What do I need to upgrade in order to play games on High or better?

mrrangerx · Dec 18, 2013

I really want to get into PC gaming, unfortunately, I do not know very much about gaming PC's and I would like the advise of someone who may know a thing or two about them.
I have been trying to play a game called Warframe and would like to play it with decent graphics. Please let me know what I would need to upgrade in order to play newer games with a decent FPS!
Time of this report: 12/18/2013, 01:07:59
Machine name: KENDALL-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130828-1532)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Studio XPS 7100
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 945 Processor (4 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 6144MB RAM
Page File: 5614MB used, 6670MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: AMD Radeon HD 6450
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x6779)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_6779&SUBSYS_909D1B0A&REV_00
Display Memory: 3828 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1012 MB
Shared Memory: 2815 MB
Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: HP w19b/w19e Wide LCD Monitor
Monitor Model: HP w19b/w19e
Monitor Id: HWP26A0
Native Mode: 1440 x 900(p) (59.887Hz)
Output Type: HD15
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1172 (English)
Driver Version: 9.12.0.0
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 12/19/2012 12:08:04, 1151488 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-2439-11CF-2E7C-97B0BEC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x6779
SubSys ID: 0x909D1B0A
Revision ID: 0x0000
Driver Strong Name: oem11.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_NI:9.12.0.0

ci\ven_1002&dev_6779
Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
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{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
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{3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
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{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
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{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
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D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
DXVA-HD: Not Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled

Cons29 · Dec 18, 2013

first is your GPU, that is slow. then again, also your CPU, while not slow is not top notch. but yeah weakest link is the gpu

jaguarskx · Dec 18, 2013

While the Phenom II X4 945 is relatively old, it will still allow you to play games. I still play games with a nearly 6 year old Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450. In general, Intel's Core 2 Quad and AMD's Phenom II X4 CPUs offers similar performance. The PII X4 945 is a little over 4 years old by now.

Those CPUs are still capable of being used for games, but newer CPUs can provide better performance. However, the first thing to do is install a new graphics card. If the Dell does in fact have a 460w power supply (PSU), then the Radeon HD 7850 should work with it. Dell actually under rates their PSUs a little so it is likely equivalent to a 480w - 500w PSU unofficially.

If you have money to burn, then getting a new CPU, RAM and motherboard should help increase performance by a bit as well. But nowhere near the performance increase of going from a Radeon HD 6450 to a HD 7850.

Bassim Ansari · Dec 18, 2013

Depends on games...

But most of the system is in a state of denial now...

Its time....

ewok93 · Dec 18, 2013

What is your budget? You could get a new motherboard, CPU, video card, and RAM for $400 and essentially have a brand new fast computer.

mrrangerx · Dec 19, 2013

I have about $500 to spend. What parts should I get?

sixthshadow42 · Dec 21, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ TigerDirect)
Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($58.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 270X 2GB Video Card ($204.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $493.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-21 07:15 EST-0500)

ewok93 · Dec 21, 2013

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2nXnT difference between this and sixthshadow42's: Two extra core prcoessor. Non micro-atx motherboard (try to avoid those). Cheaper but not worse RAM. Equal performance but $50 cheaper video card. Cheaper power supply. Overall cheaper with better performance due to the better CPU.

sixthshadow42 · Dec 21, 2013

ewok93 :

I can agree about the processor and the GPU. The RAM is only cheaper for now because it's on specials until tomorrow, normally, it's the same price as my suggested RAM. I'm not sure about the power supply, as I've never seen that power supply and therefore can't judge it.
If you don't mind me asking, what's wrong with the mATX motherboard?

ewok93 · Dec 22, 2013

They are small, and tend to be limited. It is a rather low quality board overall, and while it will work, I wouldn't trust it when you can spend a little more for a more reliable board. And that was just the cheapest 8gb RAM, there were a lot within $10 of it.

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What do I need to upgrade in order to play games on High or better?

mrrangerx

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sixthshadow42

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