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Jcor50

Jcor50

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Aug 13, 2013
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3.6 GHz FX-series Quad core FX 4100 processer 8 Gb of ram1024 gb hardrive nvidia gt610 graphics processor
these are my specs now. I want to know if upgrading the computer I have now is better than me spending 800 dollars on a new computer is better. I want to get a computer that can play all games on high settings. thank you
 
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R
Sure, with no OC, stick with the bundled cooler.

IMHO you won't be 'maxing' all games. That CPU will be holding you back somewhat. But it's a good build and should serve you well.

Have fun!
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rhysiam

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The main thing holding your computer back is that gt610 GPU. That's not capable of serious gaming at all.

Have a look at the latest 'Best Video Cards for your money' article here on Toms and see what suits you best. The only thing you'll need to check is that your PSU (power supply) is up to the task of powering a decent video card. If you're unsure, post make and model here and someone will let you know.

With a decent graphics card that machine will game just fine.
 
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rhysiam

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It's no inconvenience for me. But I can't help you with your question without the make and model of your powersupply. You may need to take it out (probably not unplug it, just find an angle where you can get the specs). Otherwise we can't really help you.

The only option without knowing your PSU would be a Nvidia GTX 750Ti. It's powered solely by the PCIe bus and should be able to run on pretty much any powersupply. However, you're paying for an efficient card rather than a fast one. It won't play 'all games on high settings'.

Just to be clear, you probably can't quite play 'all games on high settings' with an FX4100 and an R9 270 either. You'd probably have to step up to a faster CPU and GPU. However, I'd suggest, at 1080p, (if you can confirm your PSU will handle it), that CPU and GPU combo is pretty decent and will play a good deal of modern games at high settings, for a pretty small upgrade cost.
 
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Jcor50

Jcor50

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I am willing to spend 400 dollars to improve my pc.I just really want to play every game on high settings. Especially upcoming games. I need to know what i'm looking for on my psu. like a number or something. Then I can let you know what kind it is. I am just afraid that I will upgrade and I won't be able to play on high or it will play on high but in a year I will have to upgrade again because the games are so demanding. let me know about the psu and what best. thank you
 
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rhysiam

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Somewhere on your PSU there will be a Brand Name (Like "Corsair") and a Model Number. That's what we'll need. Alternatively, if you still have the specs from whoever you bought the computer from, it might be listed there too.

The FX4100 CPU you have is a reasonable one, but not high end. The reason I'm recommending a decent mid range GPU is because they'll be about right for each other and will give you very decent performance for a very small investment (less than $200 for the Graphics Card, + add another $60-80 if you do need a PSU).

To get up to the next tier of performance you'd have to upgrade the CPU ($200+) and step up to a higher tier GPU (add another $100 to the GPU suggested above). In that case you'll almost certainly need a better PSU too... add another $100. In other words, you're looking at $600, and that'll give you maybe %40 performance improvement (that's just a rough guess) for 2-3 times the cost.

That's why I'm suggesting a small investment now, then start saving for your next build when this one runs out of steam. When you move from mid range gear (which is the build I'm suggesting) to high end, cost increases much more substantially than performance.
 
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rhysiam

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What makes you think it's Corsair? There are no Corsair models with that model name. A bit of work with Google tells me it might be this one? http://www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/1762/cyberpower-psu.jpg
It seems to be bundled with CyberPower PCs. Do you have one of those?

If it is that PSU, I can't find any reviews, but the 450W model from the same company is downright dangerous. See here: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Apevia-Turbolink-ATX-TL450W-BK-Power-Supply-Review/1212/9

Without further info, I'd be recommending you upgrade your powersupply and GPU. Check something like a Corsair CX430 if you want to go as cheap as you can (will run your current system with an upgraded graphics card, but no headroom for high end video cards or a second mid range card in future).
Or something like a Corsair CX600W or Seasonic 620W if you're prepared to spend a little more money to give you more options to expand in future. You're still looking at less than a $300 investment for a massive increase in performance over your current setup. I'm happy to link to a couple of recommended PSUs if you have a preferred retailer?
 
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Jcor50

Jcor50

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yup that's the one. I want to spend 400 for a much better graphics card psu. I really hope that's enough to play the games I couldn't play and upcoming games on not necessarily ultra settings but high settings. I understand pc are usually very demanding. An example of the games I do want to play in the future are far cry 4 and grand theft auto 5. I appreciate your help and any suggestions on what would be best is greatly appreciated. thank you very much
 
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rhysiam

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I feel like I've make suggestions above and I stand by them. Are you happy with the suggestions I've made or do you have questions/concerns? I feel like I'm just saying the same thing all over again, but I'll have a go at justifying my suggestions again:

The whole system is low-mid range. Unless you have the cash to fork over for an entirely new system, you won't always be able to game on high settings.

However, the good news is that the majority of the system is still reasonable. The only thing that's holding you back from a decent gaming experience is your video card, it's an absolute bottom of the line. That's why your gaming has been so terrible.

I've suggested above and I stand by my suggestion: buy a decent PSU (powersupply) and a decent mid-range graphics card. That'll give you a perfectly decent and well balanced gaming machine. It'll be miles and miles ahead of your current set up which is totally hamstrung by the video card. If you get the R9 270 I suggested above you'll have a system which is faster than both the PS4 and XBone. You also have the option of buying a CPU cooler and overclocking the CPU (once you have a better powersupply). Google overclocking if you want to find out more.

