Need Help Upgrading

SovietFred · Sep 14, 2014

So I know I should've built a PC instead of buying a Dell but I got it for like $600-$650 on sale from it's $1000+ regular price so I thought it would be worthwhile. It's been a solid PC for a few years but I think it's time to upgrade. I get around 30-50FPS in Battlefield 3 on PC on medium but I used to be able to run it at that FPS range on high so something may be weighing my PC down as well. Other games are around that FPS range on high and I can run Skyrim on Ultra High with that FPS range for some reason. You'd think Skyrim is more intensive than Minecraft but oh well.

Basically I was going to buy the parts on Black Friday to get a really nice deal and my budget is around $150-$200 but I can go higher. Any suggestions? I kind of have a preference towards AMD but I don't care too much about the company. I'd just like to run games like Battlefield on High or Ultra High with at least stable 60FPS in combat.

I've been recommended a few GPUs and a PSU but I'm completely new to PC building so I don't know what's best. I will 100% be buying it on Black Friday to get the best deal.

I'm aware I may need to get 2gb more RAM, I need a new GPU, new CPU, new PSU, and possibly a new motherboard.

Also I was wondering if there's a place where I can sell my current parts if I upgrade them so I get some of my money back?

I've been looking at a few cards, is this a good pair or can I do better?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121867&cm_re=amd_graphics_card-_-14-121-867-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139048&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

Specs:

CPU-- 2.8GHz AMD Phenom II X6 1055T

Motherboard chipset -- AMD 780G

Memory -- 6GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM

Graphics -- 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5870

Hard drives -- 1.5TB 7,200 rpm

Operating system -- Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

okcnaline · Sep 14, 2014

$200 won't get you ANYTHING.
1st: Your GPU needs to really change. Up to a R9 270X, which is the best card for budget.
2nd: You need a new CPU. Perhaps a FX-8320 once you get enough money.

Do the GPU first. That's a needed upgrade. And I'll actually recommend going Intel for the GPU if you have enough money.

kunthakenthe · Sep 14, 2014

only thing in thier thats worth selling is the gpu and maybe the hdd. you may also be able to sell that cpu is someones looking for it. I would upgrade a to a r9 270/r9 270x(~160$/180$) or r9 280(~190-200$) or r7 265(110$). then that cpu and mobo have to go maybe to a fx 6300/970 or fx 8320/990fx mobo if on budget or i5/i7 on a z97 mobo. then just upgrade to a 650w/750w for upgrading capabiltiy and security or a 500/550w would be sufficent but anything needing more power will need the psu to be replaced.

SovietFred · Sep 16, 2014

If I were to go with this setup, would it be good? I need to find a PSU and possibly a 2GB stick of RAM so that'd run me around $400 if I were to buy it now. Any estimate on how much I could get all of that for on Black Friday since that's when I'll be buying it.

Also shouldn't I get a GPU with 3gb rather than 2gb? I'll probably skip the SSD this time around and get it later on in 2015 since the bill is already pretty high so far.

CPU-- AMD FX-8320 Vishera 8-Core 3.5GHz

Motherboard chipset -- ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 AM3+ AMD 990FX

Memory -- 6GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM

Graphics -- MSI R9 270X GAMING 2G Radeon R9 270X 2GB

Hard drives -- 1.5TB 7,200 rpm

Operating system -- Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

okcnaline · Sep 16, 2014

Yes, this is good.
And 3GB is useless at this price range, since none of the GPU would have that much. This is the best for that price.

kunthakenthe · Sep 17, 2014

thats good keep the hdd, get the r9 270x(r9 280 maybe price will lower has 3gb and is better than 270x) 2gb will be sufficent enough at this price range will still playing ultra on certain titles. thats a nice build and i feel unbeatable for the price on black friday this would be my estimate

fx 8320- ~100$

asus sabertooth(no need for this mobo unless extreme overclocking or the such get a asrock or gigabyte mobo)~$130$

memory- get 8gb unlessl you already have 6gb then dont buy a 2gb ram stick keep the amout you have dont mix ram sticks

r9-270x- ~110$, r9 280- ~140$

SovietFred · Sep 21, 2014

How worthwhile is the warranty on all of the parts and is there a serious risk to installing the parts wrong or is it generally simple to follow a tutorial on replacing/installing new parts.

