Upgrading an oldie. Quick fix and solutions please. Give your advice please.

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

Here are my old specs:

Quad Core Q9550 3.0GHz
XFX GTX 260 core 216 Black Edition (702 core / 1215 mem)
4GB Corssair XMS2 DDR2 800 (4-4-4-12) 2.1 volts
EVGA 780i Mobo
700w OCZ GamerXStream PSU
1TB Hard drive 32MB cache 7200RPM
Sound Blaster Audigy SE
Windows 7 64bit

Believe it or not, my computer still pretty much holds it own and plays most games on Ultra or High. Just now for the first time I am experiencing some lag with Battlefield 4 and realizing I am not meeting the minimum requirements for the new Call of Duty. So, its time to upgrade. I want to start with the ram first.

For the 780i mobo that I have, what is the fastest, best priced, most amount of ram I can get? I want to get about 8GB or more. Its been over 8 years or so since I have been into the computer market, so I am way behind. I need your help and am calling on the guys who are currently invested into whats out for my system. Please send links and descriptions.

Next I think I will upgrade the video card. Man, I blinked and then a thousand more options came out before I opened my eyes.

So please lets mostly focus on the ram for starters and then we can talk more about the GPU. Thanks guys.

Supahos · Nov 19, 2013

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231151

should be some decent ram for that computer, not cheap, but old ram isn't.

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

I just realized, I guess the quickest fix would just be buy two more sticks of the exact ram I already have. Total of 8GB and ready to go! Would that be the best way to go for right now? It would have been a good idea, but Im realizing its not easy to find my old ram.

Anyone have a link to my old stuff?

clutchc · Nov 19, 2013

If you list the exact model of EVGA 780i MB, we might be able to direct you to the specs for the board. But increasing the memory to at least 8GB would be a good idea unless you are running 32 bit Windows (7?). DDR2 memory is getting scarce and usually demands a premium now. The Old C2Q is still a viable CPU for gaming. But the GTX 260 is slowing you down.

Supahos · Nov 19, 2013

Yes adding 2 of the same sticks would be much cheaper but it won't be 100% that it will work. They sell them in kits for a reason, it should be fine, but if its not, the memory may not be bad.

chrisso · Nov 19, 2013

Spitfire7 :

No garentee they would work together at all. Every day somebody comes on here with that problem.

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

Supahos :

I want to first try and see if I can just find two more sticks of what I already have. You know of it anywhere?

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

chrisso :

Are you saying, if I got exactly the same thing, making a total of 4 sticks @2GB that it might not work?

Supahos · Nov 19, 2013

Yes that is what he's saying, Just because they are the same model with the same spec doesn't mean 5 years later they use the same exact kind of chips/boards in them. Which means they aren't guaranteed to work. I would give you over a 75% chance they will, but it is not 100% for sure.

NormH · Nov 19, 2013

agreed id do gpu then build new after that fails to keep up and keep it cheap

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/powercolor-video-card-ax66701gbk3h

this card kills the 210 for cheap.

NormH · Nov 19, 2013

im running 4gm ddr2 with a core 2 duo and a gt220 and i do well. the above is what i would do with mine

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

Supahos :

Okay so to play it safe, I should just get 4 brand new sticks. Anything out there with the low timing of 4-4-4-12 2.1v? Been really happy with that. Also, do you guys know if my board can handle something higher than DDR2 800?

NormH · Nov 19, 2013

if you must get ram id stay with ddr2 800 its good ram at 8gb will be expensive. 4gb is enough for most games at low to mid settings. get the cheap gpu keep the ram and put the rest into a fund to build a 500-600 dollar build like an fx-6300 6 core and an hd7850 card with ddr3 and new mobo

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

clutchc :

EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

Its this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024

Supahos · Nov 19, 2013

No, that was literally the only 8gb kit (4x2gb) on newegg lol.

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

How about 2 packs of this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231087

Supahos · Nov 19, 2013

that would leave you with 4gb still... not sure how that would help you... and once again you're mixing kits, if you want to mix kits just buy more of what you have

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

Supahos :

Ah shoot, sorry, misread the description on that.

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

Is there a major difference from 4-4-4-12 to 5-5-5-18? The 4 version is better right?

chrisso · Nov 19, 2013

Supahos :

Its not just that, its all the many timings that are set up according to the density of the batch. If they dont match you get probs. But yes. adding 2 x 2 gig is a good chance it will work ok. but if it doesnt you gotta trade it.

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

I could do 4 sticks of these at $124

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231119

chrisso · Nov 19, 2013

I think you would be better with 800 mhtz ram, that kit is only 667.

NormH · Nov 19, 2013

i still thing you would see a similar performance upgrade with a $70 gpu and leave the ram alone. then in a year build a new system an a new socket and ddr3 ram for a great price. you would see x4 improvement with the next build and save money now

Supahos · Nov 19, 2013

You're still mixing kits, yes the 4-4-4-X stuff is better, but I dont' think I'd want to try and use 4 individual sticks to make a kit

Spitfire7 · Nov 19, 2013

NormH :

But all the games like COD Ghost have a minimum spec of 8GB Ram and Battlefield 4 has minimum of 4. I cant even play COD and am lagging big time with BF4 just based on ram. If I get a new gpu, I will still run into issues or bottle necks with my ram for these games right?

Upgrading an oldie. Quick fix and solutions please. Give your advice please.

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