What is my next upgrade?(Gaming)

LFadvice · Apr 8, 2013

I would like some advice on my next/future upgrades I did build my computer so I can upgrade anything, But I have very little component experience, I am a gamer by the way, here are my specs:

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135343

HardDrive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152226

PowerSupply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116887

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131473

case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227
Windows 7 Home premium
Those are the upgradables your looking at, thank you in advance

HillBillyAsian · Apr 8, 2013

budget and what are you looking to play?

xaephod · Apr 8, 2013

Tom's Hardware has great guides for gaming rigs, and they break it down by price, I highly recommend checking it out.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/build-a-pc-overclocking-gaming,3440.html is the $800 gaming rig and there are links to the other ones.

Good luck!

geofelt · Apr 8, 2013

You seem to have a good, well balanced pc.
To help clarify your options, run these two tests:
a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu. In windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 50%.
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
set to 50% and see how you do.
If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.
It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.

If a cpu upgrade is indicated, then a ivy quad like a 3550 or 3770 is about as good as you can do with your H61 motherboard.

If a graphics update is indicated, then a t jump to a significantly stronger card will also require more than a 500w psu.
And... make that jump a significant one, your 7850 is already a very good card. You are looking at a 7970 or GTX680 class card or better.

swifty_morgan · Apr 8, 2013

you already have a good graphics card and enough ram. depending on the games or other uses a nice quad core would help out under some circumstances.

LFadvice · Apr 8, 2013

geofelt :

You seem to have a good, well balanced pc.
To help clarify your options, run these two tests:
a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu. In windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 50%.
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
set to 50% and see how you do.
If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.
It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.

If a cpu upgrade is indicated, then a ivy quad like a 3550 or 3770 is about as good as you can do with your H61 motherboard.

If a graphics update is indicated, then a t jump to a significantly stronger card will also require more than a 500w psu.
And... make that jump a significant one, your 7850 is already a very good card. You are looking at a 7970 or GTX680 class card or better.

Thank you very much! I kinda knew it was CPU based but I just needed someone elses with more expierince aproval. Thanks!

jessterman21 · Apr 8, 2013

Looks like a decent build that will handle pretty much any game very well. Who knows what the future holds, though. I would say your best upgrade would be adding an SSD-cache drive for a hassle-free speed boost. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226335

If you're wanting something that will boost your gaming performance, I'd say overclock that video card and get an i5: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116782
OR if you're near a Microcenter, they have great deals on CPUs: http://www.microcenter.com/product/400664/Core_i5_3470_32GHz_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor

swifty_morgan · Apr 8, 2013

a 2500 or 2500k would be decent.

kittle · Apr 8, 2013

A bigger/better monitor is always a nice upgrade and investment.

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What is my next upgrade?(Gaming)

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geofelt

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