Upgrading an old PC - where to start?

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jsimpson

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Apr 5, 2014
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Hi everyone,

I will start by saying that I am a complete novice to this kind of thing, so your help is much appreciated!

I would like to upgrade my Dell Optiplex 960 (from 2009 ish) so it generally runs faster. Being able to run games on it e.g. Flight Simulator X and Battlefield 4, would be a huge bonus.

Here is the current spec of the PC:

OS: Windows Vista 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 @ 3.33GHz
RAM: 4.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 398MHz
Motherboard: Dell Inc. 0F428D (CPU)
Graphics: 512MB Matrox M9140 LP PCIe x16 - currently running 2 Hanns G HX191 monitors using a standard VGA adapter from the card.

Where should I start to get the maximum increase in performance? If I install a good graphics card, do I risk 'bottlenecking' the CPU?

Any help or advice appreciated - thanks.
 
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T
Well if you want price based on performance gain, then you've gotta build a new PC. Otherwise, best performance I can see is keeping the RAM, adding another 4GB RAM (not as important), changing out the motherboard for one that can unlock that C2D and overclock it with a new 750Ti for video. However, considering BF4, a multithreaded application IIRC, was what you were looking for performance in, you might want to go with a Q6600 and overclock that one. In total this could cost $300, and you'd get what you want and nothing more out of FSX and BF4. Medium to high quality by my guess, and there's a good chance you'll end up needing used parts. I don't usually trust Ebay for parts that don't last as long such as hard drives or power...
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zeph_yr

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Jan 2, 2014
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Yes, if you install a big graphics card you'll bottleneck your CPU. A GTX 750 is probably the highest you can go without bottlenecking it. The 750 will also run on the dinky power supply your computer has.

Unfortunately there's really nothing else you can upgrade without spending 200+. Upgrade the CPU, and you'll also have to upgrade the motherboard and ram. Upgrade the graphics card to something past a gtx 750, and you'll need a bigger power supply.
 
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The Letter Mu

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Feb 17, 2014
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If you get a decent card like a 750Ti, you could match it with a Q6600, if you don't want to swap out your motherboard. That's $200 even right there. Another 4GB DDR2 RAM would do well as well. You won't be running max settings on BF4, though it'll still be playable. I've seen some videos of Q6600's on BF4 and they weren't too bad.

EDIT: Seeing that it's a non-retail board I'm assuming that your processor would be locked, so technically you'd be running a lot slower on a Q6600. So the big question is, how much are you willing to pay?
 
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jsimpson

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Apr 5, 2014
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How much I'd be willing to pay would really depend on whether the performance improvement would be worth it. I suppose anything would be better than what I've got at the moment - it got a 3D graphics score on Performance Test of 27...
 
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The Letter Mu

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Feb 17, 2014
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Well if you want price based on performance gain, then you've gotta build a new PC. Otherwise, best performance I can see is keeping the RAM, adding another 4GB RAM (not as important), changing out the motherboard for one that can unlock that C2D and overclock it with a new 750Ti for video. However, considering BF4, a multithreaded application IIRC, was what you were looking for performance in, you might want to go with a Q6600 and overclock that one. In total this could cost $300, and you'd get what you want and nothing more out of FSX and BF4. Medium to high quality by my guess, and there's a good chance you'll end up needing used parts. I don't usually trust Ebay for parts that don't last as long such as hard drives or power supplies, though I've never had issues with a used CPU. Just look for high feedback ratings, and warranties, as well as English speakers. Auctions aren't always bad ideas either, especially when you end up being the only person that wants something (I once picked up two Q6600 SLACRs for $20; free shipping).

So, new PC? Or used for half the price? :)
 
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