What can I do to improve gaming performance? Upgrade advice needed.

jonnyswboy · Nov 12, 2013

Hello, I have a kind of dated computer and I am able to squeeze some gaming performance out of it and I would like to know if my upgrade plan is a good choice.

Current specs:
EVGA Nvidia Geforce GTX 560 2GB (Non-Ti)
AMD phenom II x4 945
4GB 800mhz ddr2 RAM
ATX 750 psu
MSI M2N-SLI Deluxe mother board

These are the following parts I am planning on upgrading to. (Not sure to upgrade CPU or GPU)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130637
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233218

Is this the best upgrade for me? Any help is great.
- Jonathan

rvilkman · Nov 12, 2013

Get either 2x4GB or 2x8GB to take advantage of dual channel memory.
But yes that seems like a good upgrade for you.

Onus · Nov 12, 2013

While a 970-series board is the one you want, the MSI board you've selected is not a good choice. Along with the other -G4x boards, it appears on a public Googledocs spreadsheet I am unable to link at work indicating that it has a history of problems with its weak VRMs. This one would be a better choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157394
You will probably also want an aftermarket cooler, as the stock one will likely get extremely loud or be insufficient if you overclock. I use and recommend the Xigmatek Gaia over the more often parroted but slightly inferior Hyper212 EVO:
http://www.techreaction.net/2011/07/07/review-xigmatek-gaia-sd1283/7/
http://www.techreaction.net/2011/11/27/review-cooler-master-hyper-212-plus/4/

Unlike the Hyper212 EVO (ignore the URL; it IS the EVO they tested), the Gaia never throttled. Frostytech also found it to be quieter.

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What can I do to improve gaming performance? Upgrade advice needed.

jonnyswboy

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Onus

rvilkman

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Onus

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