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Final Decision on PC Hardware Upgrade: Help Needed!

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  • Hardware
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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July 21, 2014 7:42:23 AM

Hi guys..

Back again...:)  the last thread for my hardware got a bit long so I thought I'd summarise here. Sorry to be a pain but It's come down to this...:??: 

My existing system
CPU: AM2 AMD 3400+ or 4200+ (can't remember which)
MOBO: MSI K9 Neo2 Platinum (Nvidia SLI) Nforce 570 SLI
RAM: 3 GIG ---Probably budget version 2GB + 1GB
Sound: Audigy 2 zs 7.1 + Gigaworks 750
GPU: Nvidia 7600 GT 256ram
PSU: Superflower 450W PSU
DVD: LG Bog standard
HD: 250GB SATA

I have just purchased NEW 30" monoprice 2560x1600 monitor and a Zalman Z3 Plus Mid Tower white case.

After a few days of soul searching and budgeting and counting the pennies that I have...or don't have....it's come down to this...

OPTION 1
Upgrade the GPU to a HD5770 1Gig = £40GBP
Upgrade the RAM to 4 X 2gb Samsung = £30 GBP

Total = £70GBP

OPTION 2.

Add another £60 + above £70 £= 130...or at an extreme push, if you recommend, total to £150 and do a total budget upgrade and keep whatever I can (primarily the Sound card and DVD and HD and PSU) Got my new case and Monitor ( 30" monoprice 2560x1600 monitor and a Zalman Z3 Plus Mid Tower white case)

If you guys recommend option 2 and the budget upgrade, could you A) let me know what best system I can get for the budget is and B) in terms of %, if my old system is at 100% in terms of speed what would the new system be, eg. 120%

Really sorry guys but thats all my budget allows, my previous one of £300 was a bit too rushed and not through through.

More opinions and views the better and especially if its to do with the new system build. 85% office stuff and 15% older gaming from 2/3/4 years ago

Thanks
Shef



More about : final decision hardware upgrade needed

July 21, 2014 9:30:36 AM

Option one is a waste. Sorry. Your current system is so old that it doesn't really even qualify as a system. Assuming you are into gaming at all. The 3400 is a single core CPU, and if by chance you have the 4200 x2, that's an ancient dual core. Putting a faster GPU in there and buying old DDR2 ram that won't carry over to a new rig is a waste of money. So either do option 2, or just keep saving the money.

Seeing as you are across the pond from me I'm not sure what's best. PCpartpicker can help you probably. Any modern Pentium, i3, or 4300 is a good idea. 4-8GBs of DDR3 ram, with a cheap board would be a great boost. Literally 200-300% faster then what you have now. Should be a night and day difference.
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