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Need Help Upgrading my Desktop Computer!

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  • Hard Drives
  • Motherboards
  • PC gaming
  • CPUs
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Last response: in Components
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January 16, 2014 4:59:28 AM

I have a custom built PC, these are my specs:

Motherboard : Intel DH67BLB3
CPU : Intel Core i3-2120 (3.30 GhHz)
GPU : NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
RAM : 8 GB DDR3

It has a SSD for booting and a HDD for storing.

The problem is, when I play games, it seems that they don't run very well. I have a lenovo laptop that runs the games smoother and better than my desktop.

What would you recommend I should upgrade to make it run games smoother?

The games I'm playing are CS:GO, SWToR, Civ 5

I'm thinking I need to upgrade the graphics card but I'm not sure that's my only problem. The i3 is a 2 core (4 core virtual) so could that be the problem?

Any help is appreciated!

More about : upgrading desktop computer

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January 16, 2014 5:11:37 AM

7900GS... is ancient! I'm not suprised your laptop can run things better.

All you need to do is buy a new graphics card and your performance would increase 200%.

A few options depending on budget:

For those games I'd get at least a HD 7850 or GTX 660 if you want smooth gameplay at a high quality if not then get a GT630 they're less than $100 and can manage your games at least medium.

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January 16, 2014 5:25:58 AM

Keep the cpu , still capable of running games.
Get GTX 760 or R9 270.
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January 16, 2014 5:53:15 AM

bkoop said:
What power supply do you have?

Your right you need to upgrade the video card, it is equal to a GT 220, reference Tom's Hardware Graphics Card Performance Hierarchy Chart
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-car...


I have a Cooler Master Elite Power - 460W Power Supply
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January 16, 2014 5:56:54 AM

The 270 would be a better option as that would run fine on 450w whereas the 760gtx stated min is 500-550w..
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January 16, 2014 6:08:14 AM

hchami1 said:
bkoop said:
What power supply do you have?

Your right you need to upgrade the video card, it is equal to a GT 220, reference Tom's Hardware Graphics Card Performance Hierarchy Chart
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-car...


I have a Cooler Master Elite Power - 460W Power Supply


it has one 6 pin connector , so it will work with R9 270 .( for R9 270 , 450W psu is recommended.)
http://www.coolermaster.com/powersupply/elite-power/eli...

GTX 760 needs one 6 and one 8 pin power connectors and 600W psu , so for GTX 760 , you ll need a new psu.

R9 270 is an awesome video card.
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January 16, 2014 6:19:44 AM

What is your target budget?

Would you be open to a new power supply and video card or just a new video card?
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January 16, 2014 6:24:53 AM

It seems that the R9 270 requires a PCI Express 3.0 while my mother board only has:

One PCI Express* 2.0 x 16 discrete graphics card connector
Two PCI Express 2.0 x 1 connectors

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January 16, 2014 6:28:04 AM

whitecat said:
hchami1 said:
bkoop said:
What power supply do you have?

Your right you need to upgrade the video card, it is equal to a GT 220, reference Tom's Hardware Graphics Card Performance Hierarchy Chart
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-car...


I have a Cooler Master Elite Power - 460W Power Supply


it has one 6 pin connector , so it will work with R9 270 .( for R9 270 , 450W psu is recommended.)
http://www.coolermaster.com/powersupply/elite-power/eli...

GTX 760 needs one 6 and one 8 pin power connectors and 600W psu , so for GTX 760 , you ll need a new psu.

R9 270 is an awesome video card.


It seems that the R9 270 requires a PCI Express 3.0 while my mother board only has:

One PCI Express* 2.0 x 16 discrete graphics card connector
Two PCI Express 2.0 x 1 connectors
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January 16, 2014 6:28:23 AM

hchami1 said:
It seems that the R9 270 requires a PCI Express 3.0 while my mother board only has:

One PCI Express* 2.0 x 16 discrete graphics card connector
Two PCI Express 2.0 x 1 connectors



no problem , pci-e 3 cards work in pci-e 2 slots-backward compatibility ,(needed just to be of the same lenght x16)
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January 16, 2014 6:30:06 AM

whitecat said:
hchami1 said:
It seems that the R9 270 requires a PCI Express 3.0 while my mother board only has:

One PCI Express* 2.0 x 16 discrete graphics card connector
Two PCI Express 2.0 x 1 connectors



no problem , pci-e 3 cards work in pci-e 2 slots-backward compatibility ,(needed just to be of the same lenght x16)


I didn't know that! Thanks for the info! Looks like I know what I'm telling everyone to get me for my birthday... :) 
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January 16, 2014 6:40:39 AM

According to the product on Amazon, the R9 270 needs at least 500 W:
http://amzn.com/B00GWSYVUY

The only other one I see on amazon is : http://amzn.com/B00GWV0ZD8

This one doesn't even give any technical specs.

I wanted to use Amazon for Prime shipping + special financing

Also the one I found on Newegg also says it needs to be 500W. Am I going to have to upgrade my PSU?
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January 16, 2014 6:53:15 AM

hchami1 said:
According to the product on Amazon, the R9 270 needs at least 500 W:
http://amzn.com/B00GWSYVUY

The only other one I see on amazon is : http://amzn.com/B00GWV0ZD8

This one doesn't even give any technical specs.

I wanted to use Amazon for Prime shipping + special financing

Also the one I found on Newegg also says it needs to be 500W. Am I going to have to upgrade my PSU?


i think you dont need to get a new psu .
R9 270 needs only one 6 pin connector and draws up to 150W .
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

this should work
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
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January 16, 2014 6:58:01 AM

whitecat said:
hchami1 said:
According to the product on Amazon, the R9 270 needs at least 500 W:
http://amzn.com/B00GWSYVUY

The only other one I see on amazon is : http://amzn.com/B00GWV0ZD8

This one doesn't even give any technical specs.

I wanted to use Amazon for Prime shipping + special financing

Also the one I found on Newegg also says it needs to be 500W. Am I going to have to upgrade my PSU?


i think you dont need to get a new psu .
R9 270 needs only one 6 pin connector and draws up to 150W .
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

this should work
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


Thanks for all your help!
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January 16, 2014 7:07:21 AM

hchami1 said:
whitecat said:
hchami1 said:
According to the product on Amazon, the R9 270 needs at least 500 W:
http://amzn.com/B00GWSYVUY

The only other one I see on amazon is : http://amzn.com/B00GWV0ZD8

This one doesn't even give any technical specs.

I wanted to use Amazon for Prime shipping + special financing

Also the one I found on Newegg also says it needs to be 500W. Am I going to have to upgrade my PSU?


i think you dont need to get a new psu .
R9 270 needs only one 6 pin connector and draws up to 150W .
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

this should work
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...


Thanks for all your help!


Btw , your cpu i3 2120 is 65W . Compare it to 125W of FX 8350 . Difference -60W . if the card works with FX 8350 and 500W psu , then R9 270 will work on i3 2120 with 440W psu (500W-60W)
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