Need help with gaming system upgrade

[Hav0k99]

With the following specs bellow what can I do to improve it better for a better gaming system. It needs to be the best bang for the buck. I am on a small budget and I want to be able to play the newer games better. So here are the specs:

PC: Dell Optiplex 755
PSU: 375W
CPU: Intel Core Duo E6600
RAM: 4GB's 4 x 1gb Samsung DDR2 PC2-5300
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4850
Hard Drive: 2 x Barracuda 7200.12 SATA 3Gb/s 160GB Hard Drive
Sound Card: Soundblaster X-FI

This is going to be my early Xmas gift to myself. I want to keep the upgrade under $150 is possible to last me anothe year.

Thanks in advance.


Moved to General Hardware

Super Moderator BFG10K.

 

[mfenn]

$150 is a pretty tight budget for this sort of thing. You don't really have enough to upgrade both the GPU and PSU, so you'll need to stick with cards that are around the same TDP as the 4850 (~110W).

The only card that really fits those requirements is the 5770, but IMHO that's not a worthwhile upgrade over the 4850. I would probably save up another $50 and get a 6850 and a ~450W PSU.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

What specific games are you looking to improve performance in and at what resolution do you play them?

The HD 6850 practically uses the same power as the 4850, but it is a bit above the $150 mark.

You're kind of in a bind. You need to start saving up for a new core system, as your processor at stock speeds is getting dated, especially if you run at sub-1080p.

You don't seem to have much of an upgrade path for processors, either. I'm not going to look up your Dell, but it may not include a BIOS update for the newer Core 2 Quads. Also the Core 2 Quads are overpriced anyway. Depending on what games you want to play and at what resolution, a video card upgrade may not make much of a difference. Or it could make a big difference. Even the 5770, in certain games, can give you a nice boost over the 4850.

 

[Davidh373]

You really just need a new system, not right now, but soon enough. $150 isn't enough for a new system. If you go for a Graphics card for a little over your budget (6850 @ ~$180) then it's just going to sit there and depreciate as you save for a better PSU (because in reality, real world full load for that PSU is probably ~350W). You would be wise just to hold back until you have around $250 for Graphics + PSU, then start saving for a Motherboard, Processor, RAM upgrade (~$400.)

- Upgrade 1 - $250

6850 ($180)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0Video%20Cards

Antec Earthwatts 500W ($76)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-035-_-Product

Total: $256

- Upgrade 2 - $450

i5 760 ($208)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-067-_-Product

Gigabyte 1156 ($88)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-457-_-Product

4GB DDR3 1333 ($65)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-274-_-Product

Antec 300 Case ($60)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-042-_-Product

Total: $420

 

[mfenn]

The TDP of the 6850 is 15% higher than that of the 4850, which is already edgy on a 375W PSU.

David's plan looks good though!