (or especially, depending on the state of those Fuhjyyu caps) the PSU. But $500 sort of cramps things.

I guess you could do either a two-part upgrade (vidcard + PSU now, CPU + mobo + RAM later) or just turn everything over. The latter wouldn't get you a quad, but you'd be able to OC whichever cheap C2D you got quite a bit...

In either case, for video I'd look at the 260GTX or 260GTX/216sp, or the 4870 or 4870/1GB. And something like the Corsair 650TX for PSU.

 

[nemesismk2]

I think a 4870 or GTX260 would be ideal.

 

[Denithor]

e8400 + Asus P5Q Pro combo $260AR
G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-800 $40
OCZ 600W PSU $40AR
MSI GTX 260 $200

Total is $540 after rebates. You could potentially hold off on the new PSU and see if your current model will handle the rebuilt system but if it's more than a couple of years old the new one will be much more efficient and safer to use (old PSUs can die horrible deaths and often take other components with them when they do).

You won't believe the increase in speed & game performance versus your current rig. Enjoy!

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Originally posted by: Denithor
e8400 + Asus P5Q Pro combo $260AR
G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-800 $40
OCZ 600W PSU $40AR
MSI GTX 260 $200

Total is $540 after rebates. You could potentially hold off on the new PSU and see if your current model will handle the rebuilt system but if it's more than a couple of years old the new one will be much more efficient and safer to use (old PSUs can die horrible deaths and often take other components with them when they do).

You won't believe the increase in speed & game performance versus your current rig. Enjoy!

+1

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: Denithor
e8400 + Asus P5Q Pro combo $260AR
G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-800 $40
OCZ 600W PSU $40AR
MSI GTX 260 $200

Total is $540

Yah this is lightyears beyond the x2 4400 / 7800gt

IMO, Considering its incredible overclocking potential and value, this is the sweetspot gaming build price/performance wise. Nice picks, Denithor.

 

[s44]

That OCZ's not a good unit. Ripple will be really high if he loads it anywhere near capacity.

He needs something good -- this or this or the like. That pushes closer to $600.