Ok so I am looking to make a purchase to upgrade my PC, and I have a question for the community. Below I am listing a few components for my current rig, and I would like to know, what ONE purchase would be the most bang for the buck in terms of noticable improvements to gameplay. My current rig runs well and I am ok with it (Got ~8000 benchmark with custom settings at 1600x900), but I just feel like its time to make some improvements.
Current Rig Parts:
1. CPU = (Unlocked) AMD Phenom II x4 B 3.2 Ghz (Motherboard is GA-MA785GM-US2H)
2. Memeory = 4 Gigs DDR2
3. GPU = Radeon HD 5770 PCI Express 1GB GDDR5
So where should I spend money first? Also, any suggestions on parts would be welcome. As far as budget, I don't have one really set, but I'll just say I have about $100 - $130 to spend atm.
Thanks in advance!
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Probably a new GPU will get you most bang for you buck.
AMD will show their new GPUs tomorrow so the Radeon HD 7xxx Series should drop ion price pretty soon.
AMD will show their new GPUs tomorrow so the Radeon HD 7xxx Series should drop ion price pretty soon.
Agreed, looks like the GPU is the weakest link at the moment. Since you have DD2 RAM I'm assuming you're on an older motherboard and/or a 32 bit OS which unfortunately makes adding more RAM less feasible. In those circumstances, a better card is about all you can hope for without buying a new motherboard and starting over from scratch.
Get a good GPU from the last year (I'd look at something such as a Radeon 7770 which is under a hundred bucks these days) but don't go overboard with the latest and greatest because that'd be putting a Ferrari engine in a Honda chassis. (You basically have my car for a computer, a 1997 Honda Accord. Reliable, not as fast as it could be, no bells and whistles, and probably going to be replaced in three years.)
Get a good GPU from the last year (I'd look at something such as a Radeon 7770 which is under a hundred bucks these days) but don't go overboard with the latest and greatest because that'd be putting a Ferrari engine in a Honda chassis. (You basically have my car for a computer, a 1997 Honda Accord. Reliable, not as fast as it could be, no bells and whistles, and probably going to be replaced in three years.)
Catwho wrote:
Agreed, looks like the GPU is the weakest link at the moment. Since you have DD2 RAM I'm assuming you're on an older motherboard and/or a 32 bit OS which unfortunately makes adding more RAM less feasible. In those circumstances, a better card is about all you can hope for without buying a new motherboard and starting over from scratch.
Get a good GPU from the last year (I'd look at something such as a Radeon 7770 which is under a hundred bucks these days) but don't go overboard with the latest and greatest because that'd be putting a Ferrari engine in a Honda chassis. (You basically have my car for a computer, a 1997 Honda Accord. Reliable, not as fast as it could be, no bells and whistles, and probably going to be replaced in three years.)
Get a good GPU from the last year (I'd look at something such as a Radeon 7770 which is under a hundred bucks these days) but don't go overboard with the latest and greatest because that'd be putting a Ferrari engine in a Honda chassis. (You basically have my car for a computer, a 1997 Honda Accord. Reliable, not as fast as it could be, no bells and whistles, and probably going to be replaced in three years.)
Ok thanks I'll look into the 7770. But hearing that I have a " '97 Honda" is a bit concerning lol, not that a Honda is bad though. But for the books, I have 64bit Windows 7 OS. Motherboard listed in OP, but if it looks like I'm headed for and upgrade in 3 years, I'd like to maybe hear a bit more on parts to upgrade. But again thanks a bunch on recommendation guys! I'll prob stick with upgrading GPU till I'm ready to redo my whole rig.
Edited, Sep 24th 2013 11:28am by jayfly
Get a used ps3 for $100-130
ASpaceman wrote:
Get a used ps3 for $100-130
I said upgrade, not downgrade lol.
jayfly wrote:
Catwho wrote:
Agreed, looks like the GPU is the weakest link at the moment. Since you have DD2 RAM I'm assuming you're on an older motherboard and/or a 32 bit OS which unfortunately makes adding more RAM less feasible. In those circumstances, a better card is about all you can hope for without buying a new motherboard and starting over from scratch.
Get a good GPU from the last year (I'd look at something such as a Radeon 7770 which is under a hundred bucks these days) but don't go overboard with the latest and greatest because that'd be putting a Ferrari engine in a Honda chassis. (You basically have my car for a computer, a 1997 Honda Accord. Reliable, not as fast as it could be, no bells and whistles, and probably going to be replaced in three years.)
