what should i upgrade first ?

Benoit T · Jan 28, 2014

I know my computer is not that powerful but i'd like to be able to play skyrim with some hd mods + enb. i am not sure what to upgrade but as per Windows experience it tels me my video card is the bottleneck.

here are my computer specs :

CPU : Intel i5 2320 @ 3.00ghz (quad cores)
Motherboard : Acer ipisb-vr v1.01
RAM : 4x2 DDR3-1333 (i understand that my motherboard cant handle more than 1333mhz i believe)
Video Card : NVIDIA GTX 550 ti 1gb
storage : SSD 120gb HyperX drive
PSU : Dynex 520 (550W)

on the Windows Experience Index i have :
Processor = 7.5
Memory = 7.6
Graphic = 7.2
primary hd = 8.1

What would you suggest ?

thanks.

whitecat · Jan 28, 2014

The processor is still good . Either get another GTX 550 ti and SLI , or sell yours and get GTX 760 .

Go for GTX 760 .it is about 3x faster than GTX 550 ti

Onus · Jan 28, 2014

Improving your graphics card will make the biggest difference in games. What you should get depends on your budget, and also your PSU. What brand and model (not just wattage) is it? Any PSU that can run a GTX550Ti should also be able to run a GTX650Ti Boost Edition or HD7850 (but post to be sure), both of which are significant upgrades but may not be as much as you want.

aevm · Jan 28, 2014

+1 for the GTX 760. Get one with 4GB of RAM, it will help a lot with those mods.

Onus · Jan 28, 2014

The GTX760 is a great choice, if your PSU can handle it. If it is a quality model of at least 500W, you should be fine; please post what it is.

Adroid · Jan 28, 2014

The 2 gb 760 is a good choice, or if you want the next step up, the 770 for 80$ more is a great card.

Whatever you do, don't buy a 4gb 260, as the are only 30$ less than the 770 which is much faster.

Adroid · Jan 28, 2014

Note the 770 requires a bigger PSU though, minimum 600 watts of a good brand. I recommend a 650 seasonic/xfx or similar.

Benoit T · Jan 28, 2014

i should have posted it in my original comment sorry.

the power supply is a Dynex 520

I bought it at best buy as the brand suggest.

unfortunately for the SLI/Crossfire my motherboard does not support it. the box itself is an Acer Aspire M3970-EB10U.

i have ~700$ in my budget but i can go up to 1000 if really needed. i'd prefer stay in the range of 600-7600$

whitecat · Jan 28, 2014

you are lucky , there is one 6 pin connector too
i think this psu can power the rig with GTX 760.

Benoit T · Jan 28, 2014

not sure why the brand name does make difference in PSU, but now im scared to go put a 500$ card on it.

would this card be decent for a while ? GIGABYTE PCIE GEFORCE GTX760 OC REV2.0 4GB BOX DDR5 they are selling it for 355$ also if i were to buy lets say, this one GIGABYTE PCIE GF GTX770 4096M BOX DDR5 (469$) or this one PNY PCIE GEFORCE GTX770 XLR8 OC2 4G BOX DDR5 (509$), would that make a big difference ?

edit : assuming i need to replace the PSU

edit 2 : and this is the power supply http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/dynex-dynex-520-watt-atx-power-supply-dx-520wps-dx-520wps/10172495.aspx?path=556345c77904cda8965f74ffb9543868en02

on their site, they mention 1 6+2 and 1 4+4 so i guess this means 6+6

whitecat · Jan 28, 2014

Benoit T :

for me GTX 760 is enough for gaming .it is an awesome card.

