Looking for build advice/ upgrade suggestion.

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ChaZz182

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Aug 24, 2012
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1) I plan to use this computer for all the normal tasks, like surfing the web. I also plan to start doing some PC Gaming, the games I am currently interested in are Guild Wars 2 and the new Star Wars MMORPG.

2) $200-400 for the upgrade. If the upgrade isn't worth it, suggest a build that would play most game on high to very high settings, maybe around $600-800, the lower the better if possible.

3) Canada. I usually use sites like ncix.com and tigerdirect.ca

4) No perference.

5) I would suggested to could use my current computer and upgrade the ram, cpu, motherboard and video card. Here is my current setup.

EVGA Nforce 750I SLI
Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X2048-6400C4 2GB*x2
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core
OCZ GameXStream 700W ATX12V 24PIN SLI Ready
LG G-H20NS10 Black DVD+RW
EVGA GeForce 8800 GT
Windows Vista 32 bit Pro.

If that really isn't worth it. Then feel free to suggest a new build.


7) Probably not

8) 1600x1050.

9) In the next few months.

Thanks for the help!
 
M

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
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www.mfenn.com
The 8800GT is what's really holding you back most of all. I would start off with a 7850 2GB and see how you like the performance. If it does turn out that you need a new CPU, the 7850 will easily carry over to a new build.
 
Ken g6

Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
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mfenn said:
The 8800GT is what's really holding you back most of all. I would start off with a 7850 2GB and see how you like the performance. If it does turn out that you need a new CPU, the 7850 will easily carry over to a new build.
Click to expand...
This, plus, if you are finding "all the normal tasks, like surfing the web" a little sluggish, consider a 128GB SSD. It, too, would carry over to a new build.
 
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ChaZz182

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Aug 24, 2012
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Ken g6 said:
This, plus, if you are finding "all the normal tasks, like surfing the web" a little sluggish, consider a 128GB SSD. It, too, would carry over to a new build.
Click to expand...


Actually surfing the web, all the normal tasks run's quite well. I haven't really played many games on it recently so I don't know how well it would hold up under heavy load. There is a couple games I've been interested in lately, so that's why I'm looking in to it.

I made another thread in the Video Card section of the forums, for advice on upgrading the video card and got some great suggestions. I've just head a few people state (not on this forums) I could upgrade all of the parts listed about for about $250-300 and it would make a bigger difference.

I've had people tell me that before, and every time I try and figure out the parts myself it always ends up more expensive. I figured I would see what the experts could do.
 
DSF

DSF

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Oct 6, 2007
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ChaZz182 said:
Actually surfing the web, all the normal tasks run's quite well. I haven't really played many games on it recently so I don't know how well it would hold up under heavy load. There is a couple games I've been interested in lately, so that's why I'm looking in to it.

I made another thread in the Video Card section of the forums, for advice on upgrading the video card and got some great suggestions. I've just head a few people state (not on this forums) I could upgrade all of the parts listed about for about $250-300 and it would make a bigger difference.

I've had people tell me that before, and every time I try and figure out the parts myself it always ends up more expensive. I figured I would see what the experts could do.
Click to expand...
If they're suggesting that you could get a meaningful upgrade on all the core components, I'm not sure what they're talking about.

Upgrading the GPU is doable. Upgrading the CPU would mean a new motherboard and RAM to go with it. I can't see getting a new graphics card, CPU, RAM and motherboard that would be worthwhile for gaming for under $300.
 
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ChaZz182

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Aug 24, 2012
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DSF said:
If they're suggesting that you could get a meaningful upgrade on all the core components, I'm not sure what they're talking about.

Upgrading the GPU is doable. Upgrading the CPU would mean a new motherboard and RAM to go with it. I can't see getting a new graphics card, CPU, RAM and motherboard that would be worthwhile for gaming for under $300.
Click to expand...


Unless they are just referring to the motherboard, cpu and RAM.

I was just wondering if I could get some ideas to upgrading those three key components. What it would take to get a decent upgrade for a good price. If I think that amount of money is doable, I may buy a better video card now, and then plan to upgrade the rest in the near future. If it's not, I wont buy as expensive of a video card since it probably wouldn't be worth it using my current system.
 
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riversend

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Dec 31, 2009
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Getting the 7850 as mfenn suggested is probably your best starting point. Some of the single fan configurations can be found for as low as $180 AR http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=72930&vpn=FX785AZNFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1382

Even this XFX 7870 is sitting at $215 AR http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=69829&vpn=FX787ACDFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1405

That's a great way to evaluate. At 1680x1050 (which is what I game on, currently using a 5770) the 7850 will certainly make an evaluation on your CPU.

After that you could probably throw together a range of options for CPU/Mobo/RAM over the next couple of months in the $400-600 range if you wanted to bring everything up to date. So between the video card and the rest of the components you'd be in your target range of $600-800. I think that just about anything from an i3 SB/IB on up will probably run faster than your Q6600, although the dual core versions may be slower on multithread applications, but it does not seem like you are doing any video editing or the like so probably not a major factor for you.
 
Ken g6

Ken g6

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Well, if you want to know about upgrading the rest of the system:

Gigabyte B75M: $70
"Special Offer: Buy this motherboard and get an Intel Core i5 2320 3.0GHz quad core CPU for only $159.99!" Not the best possible CPU, but not bad for the price.