Get a good GPU from the last year (I'd look at something such as a Radeon 7770 which is under a hundred bucks these days) but don't go overboard with the latest and greatest because that'd be putting a Ferrari engine in a Honda chassis. (You basically have my car for a computer, a 1997 Honda Accord. Reliable, not as fast as it could be, no bells and whistles, and probably going to be replaced in three years.)
Ok thanks I'll look into the 7770. But hearing that I have a " '97 Honda" is a bit concerning lol, not that a Honda is bad though. But for the books, I have 64bit Windows 7 OS. Motherboard listed in OP, but if it looks like I'm headed for and upgrade in 3 years, I'd like to maybe hear a bit more on parts to upgrade. But again thanks a bunch on recommendation guys! I'll prob stick with upgrading GPU till I'm ready to redo my whole rig.
Nope, I drive a '97 Honda XD 213K miles and nary a problem in sight. Okay, 2007 Honda is probably a better comparison since your processor is only a gen or two behind.
The concern over touching the RAM or the CPU is that if your motherboard is still on DDR2 (are you sure it's not DDR3...?) that maxing out the RAM on it will be crazy expensive and it won't be able to handle a late socket AMD CPU (since you're probably on an AM3 socket and not the new FX socket or whatever it is.) 2GB sticks of DDR2 are worth their weight in gold these days. At least if you are on a 64 bit OS, it wouldn't be an exercise in futility.
What motherboard do you have?
Edited, Sep 24th 2013 2:49pm by Catwho
Catwho wrote:
jayfly wrote:
Catwho wrote:
Agreed, looks like the GPU is the weakest link at the moment. Since you have DD2 RAM I'm assuming you're on an older motherboard and/or a 32 bit OS which unfortunately makes adding more RAM less feasible. In those circumstances, a better card is about all you can hope for without buying a new motherboard and starting over from scratch.
Get a good GPU from the last year (I'd look at something such as a Radeon 7770 which is under a hundred bucks these days) but don't go overboard with the latest and greatest because that'd be putting a Ferrari engine in a Honda chassis. (You basically have my car for a computer, a 1997 Honda Accord. Reliable, not as fast as it could be, no bells and whistles, and probably going to be replaced in three years.)
Get a good GPU from the last year (I'd look at something such as a Radeon 7770 which is under a hundred bucks these days) but don't go overboard with the latest and greatest because that'd be putting a Ferrari engine in a Honda chassis. (You basically have my car for a computer, a 1997 Honda Accord. Reliable, not as fast as it could be, no bells and whistles, and probably going to be replaced in three years.)
Ok thanks I'll look into the 7770. But hearing that I have a " '97 Honda" is a bit concerning lol, not that a Honda is bad though. But for the books, I have 64bit Windows 7 OS. Motherboard listed in OP, but if it looks like I'm headed for and upgrade in 3 years, I'd like to maybe hear a bit more on parts to upgrade. But again thanks a bunch on recommendation guys! I'll prob stick with upgrading GPU till I'm ready to redo my whole rig.
Nope, I drive a '97 Honda XD 213K miles and nary a problem in sight. Okay, 2007 Honda is probably a better comparison since your processor is only a gen or two behind.
The concern over touching the RAM or the CPU is that if your motherboard is still on DDR2 (are you sure it's not DDR3...?) that maxing out the RAM on it will be crazy expensive and it won't be able to handle a late socket AMD CPU (since you're probably on an AM3 socket and not the new FX socket or whatever it is.) 2GB sticks of DDR2 are worth their weight in gold these days. At least if you are on a 64 bit OS, it wouldn't be an exercise in futility.
What motherboard do you have?
Edited, Sep 24th 2013 2:49pm by Catwho
I have a Gigabyte Ultra Durable 3 Motherboard, model MA785GM-US2H. You are corrct that it supports AM3 socket, and yes, it is a DDR2. I did kinda go mid range here back before the start of 1.0, so that is 3 years ago, and I figured it would be time for some upgrades, but guess I may need to start from the Mother board on lol. I did however purchase the Radeon 7770 along with a shiny new 1080p Full HD Monitor lol, and im about to run some test to see what I get. Thanks again for all the advise!
Good luck! I was getting 4,000 on the benchmark on my old build with the 7770, and you have a better processor than the one I just retired.
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