Here's what I'd do:
- Decent PSU - Corsair CS600W (that's a steal currently at only $50 including MIR) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028
- Decent Graphics Card - R9 270 - $180 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127769
OPTIONAL, if you want to have a go at Overclocking:
- CPU Cooler, CM 212 EVO ($35).
ONCE DONE: You have a decent mid range gaming system.

LATER: when you find it's not cutting it for you anymore. Sell your current system (you could put your old 610 Graphics card and PSU back in the machine and keep the upgrades for your new build) - and build yourself a new system.

You have other options, but that's what I'd do.
 
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Jcor50

Jcor50

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Ok thank you so much. I will be sure to purchase those items. yeah my gaming experience now is very crappy and I thank you for helping me out. One last question. I am happy with playing games on medium settings I just want to know in your best judgment when do you think I would need to upgrade again after this. when I can barely play games on low/normal settings. I want it to last as long as possible. thanks for the help
 
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rhysiam

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Can I just confirm, is your monitor resolution 1080p? (1920x1080?) I did ask previously but didn't get an answer. If it's significantly different from that then my recommendations might change.

When will you need to upgrade? That's a pretty hard question to answer. As a guess, I would think you'll be able to get decent framerates from most games at medium settings or better for 2 years or so. But that's just a guess.
 
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Jcor50

Jcor50

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im actually getting
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?gclid=COmhn4XT970CFYqIfgodAooAsg&Item=N82E16817151094&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Power+Supplies-_-N82E16817151094&ef_id=U1gAxgAABObosBYl:20140423222404:s

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?gclid=CIv26JrS970CFcWTfgod0WcAYQ&Item=N82E16814130933&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Desktop+Graphics+Cards-_-N82E16814130933&ef_id=U1gAxgAABObosBYl:20140423222020:s
I am going to upgrade my CPU in October. I am definitely getting those 2.
 
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rhysiam

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That's a good card. The only issue is that you're now pairing a fairly high end graphics card with a mid-low end system. In your current situation, your CPU is totally hamstrung by the graphics card. If you jump up to a GTX 770, you're likely to often have the opposite situation, where the graphics card can't really stretch it's legs as it'll be frequently waiting on the CPU. You'll still have a good gaming performance, but you won't be getting the best bang-for-buck as the graphics card won't be fully utilised to its potential.

You do have the option of saving (or spending now) on an updgrade CPU too. You could go to an 8350 for ~$200 (something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113284), which would be a better fit for a GTX 770.
If that's of interest to you now or in the future, might be worth looking at this thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1665938/amd-4100-8350-intel.html
There's a bit of debate about whether it'll really make any appreciable difference.

My only advice, if you do want to upgrade to a 8350 CPU and OC it, you should look at a better cooler. The one I suggested is a good fit for OCing a 4100, but not an 8350, they get hooooot!

Just bear in mind that the best bang-for-buck comes in the mid range. If you're looking to step up to a 770 and 8350 you'll get better performance for sure, but the % of money invested goes up faster than the % of performance gained.
 
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Jcor50

Jcor50

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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?gclid=COmhn4...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?gclid=CIv26J...
so what if I went with this. I want this because it will allow me to play all games on high settings for under 400. I want to keep it under 400 so I can get a game. Is it ok if I went this route?
 
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rhysiam

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I like those choices. They look good. You'll be in an entirely different world to the one provided by that dire GT610 you're stuck on at the moment!

RE The CPU upgrade, might be a good idea, but do check out this thread (I linked above too): http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1665938/amd-4100-8350-intel.html
It's a little dated now but the debate is still relevant.

Also, if you want to OC a high end AMD FX chip, don't get the Hyper EVO cooler I suggested above - you'll need a higher end CPU cooler. It'll run fine at stock clocks on the bundled cooler, but OC'd those chips need some serious heat removal.
 
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Jcor50

Jcor50

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now what if I don't get any cooler. Do I need one? what's the worst that can happen?

 
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rhysiam

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If you don't overclock, the cooler that comes bundled with the CPU is absolutely fine. But don't overclock without an aftermarket cooler. OCing increases heat (sometimes dramatically) and the bundled coolers are not designed to handle it.

Overclocking is a time consuming process to begin with. You need to be prepared to do your reading, carefully follow guides and patiently step through process to find the right OC for your system. The plus side is you get extra performance for no $$s, though it does cost a little extra heat, electricity, noise and potentially risk. I understand lots of those FX4100s OC pretty well, you're likely to be CPU bound in some gaming situations, so an OC would improve performance a little. Only you can decide whether it's worth it.

Oh... I forgot to mention. If you do get a CPU cooler, make sure it'll fit in your case. The air coolers can be quite large and need sufficient clearance and water coolers need mounting points for the radiator. Just check the specs carefully before you purchase anything.
 
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Jcor50

Jcor50

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well I don't plan on overclocking at all. I feel that with these parts I listed I will be able to play pretty much all games on max settings. even more when I change the CPU. You can correct me if I'm wrong on that.

 
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