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Questions about upgrading my computer

J

jpar

Junior Member
Ok, So the question here is if I should bother trying to upgrade using this motherboard, or is perhaps my best option to simply start looking into a new board and system all together.

Motherboard: ASRock M3A770DE --

4 DDR3 DIMM slots Up to 16 GB, think I have 4, 2gig chips of DDR3 in there currently. Or possibly 2 of the 4 gig chips, no less currently running 8 gigs of DDR3 ram in there in one way shape or form.

Processor: AM3 socket, currently running Athlon II x3 450

Video: Radeon HD 5770

In its day it wasn't such a bad computer, but seems that games are wearing it down more than they use to, so its about time for an update, I'm just wondering what my best option in this case would be.
 
You will probably get more/better options in general hardware, but I'll tell you what I would do if I were in your shoes:

If you are slow mainly in games, get a good video card now (probably nVidia unless the AMD prices have settled down).

If you get the card, and find that it in still lagging in the games you play, go ahead and upgrade the CPU/motherboard as you budget will allow.
 
Saving up and starting new would be best. With 8GB of RAM, your problem isn't RAM. The CPU and GPU are both falling behind, and some games are just not going to make it with that CPU. Metro LL, FI, will chew that CPU up and spit it out, but will play nice and smooth on a recent Core i3. It's going to vary by game, but on the whole, it's significantly aged tech, compared to what we've got now.
 
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jpar what is your current budget? How much would you save and when would you want to purchase? I mean are you a kid who might get $100 next Christmas or someone with a job who will have $1000 in a few months (or somewhere in between)?
 
Of course a new build is going to be better but that system isn't that old and it could be upgraded. At least it is AM3 and has DDR3. EDIT: Too bad it isn't an AM3+...

4GB is barely enough these days but it should be fine so long as you are only doing one thing at a time. Don't have 10 browser windows open behind your game.

I think a CPU, GPU and maybe RAM upgrade would be a way to get by on the cheap. Let me do some digging and I'll be back.
 
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Wow those old Phenoms are still going for a pretty penny...Not so sure an upgrade is a great idea anymore...

IMO the AMD PHENOM II X4 980 is about the best you can do with that socket. There are some 6 core CPUs available but I think the higher clocked 4 is better than a lower clocked 6. Thing is that x4 980 Phenom is still going for almost $200 used!
 
lakedude said:
Wow those old Phenoms are still going for a pretty penny...Not so sure an upgrade is a great idea anymore...
Click to expand...
Yup. Core 2 Quads aren't far behind, either. It especially makes little sense, given new prices for the FX series, and the continued clock bumps Core i3s get year over year, and that working motherboards inevitably shrink in supply faster than CPUs. Even counting a new Windows license, the bang/buck tends to favor new parts by a pretty wide margin. It's been that way for awhile, but I cannot understand how the prices sustain themselves.
 
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