Ignorance looking for guidance to a budget freindly better gaming computer/graphics cards

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brad684

brad684

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May 30, 2013
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Dell Studio 540
Vista x64 8GB RAM
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8200 @ 2.33GHz
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX/9800 GTX+

^^This is what Im working with, $1k from best buy about 5 years ago and 250$ graphics cards from the same time period... I recently found out that my graphics card is not exactly good anymore. Ive never been to terrible happy with this graphics cards but its always preformed above the medium game setting and in some cases ultra high setting in newer games such as Bioshock Infinite. While looking through other thread i keep seeing a phrase "Bottle Necking". Im guessing it means that when one or more of your hardware is too powerful or not powerful enough to support the other. Is this something im going to run into if i go buy a newer card? I don't have a lot of money, I saw the GTX 660 is only about 200$. Would this fit into my pci express? would this be a good option for me? Is there anything else cheap that I could buy that would really make a difference in my system before just having to buy a new one? I really love modding games. So in the past two years ive been getting into games like Arma 2 CO, FSX, Fallout, and Skyrim ect. Which need a powerful processor and a good graphics card. Ive bench marked using 3dmark also if anyone would like that info and what always comes up is you GPU is lagging behind your CPU, not sure if that a bottleneck. Id like ideas on what i can do with the system that i have from some you more experienced hardware guys specifically graphics cards. I like Nvidia so id like to stay with them but if there something else im missing in other company's feel free to let me know. Thanks for any input im really like learning about this stuff.
 
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Honestly 5 years is time enough to get an entire new rig, otherwise you'll be upgrading in bits and pieces for years and never come close to the relative performance you had 5 years ago.

It's not just your graphics card, it's the processor too. Everything is dated and with a PSU thats been worn for 5 years I wouldn't recommend any sort of heavy graphical upgrade either.

Best thing for you is to start to save up for a new machine.
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Trenchcoat

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May 7, 2013
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Honestly 5 years is time enough to get an entire new rig, otherwise you'll be upgrading in bits and pieces for years and never come close to the relative performance you had 5 years ago.

It's not just your graphics card, it's the processor too. Everything is dated and with a PSU thats been worn for 5 years I wouldn't recommend any sort of heavy graphical upgrade either.

Best thing for you is to start to save up for a new machine.
 
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JRAtk94

JRAtk94

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May 26, 2013
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There is no viable method of upgrading your PC without encountering a bottleneck.
As such, I'd recommend you just save up your money until you can build a brand new system and in the mean time, try to overclock your CPU and GPU to squeeze a bit more performance out of them. It's relatively easy, safe and of course, free (as long as you're careful).
 
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Shadowblade2652

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Nov 20, 2012
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I think that you might like this. If you buy a new case, you can put all this stuff in, add a $70 Radeon 6670 (I know it's AMD, but if you want a budget build you ain't gon get Nvidia for less than $150, at least a good performing card)

Try this:
Intel i3 2100 Barebone Kit
It comes with RAM, a Motherboard, an Intel i3 2100 Dual Core, and a 7200 RPM HDD.
Then you can buy a case for $40 (I recommend the Thermaltake V4 Gaming Chassis)
And all you need is a PSU, which you can get a Corsair Builder Series 430w Modular PSU (Which is important for maximizing airflow and lowering temperatures/cable management)
After this you should have a good PC for around $400 - $450!
 
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brad684

brad684

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I know you guys get the budget question alot so I appreciate you guys taking the time responding. It's hard to come to the realization that I need a new rig... But playing the newer generation of games like Arma 3 demo I could really feel the drop in framerates. Now when moving on to the next rig. Can I use my old computer to some how boost the new computer or does that just become a big external harddrive, It does have 2TB... What do you guys do with old rigs? I guess I could try and sell it. It will play console games for pc no problem. But ill check out that 1k rig set up from new egg along with that 400$ idea. Thanks again
 
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brad684

brad684

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Keep in mind the extent of my computer building career consisted of my brother in law putting in my graphics card after i bought this computer. But i will be doing all the building from here on out. (since my bro in law is a douche)



Would i see a big difference buying this ^ or should i just spend $250 on a new DX11 freindly graphics card and deal with the bottleneck? would a 70 dollars card be better than the one i already have which sells for 200$ new still (I tried to add a url to compu-americas pricing but i didn't do it right but i googled my cards and it was around 200$ Which surprised me...) (keep in mind its the 1gb not the 512mb card if you google..) Im not trying to sound like i know better im just asking to learn.



Any suggestions? What is MOBO?



Will i be able to just put the new ram in to a new rig? Keep ive never done a build and dont have a clue what this acually looks like :s Could i just buy a new card and deal with the bottleneck until i can afford the new rig or is that not recommended? I have used EVGA's Precision X program and i moved the clock from 738 (default) to around 800-812 and it runs ok. Is that considered over-clocking? there was two bars my graphics card clock and my memory clock (1000 Default). I onlt messed with the graphics clock and didnt notice much of a change from 750-800. I read some were not to mess with the memory clock.

THANKS and appreciate all the input, feel free to answer any of the question i asked to others.

 
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JRAtk94

JRAtk94

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MOBO = Motherboard.
Also, it depends on the type of RAM that your old PC uses.
It's most likely the case that it is DDR2 RAM, whereas all modern computers (including the one you'll be building) use DDR3 RAM. These two types of RAM are not interchangeable. ie, DDR2 RAM cannot be used in a DDR3 motherboard, and vice versa.
 
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