Unbalanced system, need to choose what to upgrade

Porter C

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May 11, 2013
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Here is the link to a page on my build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1cmKd
My question is this: What would be the best upgrade? I will have around $250 to spend. I am going to stick with AMD due to the price, so if you recommend replacing the CPU, no Intel. I usually use the computer for photoshop, so if you recommend a graphics card it must be dual monitor capable (2 DVI-I Outputs on one card). I do occasionally play games like portal 2 and minecraft.


So which parts need to be replaced the most to balance the computer? The motherboard? The CPU? The graphics card?

Thanks
 
Solution
@Porter C,well for now you should buy the GTX 760, then sometime later in future, sell the athlon and GT 610 for about 80$ and save another 30$ then buy a good CPU like FX 6300.

thasan1

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Mar 27, 2013
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you should change the GPU, GT 610 is a really weak card. upgrade to a GTX 760 and OC that CPU a little to balance the build.

EDIT: if you haven't already assembled the build and your just on the part picking stage then id recommend to spend that cash for a powerful CPU like FX 6300 and a GPU like GTX 660.it should stay under the 250$ limit or you can drop that 150$ full tower case like 007chill stated for a good 50$ one to buy a GTX 760, you may even have money for a 7970 as i say one for 330$
 

007chill

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Jun 19, 2013
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Do you need that expensive of a case? If you're set on it that's fine but if you go with a $50-$60 case thats another $100. Giving you $350 to spend. Put that extra $100 into a top of the line AMD processor. AMD FX-8350. (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+FX-8350+Eight-Core&id=1780) Its a beast compared to the one you have picked out. (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Athlon+II+X4+640) The graphics card is WEAK and definitely not worth $50. Even if you don't downgrade the case you can still get that processor and this graphics card. Now that I'm looking into stuff, keep the case. This graphics card will play anything you throw at it and it's still under budget! It's benchmark is ~4100 and the one you have is ~350. (http://www.amazon.com/MSI-GeForce-Graphics-N660-2GD5-OC/dp/B009K1PY4W%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJM4UVF4RQCUWVBQA%26tag%3Dcpubenchmark-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB009K1PY4W)
 


I agree with thasan and 007chill- If your do mostly photoshop, you will benefit more by upgrading the CPU 1st,
and then the GPU.
 

Porter C

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May 11, 2013
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The MAtx board is what came with the kit I bought several years ago, and I got the case since it was about $60 off and about the same price as most of the more expensive ATX and Micro ATX Cases. I was hoping that it would give me room to upgrade, or even reuse the case a few more times. At the time I did not think that the computer would be used for anything more intensive then basic web browsing. If you could, what CPU/Motherboard combo could you recommend for about $250, or would my money be better spent on a Graphics Card?

Thanks

Note: I have already built this system, and am simply upgrading what I have.
 

Porter C

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May 11, 2013
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Yes, that is stuff I already have. As for my monitors, they are just the lower end basic 1600*900 res.
 

Porter C

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I actually can afford both the cpu and GPU. Would the motherboard support it? I know it is a really low end board. AM3+ with bios update, but it is not an amd 9 series chipset.
 

Porter C

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May 11, 2013
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Ok, I will look for a 95 watt or less cpu. When I bought the motherboard I did not plan to upgrade, as it was for basic stuff like web browsing.