How to improve a PC so it can handle games?

[NTMBK]

Would anyone explain me how I tell if a processor is good? Is it dependent of the number of cores or GHz? Is each feature especific to different tasks? If I want to run multiple programs at the same time it's better to have dual core right?

Even a single program can use many cores at once. For instance the latest games consoles have 8 cores in them- expect new games to like lots of cores! A dual core is the minimum for modern games, to be honest.

The best way to compare performance is using Anandtech's Bench tool: http://www.anandtech.com/Bench/CPU/2 You can compare lots of different CPU's performance on different benchmarks, including games. For instance, this is the comparison between a 3.6GHz Pentium 4 and a 3.3GHz Core 2 Duo: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/92?vs=54 There are a lot of different factors that affect CPU performance- cache sizes, instruction set support, pipeline depth, execution width, clock speed, memory bandwidth, number of cores... Trying to predict performance is nearly impossible! Comparing results on benchmarks is the only reliable way.

 

[Diwiw]

Yikes! D: There's only one option, move to a country where consoles aren't as expensive- your English seems very good, try the USA 😛

Thank you so much that means a LOT to me! 🙂
Funny thing is that im going to the US in 2 months! xD

 

[TemjinGold]

Err... if you're going to the US in 2 months...

 

[Bubbleawsome]

Thank you so much that means a LOT to me! 🙂
Funny thing is that im going to the US in 2 months! xD

If you know where you are going in the us I'm sure there are a few anandtech'ers who would be willing to drop by and maybe be able to buy something so you can pick it up when you visit.

 

[el etro]

get a PS4... no joke...

your hardware is so old, that it would cost you more to get near ps4 hardware then just a PS4 if all u want is gaming.

PS4 costs like 780Ti in Brazil!

 

[Diwiw]

If you know where you are going in the us I'm sure there are a few anandtech'ers who would be willing to drop by and maybe be able to buy something so you can pick it up when you visit.

I just created my profile yesterday XD. I dont think I can trust to meet people IRL,sorry! Besides I'll be going with friends who aren't really interested in computer stuff..... Thanks thought 🙂

 

[cytg111]

A Core2Quad and a Radeon 5850 would play just about any game near high settings.

That combo shouldn't cost more than about $120-150.

- This. You should bear notice to the power draw though, make sure your PSU is up for the task.

What kind of hardware do you have lying around? More than one disc? More than one screen?

Computers tend to be worth more if you are selling a working rig, you could sell it off and get new-cheap components .. hell forget the case, just lay out the mobo on a cardboard.. or mount it on the wall. It can be done cheap.

 

[cytg111]

Would anyone explain me how I tell if a processor is good? Is it dependent of the number of cores or GHz? Is each feature especific to different tasks? If I want to run multiple programs at the same time it's better to have dual core right?

At this point we're getting too specific for "want to run games well".
1. What games would you like to play.
2. What apps are you using. (secondary, most pc's will handle "apps", as they're not subject to a 30fps eye-strain-limit).

Rule of thumb, get anything from past Core and you're good - that would mean any i3 or i5 .. depending on what you *really* need.

 

[seitur]

Try to save some money up.

Then come back. State your budget and ask for advice on new PC.

I am sorry for being harsh, but your PC is way past the date of cost-effective uppgrading.

 

[cytg111]

Try to save some money up.

Then come back. State your budget and ask for advice on new PC.

I am sorry for being harsh, but your PC is way past the date of cost-effective uppgrading.

Try to save up patience for a decent post.

Then come back. State your oppinion on how to best advance under the circumstances given.

I am sorry for being harsh, but your post is past the date of "cost-effective" posting.

 

[007ELmO]

lol

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yes,or at least I think so. It's a XFX-ATI Radeon HD 5450. Is that good?

No, it's very poor for games.

 

[Jodell88]

get a PS4... no joke...

your hardware is so old, that it would cost you more to get near ps4 hardware then just a PS4 if all u want is gaming.

A PS4 costs the equivalet of US$1,800+ 😱😱😱😱😱

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2013/10/22/sony-high-ps4-price-in-brazil-is-bad-for-gamers/

 

[cbn]

Even a Wolfdale like an E8400 would be a big improvement. The P4 has to go.

Heck, even a Core2Duo E8400 @3GHz or higher would make that P4 feel like the crapper it is! Cheap!!

I just checked Ebay and was quite surprised to see E8400 going for so cheap.

It looks like the going rate from multiple sellers is now $25 or less (with free shipping to the United States).

 

[Puppies04]

Would anyone explain me how I tell if a processor is good? Is it dependent of the number of cores or GHz? Is each feature especific to different tasks? If I want to run multiple programs at the same time it's better to have dual core right?

It isn't that simple, althoughif you have an interest in the subject it also isn't that hard.


You can pick up a quad core from 8 years ago that is worse than a dual core from this year. You can also pick up a dual core Intel Atom from a couple of years ago that your current processor is faster than.

If you aren't willing/don't have the time to learn about these things then an alternative is asking questions here every time you want to find out an answer.

Put simply the newer the cpu and the more cores it has up to 4 the faster it will be. Just be aware there are exceptions to this.

 

[aigomorla]

A PS4 costs 4.000 Reais in Brazil!That s impossible for me dude! It would make sense to buy one if it was cheaper I agree with you,but 4000 is just not reasonable. Unfortunatly D:

thats 1700 US dollars.... u sure its that expensive?
its suposed to list arround 600 US Dollars at the most...

Then id suggest u spend about 400 US dollars and just upgrade your entire platform.

You are trying to patch up a boat with holes and asking us how to extend it.
The boat is already sinking... either get a new platform, or downgrade in the games you can play...

