Upgrading my computer (Gaming)

[Skotos B]

Mainly looking to upgrade this thing gradually over the next month or two (Say 100-200~ spending dollars every week) so that I can run most of the newer games (Skyrim, GW2 etc) at max or near max settings.

Current specs :

Case :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-pla-_-NA-_-NA

PSU : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-pla-_-NA-_-NA

MB : http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2Plus/M4A78EM/

GPU : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130593

128GB SSD

Processor: AMD Phenom II X2 545 3.0GHz CPU

RAM (8 GB total): http://www.staples.com/Kingston-2GB-...TH-XW4400C6/2G



1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming. Right now, namely being able to play GW2's WvWvW without 5 fps on minimal settings.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
Would like to not pay much more than 800~ atm. Could probably spend more at Christmas (up it to 1200), but that is still a while away and it is assuming I still need upgrades.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
Don't really have a preference, whatever would work best for the cost.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Probably just the graphics card, unless it needs an update as well, in your opinions.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Would prefer not to

8. What resolution will you be using?
1360 x 768

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Next month or so

 

[Naytuh]

Your case is fine, but can it fit full size motherboards? That I don't know.

I don't recognize the power supply, but it meets today's standards, by its specs.

You'll need to upgrade your motherboard if you want to upgrade your RAM and CPU, because that motherboard doesn't recognize DDR3 RAM, if I recall correctly.

That's a good graphics card, it should last you a while longer, until Christmas, even.

You NEED more and better memory.

OH and I'd recommend getting a bigger and better monitor too, by the way; 1920x1080 is just amazing.

I hope this helped!

 

[riversend]

So, no intent in the near future to upgrade to a higher res monitor? You did not answer the software question, namely Windows. Do you have a license that can transfer over to new hardware?

 

[Skotos B]

So, no intent in the near future to upgrade to a higher res monitor? You did not answer the software question, namely Windows. Do you have a license that can transfer over to new hardware?

Suppose I could try to get a higher res monitor.

I do have a license I could transfer over. Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit

 

[DSF]

For $800-1200 you can buy yourself a whole new machine with a monitor, especially since you have some decent parts and an OS license to carry over. I wouldn't bother with your gradual upgrade plan. I would save up the $800, get what you need all at once, and be done with it.

So your post seems to imply that you're getting 5 FPS in the games you want to play? Given your graphics card and monitor res I have to assume that's a CPU issue. Changing over to an i5 platform would keep you under budget and should meet your demands easily.

 

[mfenn]

A GTX 570 at 1366x768 and still getting 5 FPS means that you must be CPU-limited. Really all you need is a new motherboard, CPU, and RAM.

i5 3570 $200 AP
ASRock B75M $65
GeIL DDR3 1333 8GB $35

Oh and a monitor wouldn't hurt since there's so much money left in the budget.

 

[Skotos B]

A GTX 570 at 1366x768 and still getting 5 FPS means that you must be CPU-limited. Really all you need is a new motherboard, CPU, and RAM.

i5 3570 $200 AP
ASRock B75M $65
GeIL DDR3 1333 8GB $35

Oh and a monitor wouldn't hurt since there's so much money left in the budget.

Would 8GB be fine for what I am wanting? Naytuh above said we would need more.

 

[mfenn]

Would 8GB be fine for what I am wanting? Naytuh above said we would need more.

Yes, 8GB is plenty. I'm assuming that Naytuh thought you only had 2GB total.

 

[Skotos B]

Yes, 8GB is plenty. I'm assuming that Naytuh thought you only had 2GB total.

That MB only supports up to 8 GB aswell though, correct? Only see 2 slots to put the RAM in. Are there any that would support 16 GB if we needed to upgrade?

 

[riversend]

Here is an AsRock B75 for $10 more, has 4 DIMM slots.

No hurry to upgrade your monitor. See what the above core upgrade does for you and then see if you want to go that route. It will be a nice improvement, but could cost slightly more cash on GPU upgrades.

 

[Naytuh]

Yes, 8GB is plenty. I'm assuming that Naytuh thought you only had 2GB total.

Oh, yeah, that's what I thought (and the post originally said, but probably led to a link with 8 gigs). My bad. Yes, 8 gigs of RAM is more than enough for today. Do get a MB that will allow you to grab more in the future if you find it necessary, though. Don't go crazy on the motherboard, but don't get something that will hold you back, either. I'm still thinking your best bet is to just upgrade "everything" and make sure to save enough to get a bigger monitor, too.

Here are some links to help you out, if you're not aware of these things already:

• http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcsales
• http://s1002.photobucket.com/albums...lPCBuyingGuide/?action=view&current=Guide.png
• http://www.choosemypc.net/

 

[mfenn]

That MB only supports up to 8 GB aswell though, correct? Only see 2 slots to put the RAM in. Are there any that would support 16 GB if we needed to upgrade?

A two slot board supports 16GB through the use of 8GB DIMMs. 8GB DIMMs are pretty much the same cost per gig as 4GB DIMMs these days.

 

[Skotos B]

This post is about 2 months old now, but, I'm having a problem now.

Yesterday, I would load up a game or video and my monitor would black screen and go to 'no signal' and I would have to restart my computer for it to come back up. Fans worked still, LEDs still worked etc etc. Putting my video card on another channel fixed that.

Today, I was in the middle of a game, and it crashed, now we can't even getting it to get passed the windows screen without going to 'no signal'. Fans weren't working this time or anything. We aren't sure if its the graphics card or the motherboard.

Any thoughts?

(Also, why was the motherboard that you guys recommended to us so cheap? Wouldn't getting a more expensive one be a better choice in the long run?)

 

[mfenn]

This post is about 2 months old now, but, I'm having a problem now.

Yesterday, I would load up a game or video and my monitor would black screen and go to 'no signal' and I would have to restart my computer for it to come back up. Fans worked still, LEDs still worked etc etc. Putting my video card on another channel fixed that.

Today, I was in the middle of a game, and it crashed, now we can't even getting it to get passed the windows screen without going to 'no signal'. Fans weren't working this time or anything. We aren't sure if its the graphics card or the motherboard.

Any thoughts?

Pull the GPU out and use the IGP. If it boots, then you'll know that it is either the GPU or the PSU. If it doesn't, you'll have ruled out the GPU. It could still be the mobo or PSU.

(Also, why was the motherboard that you guys recommended to us so cheap? Wouldn't getting a more expensive one be a better choice in the long run?)

Because there is no significant difference in failure rate between high end boards and low end boards. The data shows that you can have a failure-prone board at any price point.