Advice for a first time PC builder/upgrading my gaming PC

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Goza377

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Aug 27, 2014
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Thanks in advance!

I have recently bought a new computer so that I could get my feet wet in the PC gaming world. It was a cheap custom built one that I found, Here are the specs:
CPU - Intel Core 2 duo E8500 3.16 GHZ x 2 /6 mb L2 Cache/ 1333 FSB

RAM - 4 gigs DDR 2 6400

VIDEO CARD - AMD RAIDEON HD 6850 1GIG GDDR 5 256 bit graphics DIRECT X 11/dual dvi ports/ dual display ports/ 1 hdmi port

OPTICAL DRIVE - DVD - ROM

HARD DRIVE - 250 GIG

ON BOARD - USB PORTS/1394 PORTS/VGA/HD AUDIO 7.1 SUROUND SOUND/EITHERNET

WIRELESS - WIRELESS CONNECTION INCLUDED

OPERATING SYSTEM - Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

I am sure this would be considered a lower end gaming computer, but it plays games like the Just Cause 2, company of heros 2 and others just fine. But I would eventually like to play newer games on this system.
Which poses the question which order should I upgrade my components in, because like most people I don't have the money to do everything at once, but would like to know where to start and where to continue from there. I know it may be a while down the road but I would like to be able to play games like Titan Fall, Ryse and the like.

Also as a side note to this, I have a laptop that I don't use any more that has a Intel core i5 processor, is that something i could simply takeout and put into this computer? Or do laptop and desktop components don't match? or is there a whole range of things I would have to consider to know if its compatible to do?
 
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor (£96.40 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£25.28 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard (£64.90 @ CCL Computers)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£59.98 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£35.94 @ Aria PC)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£58.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £341.49
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available...
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Proofy

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Aug 19, 2014
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No you can't take cpu out of laptop and put it in the computer.

you could play those games on the lowest settings with everything on low. I wouldn't spend money to upgrade that PC i would just sell it if I could sell it to anyone and buy a new one.. You can get really nice computer for 600$

What is your motherboard in that computer ?
Your best component is graphic card luckily, however if you want to install new games on that computer your cpu will bottleneck your graphic card.
 
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npsgaming

npsgaming

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Mar 31, 2009
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Hi Goza377!

The system you bought is based on the LGA775 socket from Intel and most likely a G41 chipset. This means one of your upgrades is going to be a big one :/ . At some point you will have to simultaneously upgrade your motherboard, cpu, and ram. This is a large portion of the computer at one time. It unfortunately cannot be done any other way. This upgrade group can cost on the low side $150 for a basic processor, current gen board, and 4Gb of current Ram (DDR3 or DDR4 shortly).

However all hope is not lost!

You can definitely upgrade your other devices in the meantime. A larger power supply, a better/larger case if needed, a solid state drive (SSD) are all good upgrades you can do one at a time without having to worry about the part going out of date before finishing the upgrade. Upgrades such as: video cards, cpus, and motherboards can be tricky especially in a phased upgrade as they can be outdated by the time you're ready to upgrade the next component.

TL;DR

1. Get a good PSU
2. Get a Solid State Drive
3. Get a better/bigger case (if necessary)
4. Bite the bullet and upgrade your CPU, RAM, Motherboard at one time. It will be expensive by comparison but it needs to be done simultaneously.
5. Upgrade the GPU to a "current" or "previous" generation video card. Until this is upgraded the previous upgrade to your CPU/Ram/Mobo will most likely be bottlenecked.
 
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Goza377

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Not sure of the Mother Board, I can find that out when i get home though. But would it not be possible to buy components separately and upgrade a little at a time. Obviously taking much longer to get a complete upgraded computer, but as I don't have typically 600$ to spend at one time this may be my most economical route to upgrade slowly. So you mentioned my cpu being a bottleneck at this point, could I just buy a new up to date CPU and put it in myself, or is there a bunch of compatibility issues i would run into?
 
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Proofy

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Yes npsgaming has a point however I wouldn't go for SSD on the second place SSD is not so important for games... This is what I would do

1. Get better PSU (650W or higher)
when you get more money 2. CPU/Motherboard/RAM (suggest FX 8320, GA-990FXA-UD3, 2x4GB 1600MHz)
3. Get better case (midi case is enough) with nice airflow
4. Get SSD (120GB minimum)
5. Get better graphics (why I have put it on the last place is because your current graphics will be able to run all new games on mid-ish video settings)

Your motherboard can't take any newer CPU that you could buy because it is not compatible.
 
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Goza377

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Is the reason the CPU, Mother board and Ram need to be upgraded all at once because they all come attached together? or they all need to be compatible so buying one one really affect anything? I am just trying to understand why those couldnt be bought separately.

 
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Proofy

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I still don't get it why you force SSD on second place because SSD price is getting lower and lower every 2 months... and with this CPU/Motherboard/RAM he will be able to get good performance in gaming for the next 5 years. Like I said SSD has nothing to do with performance in gaming so I definitely wouldn't put it on second place

They all need to be compatible.. that's why you buy them together
 
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npsgaming

npsgaming

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Not sure of the Mother Board, I can find that out when i get home though. But would it not be possible to buy components separately and upgrade a little at a time. Obviously taking much longer to get a complete upgraded computer, but as I don't have typically 600$ to spend at one time this may be my most economical route to upgrade slowly. So you mentioned my cpu being a bottleneck at this point, could I just buy a new up to date CPU and put it in myself, or is there a bunch of compatibility issues i would run into?
Click to expand...

The problem is with socket compatibility. Newer processors do not use LGA775 but rather LGA1150 or AM3+. Newer processors also do not support DDR2 memory. With this problem the motherboard (which has the socket on it), the cpu, and memory must be done at one time. It isn't pretty and certainly does present a tough obstacle especially for progressive upgrade paths (one part at a time). If you choose to do these one by one it can lead to more compatibility problems and maybe even an inoperable system until the next upgrade.

You can always try to find a previous generation setup on Ebay or Craigslist. I still use a first generation Core i7 I got from a computer scrap yard for $15. Local computer shops may have older parts that are going out the door or that nobody bought from their shelves. Being friends with these shops is a great way to get parts for little or no cost!
 
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Goza377

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Excellent information for me guys, Looks like we agree on a PSU first, My computer has a fairly large case with good air flow already so I think i will then bite the bullet and upgrade the cpu, mother board and ram. Any suggestions on what i should get for the PSU?
Also any suggestions for the mother board,ram, cpu? I would like to play newer generation games so any info you could set me up would allow me to at least start looking and start saving towards something.
 
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Proofy

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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor (£96.40 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£25.28 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard (£64.90 @ CCL Computers)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£59.98 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£35.94 @ Aria PC)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£58.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £341.49
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-27 14:46 BST+0100

There you go.. post a new thread when you decide to buy SSD as the price will drop so we will be able to suggest good one then... as in this moment would buy Samsung evo 120GB SSD, same goes for the graphic card, you are good for now, graphic cards are most expensive part in the computer for gamers

PS: you don't have to buy CPU cooler right away, but it is kinda cheap and really good :D
 
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sora

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+1, this is a great build for the price!
 
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