1. #1

    Looking to get small upgrades before my beast build

    My current PC is very lacking and I am looking to beef it up a bit with the best performance/cost ratio I can get. In April when I get my tax return I plan to build a beastly machine, but until then I just want a few upgrades to tide myself over. I am currently at work right now so I cant post the specs of my PC at home but I will as soon as I get back. But I do know I need a video card upgrade, and more ram for sure.

  2. #2
    Well if you could post your current hardware, including case & PSU, people here could see what you can keep for your next build. Also post your max budget.

    Also mention what kinda user you are, photoshopping or video editing we.

  3. #3
    Epic! Idrinkwhiterussians's Avatar
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    Not sure exactly what you have, nor what you want to spend, but these are both decent deals.

    PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

    Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg)
    Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Amazon)
    Total: $339.98
    (Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
    (Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-09 13:23 EST-0500)
    Quote Originally Posted by Cyanotical View Post
    anyone want doughnuts? i hear there is a great shop in Vancouver

  4. #4
    It would be useful to know the motherboard you have, depending on how old the PC is it might be using DDR2 RAM, which is very expensive nowadays.

  5. #5
    Without knowing what you have it is impossible to suggest any upgrade options. There is no way of knowing if it is even worth upgrading or if parts suggested to upgrade will work with your MoBo or fit in your case or if you have a big enough PSU to drive it. A budget would also be needed.

  6. #6
    Here is my computer specs, I left out a lot of stuff such as sound device and peripherals (mouse/keyboard etc). If any of that stuff is important I will post it but I assumed it wasn't, so here is the info I think you need. Also my budget is 200-300 dollars...I am willing to go as high as 400 if I can get a really good bang for my buck, but the cheaper the better because it literally just need to last me for 4-5 months. Also the game I play the most is GW2 espeically WvW. I also play L4D2 and TF2 SC2 etc but those games run just fine, but I do have them on lowest settings so would be nice to play them at higher. Mostly just GW2 that really bogs down.

    ------------------
    System Information
    ------------------
    Time of this report: 11/10/2012, 15:13:23
    Machine name: STEVO-PC
    Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333)
    Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
    System Manufacturer: OEM
    System Model: OEM
    BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
    Processor: Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU E5300 @ 2.60GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.6GHz
    Memory: 4096MB RAM
    Available OS Memory: 3070MB RAM
    Page File: 3292MB used, 2845MB available
    Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
    DX Setup Parameters: Not found
    User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
    System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
    DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode


    ---------------
    Display Devices
    ---------------
    Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
    Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9442)
    DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
    Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9442&SUBSYS_22661787&REV_00
    Display Memory: 1785 MB
    Dedicated Memory: 506 MB
    Shared Memory: 1279 MB
    Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (59Hz)
    Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
    Monitor Model: AL2223W
    Monitor Id: ACRAD84
    Native Mode: 1680 x 1050(p) (59.954Hz)
    Output Type: DVI
    Driver Name: aticfx32.dll,aticfx32.dll,aticfx32.dll,atiumdag.dll,atidxx32.dll,atiumdva.cap
    Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1129 (English)
    Driver Version: 8.970.100.3000
    DDI Version: 10.1
    Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
    Driver Attributes: Final Retail
    Driver Date/Size: 7/4/2012 01:27:08, 918528 bytes
    WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    WHQL Date Stamp:
    Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D702-11CF-5E70-6C02BEC2C535}
    Vendor ID: 0x1002
    Device ID: 0x9442
    SubSys ID: 0x22661787
    Revision ID: 0x0000
    Driver Strong Name: oem28.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTx86.6.1:ati2mtag_RV7X:8.970.100.3000ci\ven_1002&dev_9442
    Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
    Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C

    Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
    Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9442)
    DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
    Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9442&SUBSYS_22661787&REV_00
    Display Memory: 1785 MB
    Dedicated Memory: 506 MB
    Shared Memory: 1279 MB
    Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
    Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
    Monitor Model: CMC 17
    Monitor Id: CMO0178
    Native Mode: 1280 x 1024(p) (60.020Hz)
    Output Type: HD15
    Driver Name: aticfx32.dll,aticfx32.dll,aticfx32.dll,atiumdag.dll,atidxx32.dll,atiumdva.cap
    Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1129 (English)
    Driver Version: 8.970.100.3000
    DDI Version: 10.1
    Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
    Driver Attributes: Final Retail
    Driver Date/Size: 7/4/2012 01:27:08, 918528 bytes
    WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    WHQL Date Stamp:
    Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D702-11CF-5E70-6C02BEC2C535}
    Vendor ID: 0x1002
    Device ID: 0x9442
    SubSys ID: 0x22661787
    Revision ID: 0x0000
    Driver Strong Name: oem28.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTx86.6.1:ati2mtag_RV7X:8.970.100.3000ci\ven_1002&dev_9442
    Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
    Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
    Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
    D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
    DXVA-HD: Not Supported
    DDraw Status: Enabled
    D3D Status: Enabled
    AGP Status: Enabled

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Menkey View Post
    - SNIP -
    Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU E5300 @ 2.60GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.6GHz
    4GB RAM
    ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series

    Is the only useful information in there, and still does not tell us what Motherboard you have so we can suggest a Video Card that will work with it or what Power Supply you have to know if you have enough power to support it.

    That said, and based on the games you play which are GPU based games, and your GPU is 3 generations old, a Video Card would be your best upgrade. I would look at getting one of the most current ones, ie a 7970 or 680, if your current hardware will support it(no way of knowing), then you can use it in your new build as well. If you have enough left over after theat I would say get a good 8Gb RAM kit and recycle that into your new system as well, if your MoBo can support a nice 1600 Kit that is.

  8. #8
    if your MoBo can support a nice 1600 Kit that is
    LGA 775 didn't always have DDR3 support, my old P5Q SE2 (C2D E8400) used DDR2 RAM. We need to know the motherboard brand and model, and the RAM brand and model that is installed. We also need to know the brand, model and wattage of the power supply.

  9. #9
    Whats a good program to get a summary of computer specs without the massive wall of text?

  10. #10

  11. #11

  12. #12
    Pandaren Monk lockblock's Avatar
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    According to that link your ram isn't installed in matching sockets. Usually this would be the 2 with matching colors but as always check the motherboard manual to be sure.
    Fixing that will give you a boost in performance.

  13. #13
    Ok, that MoBo only supports DDR2 RAM, so I would not suggest spending anything on RAM as that cannot be moved to your new PC. Though as the above poster stated, your RAM is installed incorrectly and that will give you a gain in speed.

    Your best bet on an upgrade would be a Video Card, though I am hesistant to suggest one without knowing your PSU Brand and Wattage. No program will tell you this that I am aware of, you would need to simply look at it.

  14. #14
    How much of a performance boost will I gain do you think? Significant or minor? I am going to change the ram regardless.

  15. #15
    Correct me if I am wrong here guys but upgrading RAM further is pointless since I believe 32bit Windows will only recognize 3gb of RAM. See his second post for proof of that.

    As for making it dual channel it will help your performance so just do it since it is an easy correction.

    If you have the PSU for it I would upgrade video card since that can move onward with your new build. Only other thing would be aftermarket cpu cooler and OC your e5300 for the time being.

  16. #16
    You would need a new motherboard and CPU if you upgrade the RAM now. DDR2 ram is very expensive, you can get 16GB DDR3 1600MHz for the price of 4GB DDR2 800.

  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Targaryen View Post
    Correct me if I am wrong here guys but upgrading RAM further is pointless since I believe 32bit Windows will only recognize 3gb of RAM. See his second post for proof of that.
    I have both 32 and 64. It came with both discs. I was considering getting one of Marest's sample builds but not sure if that would be the best choice. He has one for 380 bucks that covers everything pretty much, should I consider it or am I better off spending the same money and just getting better parts?

  18. #18
    There is nothing in that computer worth salvaging except perhaps the graphics card and maybe the PSU if you are going to build a new PC.

  19. #19
    Your system uses during gaming around 230W. If you upgrade to a graphics card like 7750 your CPU is going to be a bottleneck and you won't notice that much difference over your 4850. 7750 is like twice as fast as the 4850 so.

    Your PSU should be more than fine for a next upgrade. I hope you have something like 400W

    1. any i3 ~100eur
    2. any h77 mobo ~80eur
    3. 8GB DDR3 ~35eur
    4. 7770 ~90eur

    In total 305eur, so you still can consider a power supply upgrade.

    Another option is instead of buying the i3, look at ebay or buy it from a friend for an occassion i5 2xxx which goes for like 100eur only.

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