Looking for what will make Video Games like Crysis 3 run faster with my current PC build

glixtcher · Apr 2, 2013

Hello, tomshardware.com people! I am new to PC hardware. I hardly know what will help my computer run video games faster, but I am thinking it's the GPU that needs to be better. I want to thank you all very much for the help. Here are my current specs:

Operating System:
MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU:
AMD Athlon II X2 220
Regor 45nm Technology
CPU
AMD Athlon II X2 220
Cores 2
Threads 2
Name AMD Athlon II X2 220
Code Name Regor
Package Socket AM3 (938)
Technology 45nm
Specification AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 220 Processor
Family F
Extended Family 10
Model 6
Extended Model 6
Stepping 3
Revision DA-C3
Instructions MMX (+), 3DNow! (+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4A, AMD 64
Virtualization Supported, Enabled
Hyperthreading Not supported
Fan Speed 1859 RPM
Bus Speed 200.9 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 2008.5 MHz
Stock Core Speed 2800 MHz
RAM:
4.00 GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 669MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard:
ASUSTeK Computer INC. CM1730,CM1830 (AM3)
Graphics:
NS-32L240A13 (1920x1080@60Hz)
AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series
Hard Drives:
733GB TOSHIBA TOSHIBA MK7559GSXP ATA Device (SATA)

Please answer at least one question out of these 4, if you could answer all 4 I'd like to hear your opinion. Thanks!

1.What would help the most out of anything? Would it be getting a new GPU, getting more RAM, more HDD space, a better CPU?
2. Would getting more RAM help at all? Would it make my PC faster, or is 4GB ram plenty enough?
3. How big of a difference is DDR3 to DDR5? Will it make a massive difference?
4. What is the MOST important thing to look for in a graphics card? Processing speed, memory, DDR type?

swifty_morgan · Apr 2, 2013

no matter what is suggested..........you won't be able to comfortably game at that res without lowering game settings and maybe even resolution.

if the board supports it, a 965 quad core. but you then you will still be gpu bound. but I wouldn't get another gpu with the current cpu.

and then we might be talking a new power supply also.

8350rocks · Apr 2, 2013

Give me an upgrade budget, and I will put something together that will get you as close to that performance as possible.

glixtcher · Apr 2, 2013

8350rocks :

$400-$550 approx.
I'm going to buy this if it's any good: "AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor" SO,
Up to $120 for a CPU.
Up to $300 for a GPU.
Up to $70 for anything else that I would really need
I really wouldn't like to spend more than $450, but please do what you can and give me advice.

8350rocks · Apr 2, 2013

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/O0up

Try this:
CPU: AMD FX6300
MoBo: Asrock 970DE3
GPU: Asus Radeon HD 7870 GHz edition 2 GB GDDR5
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Cert. Modular

That's about $500.00 and should get you a really nice upgrade

glixtcher · Apr 2, 2013

8350rocks :

Thank you very much, my friend.
Are you positive that all of this is compatible with my current PC?
EDIT: If I held off and didn't buy the GPU Card, would all of the other items you listed still work with my current GPU?

logainofhades · Apr 2, 2013

8350rocks :

That motherboard might not fit. Current motherboard is Micro Atx. Also could use ram. Single channel 4gb is not going to cut it. Here a few modifications with ram, M-ATX board, and changed the PSU to a 600w corsair as it is a little cheaper on promo. Also swapped the graphics card for a faster tahiti based 7870.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/O0OZ

8350rocks · Apr 2, 2013

glixtcher :

Sorry, missed that you were on a Micro ATX...

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/O10Y

That mobo will work now...and yes, you could use your current GPU with that setup and upgrade later...your Radeon HD 7700 is good for a bit still, and adding 4 GB dual channel RAM is advisable...I have 4 GB of Corsair DDR3-1600 MHz in there, it's $25, so it won't set you back a ton.

iam2thecrowe · Apr 2, 2013

do cpu and ram upgrade first. what motherboard do you have, what you listed up the top is not your motherboard type, it is the chipset type. need a model number to check cpu support.

glixtcher · Apr 2, 2013

iam2thecrowe :

Motherboard
Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Model CM1730,CM1830 (AM3)
Version System Version
Chipset Vendor AMD
Chipset Model 780G
Chipset Revision 00
Southbridge Vendor AMD
Southbridge Model SB700
Southbridge Revision 00
System Temperature 43 °C
BIOS
Brand American Megatrends Inc.
Version 0601
Date 12/21/2011
Voltage
CPU CORE 1.392 V
+3.3V 3.312 V
+12V 12.992 V
-12V -6.272 V
CMOS BATTERY 3.376 V
PCI Data
Slot PCI-E
Slot Type PCI-E
Slot Usage Available
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCIE1X
Slot Number 0
Slot PCI-E
Slot Type PCI-E
Slot Usage In Use
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCIE16X
Slot Number 1
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI1
Slot Number 2
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI2
Slot Number 3

twelve25 · Apr 3, 2013

Is this your computer? https://www.asus.com/Desktops/Essentio_CM1730/

swifty_morgan · Apr 3, 2013

why not put the 965 on the board he has.......... major savings right there. then buy a better video card. with what's left there's more than enough money to get a proper power supply.