Next, a question: Is your Windows Vista OEM? Or is it retail and thus transferable?

If you can transfer it, either you stick with Vista 32 and you're stuck with a 4GB limit, or you can upgrade to Win8 for $40 in October (or so I hear), and you run low on money. Either way, you can only use or afford a 4GB stick of RAM for $25, in a $300 budget. If you need a new OEM copy of Windows...you can't afford that at all in a $300 budget.
 
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ChaZz182

Member
Aug 24, 2012
45
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riversend said:
Getting the 7850 as mfenn suggested is probably your best starting point. Some of the single fan configurations can be found for as low as $180 AR http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=72930&vpn=FX785AZNFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1382

Even this XFX 7870 is sitting at $215 AR http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=69829&vpn=FX787ACDFC&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1405

That's a great way to evaluate. At 1680x1050 (which is what I game on, currently using a 5770) the 7850 will certainly make an evaluation on your CPU.

After that you could probably throw together a range of options for CPU/Mobo/RAM over the next couple of months in the $400-600 range if you wanted to bring everything up to date. So between the video card and the rest of the components you'd be in your target range of $600-800. I think that just about anything from an i3 SB/IB on up will probably run faster than your Q6600, although the dual core versions may be slower on multithread applications, but it does not seem like you are doing any video editing or the like so probably not a major factor for you.
Click to expand...

Sorry what do you mean about making an evaluation of cpu? Do you mean just showing how much of a bottleneck the cpu is creating? How would you go about evaluating that?

I don't do any video editing at all, is that the only time Quadcore are neccessary? I know a bit more about video cards, but I'm pretty clueless when it comes to motherboards and cpu. Especially motherboards, I don't know the difference between a cheap one and an expensive one.
 
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riversend

Senior member
Dec 31, 2009
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The evaluation might be entirely subjective. If the games are playing smoothly and to your satisfaction, then no issues. If they are not playing the way you would like, you can rule out the upgraded video card and be pretty sure it is your cpu that is slowing the system down.

Cheap is probably the wrong word to use since it has connotations of "poorly made." The better term would be inexpensive, or maybe value. The B75 is a good chipset that will run the newest Sandy and Ivy Bridge CPUs from Intel. Gives you basic functionality, nothing overboard, so less expensive. There is no need for an expensive mobo, just one with the right chipset.
 
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ChaZz182

Member
Aug 24, 2012
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Ken g6 said:
Well, if you want to know about upgrading the rest of the system:

Gigabyte B75M: $70
"Special Offer: Buy this motherboard and get an Intel Core i5 2320 3.0GHz quad core CPU for only $159.99!" Not the best possible CPU, but not bad for the price.

Next, a question: Is your Windows Vista OEM? Or is it retail and thus transferable?

If you can transfer it, either you stick with Vista 32 and you're stuck with a 4GB limit, or you can upgrade to Win8 for $40 in October (or so I hear), and you run low on money. Either way, you can only use or afford a 4GB stick of RAM for $25, in a $300 budget. If you need a new OEM copy of Windows...you can't afford that at all in a $300 budget.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's transferable. Windows 8 is only 40? That seems really cheap. I would really prefer a 64 bit operating system, it nice to have the option to upgrade the amount of ram in the future.
 
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ChaZz182

Member
Aug 24, 2012
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riversend said:
The evaluation might be entirely subjective. If the games are playing smoothly and to your satisfaction, then no issues. If they are not playing the way you would like, you can rule out the upgraded video card and be pretty sure it is your cpu that is slowing the system down.

Cheap is probably the wrong word to use since it has connotations of "poorly made." The better term would be inexpensive, or maybe value. The B75 is a good chipset that will run the newest Sandy and Ivy Bridge CPUs from Intel. Gives you basic functionality, nothing overboard, so less expensive. There is no need for an expensive mobo, just one with the right chipset.
Click to expand...

So less expensive motherboard of the right would work?
 
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riversend

Senior member
Dec 31, 2009
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I'd say the consensus is upgrade the video card, if that does the trick then you are done for awhile. If you are left wanting more, then come back here and folks can get you through the larger upgrade of the CPU/mobo/ram and whatever else you think you might want/need (SSD, another copy of Windows if your current version is not transferable)
 
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ChaZz182

Member
Aug 24, 2012
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AnonymouseUser said:
You'll see a huge increase in games with just upgrading to a 7850. There is nothing terrible about the rest of your system.
Click to expand...


I notcied you can get a 7850 with either 2 GB or 1 GB or RAM, is there a noticeable difference between the two? Also I found this one, it appears to have 2 GB of RAM and bit overclocked at 900mhz as opposed to 860mhz.

http://www.ncix.ca/products/?sku=69585&vpn=R7850%20Twin%20Frozr%202GD5%2FOC&manufacture=MSI%2FMicroStar&promoid=1088#CustomerReviews

Also, which is better Power Colour or XFX?
 
Last edited:
AnonymouseUser

AnonymouseUser

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krnmastersgt

krnmastersgt

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A Gigabyte Windforce2, I would say that's a great choice since the only cheaper one is a reference designed card from Powercolor.
 
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