Could my computer be upgraded on a budget or is it beyond help?

skodko · Dec 29, 2013

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4 GHz
Motherboard: MS-7502
RAM: 3 GB ddr2
Graphics: GF8600 GT (256 mb)
Power supply: 400 watt

Havent really kept up with the desktop market the last 5 years so Im pretty clueless. Is it possible to get a decent performance upgrade on a budget. Its mainly just for some casual gaming such as GW2, Anno2070, Tropico 4, etc.

Hope you can help.

USAFRet · Dec 29, 2013

About the only 'on a budget' thing that could be done is a new GPU. But the CPU and everything else would hold it back.

A new CPU also means a new motherboard and RAM. And probably a new PSU. Along with a new GPU.
In essence, a new PC.

geofelt · Dec 29, 2013

A reasonable upgrade would be a stronger graphics card.
If your 400w psu has a 6 pin pcie power lead, that might be something like a GTX650.

Such a card could be transferred to a new build in the future.

quilciri · Dec 29, 2013

New graphics card would be best first upgrade, after that you could pick up a used Q9650 from ebay/amazon for ~$150, which would be a significant bump up from the Q6600.

a modern platform comparable to the Q9650 would run ~$230.

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($116.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($53.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG Gaming Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $233.95

p.s. fyeah for neverhood.

geofelt · Dec 29, 2013

Past a graphics card, I would not pour more into 7 year old tech.
DDR2 ram is more expensive. 3gb is too small today.
A simple i3-4130 @$130 is more capable than a Q9650.

Scremin34Egl · Dec 29, 2013

You could go for a new graphics card, but your psu will limit you to a gtx 650/7750 and you cant get anything really powerful because your cpu would hold you back also

skodko · Dec 29, 2013

Pretty much what I was afraid of. Will consider the gtx 650 although I might just save up a bit and spring for a new pc. Thx for the input.

quilciri · Dec 29, 2013

geofelt :

Agreed for the most part, but you're leaving out +$80 for motherboard, +60 for 8gb RAM. A "simple" i3 upgrade is going to be almost double the cost of a q9650, and the i3 isn't much faster than the 9650, memory aside. I did already post the AMD version of a platform upgrade.

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Could my computer be upgraded on a budget or is it beyond help?

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