Benoit T · Jan 28, 2014

Okay,

I'll replace the 550ti with this one GIGABYTE PCIE GEFORCE GTX760 OC REV2.0 4GB BOX DDR5 (the 4gb is for the mods as suggested by aevm).

we'll see for the PSU, but i'll keep in mind that i might need one

thanks all for your help

Benoit T · Jan 28, 2014

i just checked my PSU connectors, right now i have a 6 pin connected to my 550ti and i have a loose 6+2 connector on the same cable next to it but its not connected.

so i do have a 6 pins and 6+2 pins available for the 760 card which requires a 6 pins and a 6 pins

also my PSU is 550w and not 525 (which is actually the model name)

edit : replacing 8 pins with 6 pins

whitecat · Jan 28, 2014

Benoit T :

GTX 760 needs two 6 pin power connectors .So ,OK .
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-760/specifications

Benoit T · Jan 28, 2014

yeah, updated my post so it wont mislead anyone. thanks again !

Onus · Jan 28, 2014

Dynex offers PSU-shaped objects. I would not trust that one to run a GTX760 at all. HardOCP tested its smaller brother and it failed miserably. That's probably because they're made by Huntkey, and most of those tested by HardwareSecrets burned; BUT if by chance it is a very new, 80+ certified one, it may be okay, as the newer Huntkeys passed.
Edit: Not your unit, but one on each side of it; both bad: http://www.hardocp.com/article/2008/05/13/getting_best_buy_on_power_supply/8

Benoit T · Jan 29, 2014

Onus :

ok, then i am going to get a new one because right now i have 2 external hard drive, a bunch of usb device (ipod,usb stick etc..) and an extra hard drive inside the box.

would this be good ? http://www.microbytes.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_2&products_id=44410&osCsid=96a6b5ae9bee137842b2f4927cfe00ee

also i went on that site which you can get an estimate of the watts consumption and it is estimating my box to use around 530w in 90% peak with that card.

Adroid · Jan 29, 2014

Benoit T :

It's a shame you are going for the 4GB 760, hope it works out for you.

If you look at the attached, you will see that the 770 2gb for 30$ more is much superior.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7103/nvidia-geforce-gtx-760-review/4
http://www.legitreviews.com/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-760-4gb-video-card-review-2gb-4gb_129062/4

Benoit T · Jan 29, 2014

Adroid :

is it ? because the 760 is overclocked. i could get this one, but its a 100$ more
PNY PCIE GEFORCE GTX770 XLR8 OC 4G BOX DDR5

video cards are so confusing

Adroid · Jan 29, 2014

The 4 GB model has no proven increase in performance over the 2GB model for the 760 OR 770. People spam the forums all day long suggesting the 4GB is more "future proof", but there is no proof. It's my opinion that to say that graphic cards are "future proof" is ridiculous to start with - they are one of the least future proof items in a PC, and require upgrading every few years. I have had hard drives, PSUs, CPUs, Cases, and RAM, outlast 2-3 graphics cards, easy.

Look at the graphs - you will see than the 770 outperforms the 760 4GB across the board. Also, the superclocked 760 will not beat a stock clock 770, let alone a superclocked 770....

Again, I suggest you buy a 2GB 760 or 2GB 770. Don't pay 50$ more for either model for the extra RAM - it's not worth it.
I have asked repeatedly on the forums for anyone to please show me that the 4gb models are faster anywhere, ever... But the people who bother responding provide links to forums with no proof...

Onus · Jan 29, 2014

That's a lot better than the Dynex. I'm not a big fan of Thermaltake, but that one will do.

Benoit T · Jan 29, 2014

ok, for the card, i checked some reviews and you are right, doesnt looks like there is a use to get more than 2 at this time. So i'll save some money and get the MSI gtx770 OC 2gb (355$) along with the Enermax 750w which is 20$ more than the thermaltake but i heard Enermax is a good brand.

this will be the second video card i get with this system and probably wont be the last.

whitecat · Jan 29, 2014

Benoit T :

if you can afford GTX 770 , get it .

Onus · Jan 29, 2014

Enermax is a good brand. The GTX770 should be able to max most games for at least a year or three.

what should i upgrade first ?

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