Help with running gaming pc at optimal level

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bcalhou5

Honorable
Jan 20, 2014
4
0
10,510
Hey everyone,
I'm very new to using my gaming PC and I am trying to maximize its full potential. attached is a link to the build that I purchased about 6 months ago: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229394
I'm running into problems while trying to run programs at their maximum setting, ie Tomb Raider (2013) and Bioshock Infinite, the framerate runs at a pretty low level. Also, on older games, such as Alan Wake, the screen goes completely black occasionally after the game has been running for around 30 minutes or so and the PC has to be restarted. I'm definitely willing to upgrade my hardware since I think that there are things that could be improved. However, my question is what should be upgraded? Do I need to use a better video card? Or is my processor to slow to run current games at their max level? Once again, this is mostly new to me, so I am still learning and any help is greatly appreciated! thanks
 
Solution
tiny voices
I won't get into the AMD vs. Intel debate because there is no answer. Some games will always run better on an i5 and others will always run better on an 8350.

If you will not be overclocking, here is what to get:

i5 4570
H87 motherboard from ASUS, Gigabyte, ASRock
650w PSU from XFX, Antec, Seasonic, Corsair (not CX line)
gtx770.
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tiny voices

tiny voices

Titan
Sep 6, 2012
34,175
5
99,965
Your current GPU is enough to run most games at high settings but not ultra. Your CPU is decent but it is not as good as something like an fx6300. AMD even said themselves that the 81xx, 41xx, 61xx chips were just and that's why they rolled out the 83xx, 43xx, 63xx chips so fast.

Also that PSU is likely very low quality and should be replaced with an Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic 500w-600w unit. A poor quality PSU can fail and ruin every component in your computer. I had this happen to me with my first build ever about 7 months in.

Also, what are your CPU and GPU temps under load? What is your budget for upgrading?

Also, your GPU is not technically supported by your (very low end and cheap) motherboard. To solve the black screening issue, you need to flash the BIOS to the most recent version.
 
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B

bcalhou5

Honorable
Jan 20, 2014
4
0
10,510


Thanks so much for your response! I had a feeling the CPU was on the low grade side. I will look into improving the PSU, since I didn't realize that could be an issue! My temps are within normal range, so I ruled that out immediately. My budget for upgrading is very high, I feel like I made a mistake when I first purchased this (cheap) build and I'd like to install the best components I can. Also, I'm a little wary of flashing my bios, and is it ever possible to upgrade a motherboard? I didn't know this motherboard was such a clunker until well after I purchased this PC. Thank you!
 
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tiny voices

tiny voices

Titan
Sep 6, 2012
34,175
5
99,965
YEs you can change the motherboard but you will have to reinstall windows.

If money is no object, I would get a Haswell i5, an 1150 socket motherboard, a 650w PSU from XFX, and a gtx770 or r9 280x GPU.

Do you plan to overclock the CPU? This will determine some of the parts you will have to buy.
 
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bcalhou5

Honorable
Jan 20, 2014
4
0
10,510


I don't currently have any plans to overclock. I'm glad to hear to it is possible to replace the motherboard, I had heard that once your build had one, it couldn't be replaced. I'm definitely going for an Intel processor when I upgrade because I've read that their performance outweighs the AMD Fx's multiple cores.
 
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tiny voices

tiny voices

Titan
Sep 6, 2012
34,175
5
99,965
I won't get into the AMD vs. Intel debate because there is no answer. Some games will always run better on an i5 and others will always run better on an 8350.

If you will not be overclocking, here is what to get:

i5 4570
H87 motherboard from ASUS, Gigabyte, ASRock
650w PSU from XFX, Antec, Seasonic, Corsair (not CX line)
gtx770.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
B

bcalhou5

Honorable
Jan 20, 2014
4
0
10,510


Thanks so much for your help! I'm going to look into these!
 
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