I am trying to sound as realistic as possible... the current situation you are at wont merrit an upgrade.


Lets observe your board first off

You see those black square things next to your CPU.
Those are called VRMS.
On a LGA775 Processor, those things called VRMS are very important, and help you facilitate almost everything your processor requires for power.

Seeing how you only have 3 VRMS... that limits your CPU selection to only a dual core or at best, or a low voltage quadcore which are labeled "S"
You see, your already limited on the platform your sitting on.


You would need to upgrade your board which would require a cpu upgrade, followed by a ram upgrade, because your platform is that old.

Hence your building a new PC entirely.


Guys do not push a quad yorkie on him unless it wears the S tag....
3 VRMS means NO quad.
U require at least 6 for overclocking... 8 for endurance.. and the high premium boards had 16-24 VRMS.
Compare that to the OP's 3 vs a Rampage.

 

[Headfoot]

Get a Core2Duo e8400 for $25 on eBay and get a Radeon HD 5770 for less than $50 or if you can afford it, get a Radeon HD 7750 for between $65-75 (all on eBay)

Your 5450 is unbelievably slow and will not play pretty much anything made in the last 5 years

 

[red_222]

:/ I'm pretty sure I would be able to upgrade my processor.... I don't know if it would be worth giving the limitation of the compatibility of the mother board. I can upgrade the processor can't I?

even then you wont get past a dual core, just build a new barebones system your choice of how much you want to spend for a decent quad (AMD or Intel) trust me it will be much better with a new rig.

 

[Diwiw]

Every single time I read the comments I get more and more convinced that the guy who sold me that grphics card ripped me off. Kind of pissed now :/. I'll be posting my decision in a day or two... thanks to all who gave their opinion and helped! 🙂

 

[crazzy.heartz]

I just created my profile yesterday XD. I dont think I can trust to meet people IRL,sorry! Besides I'll be going with friends who aren't really interested in computer stuff..... Thanks thought 🙂

If you want to play games on your computer, Right Now, you need below mentioned items in the order of priority:

1. Processor (Get a second hand "Core 2 Quad")

Q9550 would be Expensive {Most Powerful}
Q9500 would be less Expensive {less Powerful}
Q8500 would be significantly less expensive {Least Powerful}

============================================================
After getting this Processor, you should be able to play most of those games on a 17" CRT / 1024x768 resolution
============================================================

2. New Power Supply

Now, you'd need to buy a new power supply as well as the old one can't power a quad core.. Even if it does, don't take that risk with a non-branded, 3-4 year old power supply. [Dual core uses 60-65 watts/ Quad core uses 90-95 Watts]

Get a 400-450 Watt [with 80% or more efficiency] Power Supply from Corsair/Seasonic/Antec/Tagan

PC will burn/Components will get damaged if you use new components with old power-Supply.

===========================================================
For playing games with better Quality Graphics/ Bigger Resolution/ LCD, you'd need to buy a better graphics card.
===========================================================

3. Graphics Card
HD 7770 or HD 7750 [Atlest]

 

[crazzy.heartz]

Best thing that you should do right now is:

1. Go back to the guy who sold you that Graphics card and ask him to replace that card with a different one... Say it doesn't play games.. [Let us know what options are available and we would suggest the best one]...[If he refunds your money, even better]

2. Wait for 2 months, come to US. You'd definitely get a 10 times better Processor/Graphics Card/Custom PC , for the same money. [the more you wait, the sweeter the fruit..]

Best of Luck.

 

[Lepton87]

Why computer hardware is so expensive in Brazil? Is it due to taxes? I checked VAT tax in Brazil and it's quite convoluted, that's what I read in wiki:
12% + 25% + 5%
*IPI = Imposto sobre produtos industrializados (Tax over industrialized products) can reach 60% over imported products.

Still, 60% is a far cry from two times as expensive. And here I thought computer hardware was expensive in my country. Basically 25% more for AMD/INTEL and 35% more for NV hardware. It's really strange that NV cards are that much more expensive then in the US.
If you're going to the US, I would just buy a new motherboard, CPU and graphics card. I don't think upgrading this old computer is worth it. In the US hardware is the cheapest in the world. Customs could be a problem though, but I have no idea how it works in Brazil.

 

[Ampersand38]

Brazil has a high import penalty on electronics that don't contain Brazilian made components.

 

[Subyman]

I have an E4400 you can have if you pay shipping.

 

[Headfoot]

If you want to play games on your computer, Right Now, you need below mentioned items in the order of priority:

1. Processor (Get a second hand "Core 2 Quad")

Q9550 would be Expensive {Most Powerful}
Q9500 would be less Expensive {less Powerful}
Q8500 would be significantly less expensive {Least Powerful}

============================================================
After getting this Processor, you should be able to play most of those games on a 17" CRT / 1024x768 resolution
============================================================

2. New Power Supply

Now, you'd need to buy a new power supply as well as the old one can't power a quad core.. Even if it does, don't take that risk with a non-branded, 3-4 year old power supply. [Dual core uses 60-65 watts/ Quad core uses 90-95 Watts]

Get a 400-450 Watt [with 80% or more efficiency] Power Supply from Corsair/Seasonic/Antec/Tagan

PC will burn/Components will get damaged if you use new components with old power-Supply.

===========================================================
For playing games with better Quality Graphics/ Bigger Resolution/ LCD, you'd need to buy a better graphics card.
===========================================================

3. Graphics Card
HD 7770 or HD 7750 [Atlest]

Did you even read the thread?

Aigomorla posted his board... 3 VRMs, no way it will handle quad core TDPs unless he gets a low end one or an S one