swifty_morgan · Apr 3, 2013

$415.00
ps
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013
cpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
gpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131487

logainofhades · Apr 3, 2013

Revised my list if you just want to get a CPU for your current board and upgrade the rest. The tahiti based 7870's are faster than a normal 7870. They are not much slower than a 7950 for about $50-60 less than one. Ram is a must as will a better PSU.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/O9du

thomann061 · Apr 3, 2013

you must upgrade at least your memory and cpu.

glixtcher · Apr 3, 2013

twelve25 :

It would have to be, because that's EXACTLY how my computer looks.

glixtcher · Apr 3, 2013

logainofhades :

Well, what I want to know is if the CPU, the one here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
will fit AND function WELL with my CURRENT motherboard. Will it? Will performance be great without getting a new motherboard?
Would I need a new motherboard to get the most out of the new CPU, or will my current motherboard be good??
I am quite UN-knowledgeable about these things. Please explain in detail.
If I go without a new graphics card, what will be the best build? I'm not going to get a new graphics card for at least a month. Also, should I get THIS
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cmz8gx3m2a1600c9
OR, would my current RAM 4GB be compatible with just ONE of those RAM cards? Wondering!!
Thanks for all the answers guys.

logainofhades · Apr 3, 2013

Asus doesn't specify what AM3 chips that yours supports. It will fit. Same AM3 socket. A new AM3+ motherboard would be better, for sure. You could still go with the AM3+ board I had in a previous post and get the PhII to save a few dollars if necessary. Yes you should get that ram. Do not run your current module with it.

Best build with what budget? Is it still the 400-550? Unless you absolutely feel you can wait for better FPS, get the better GPU now. Games benefit from better GPU. A new cpu will help you over what you have, but an FX or PhII with a 7870 LE will do better in games than say a 3570k and a 7770.

8350rocks · Apr 3, 2013

glixtcher :

If your current RAM is not dual channel it's advisable to get dual channel RAM, though...what RAM is in your current system? Is it DDR3? I think it is...but I am not certain. Can you provide that information?

Also, after looking, your 780G chipset could work with a newer CPU, but they made the board in AM2+ and AM3 socket configurations...so you would want to be sure you're an AM3 socket, and then you could go to a Phenom II X4/X6 965/1090...something like that for now.

The GPU/PSU is advisable to upgrade as well, though your current GPU is fine for now if you needed to do it one piece at a time, you could wait on that one last. I would actually recommend you do that as well, because you'll want a stronger PSU before you go buy a more robust GPU.

8350rocks · Apr 3, 2013

swifty_morgan :

His board appears to be one that was made in AM2+ and AM3 configurations we need to be certain it is AM3.

logainofhades · Apr 3, 2013

It is an AM3. His current ram is listed as 4gb ddr3 single channel.

Edit: based on model number, this should be full specs of what the OP has now.

https://www.asus.com/Desktops/Essentio_CM1730/#specifications

8350rocks · Apr 3, 2013

logainofhades :

Then, yes, upgrading your RAM would net you a 100% increase in bandwidth, and for ~$25-30 you will double your RAM performance.

If your board is AM3, then the Phenom II X4 965 will work fine...just update your BIOS to it's most current version.

Upgrade your PSU first, before you upgrade your GPU.

glixtcher · Apr 4, 2013

I bought: "CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9"
yesterday night and I'll be loving it when it gets here. Thank God it was $18 OFF yesterday! Good thing I bought it then, because today it's $18 more!
I'm going to buy the "AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX" tonight, from Amazon.com, unless there is a better deal out there. Tomshardware.com people rock! Thank you all very much for the feedback. I'll having trouble picking the "best answer."

8350rocks · Apr 4, 2013

The RAM should be great Corsair makes good stuff!

haha...well be sure to share the solution love to one of us

Good luck with your new build...glad we could help.

Looking for what will make Video Games like Crysis 3 run faster with my current PC build

Honorable

Illustrious

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Titan

Distinguished

Glorious

Honorable

Distinguished

Illustrious

Illustrious

Titan

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Titan

Distinguished

Distinguished

Titan

Distinguished

Honorable

Distinguished

Share this page