kunthakenthe · Sep 21, 2014

just read up well and watch videos/tutorials to see how to install each part and you should be fine. You should get a anti-static wristband/mat/etc to not overvolt your parts by accident(your body stores eltricity and when you hold a cpu,gpu,etc it releases to much). They all should have 2-3yr warranty minnimum that will cover the damage.

tiny voices · Sep 21, 2014

Don't even mess with an anti-static wrist band. I have seen them do more harm then good in the hangs of noobs. It is VERY hard to hurt PC parts with static. MUCH harder than people want you to think.

kunthakenthe · Sep 21, 2014

yeah but it depends is he on carpet im pretty sure it could hurt the parts then. Also may the mat would be better for you then since your a noob.

tiny voices · Sep 21, 2014

I have done 20+ builds on my bed standing on carpet, and never had a problem.

People blow static WAY out of proportion. 15 years ago? yeah it mattered. Now? not really.

kunthakenthe · Sep 21, 2014

oh sorry man just people still make a big deal out of it and i thought it still did matter though i know mobos are way more resistant.

tiny voices · Sep 21, 2014

Its all good. Always better to be safe, it is just not a big deal anymore really.

SovietFred · Sep 24, 2014

I have hard wood floors in my room so I should be okay, I can touch a few doorknobs to make sure I don't have any static on me. Any other precautions I should take?

SovietFred · Sep 25, 2014

How does this look? I didn't know which motherboard to go with so if that needs to change please recommend a new one.

Also I need a power supply that's 700W I suppose, could I get a recommendation for that?

Current Specs:

CPU-- 2.8GHz AMD Phenom II X6 1055T

Motherboard chipset -- AMD 780G

Memory -- 6GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM

Graphics -- 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5870

Hard drives -- 1.5TB 7,200 rpm

Operating system -- Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Upgrading To:

CPU: AMD FX-8320 Vishera 8-Core 3.5GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113285

Motherboard: I picked a random one, maybe need a change. ASRock 960GC-GS FX AM3+/AM3/AM2+ AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157469&cm_re=asrock_amd_motherboard-_-13-157-469-_-Product

Memory: Not upgrading, keeping the current(6GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM)

GPU: ASUS DirectCU II R9280-DC2T-3GD5 Radeon R9 280 3GB 384-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121867&cm_re=r9_280-_-14-121-867-_-Product

HDD: Not upgrading, keeping the current(1.5TB 7,200 rpm)

PSU: ????????

tiny voices · Sep 25, 2014

Get an xfx650 for the PSU. That motherboard is worse than your current board. You need a 970 chipset board.

kunthakenthe · Sep 25, 2014

you need a 970(cheaper, still good for 8xxx's)/990fx(if you want a good overclock and better stability) .

keep the ram,

get a hyper evo 212 if you want to try overclocking or maybe a noctua d14/15 for a really good overclock.

That is a great gpu for the budget plus it play ultra 60fps its a great card.

you could try saving up 100$ more and getting a 970 which is like a 780ti/780 but thats only if you want.

you could also try adding a extra 80$ to the budget and getting a samsung evo 840 120gb for (70-80$). Getting the ssd will provide a huge speed improvement over your hdd but then again its optional.

For the psu i recommend evga's 750's/850w's(remember more power is always good if its a reasonable amount like 200watts extra. and psus dont always draw thier max watts. for example a 1000w will not always suck 1000W from your wall socket only when 1000w is needed.)

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-110b20850v1 850w

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-110b20750vr 750w

this is the cheaper bronze, semi modular psu the higher end, gold, fully modular version is like 20-30$ more. They both come with 10yr warranties.

tiny voices · Sep 25, 2014

An r9 280 will certainly not run all games at ultra at 1080 at 60fps. Most AAA games will run at high to meet the 60fps requirement.

650w is plenty here. The MOST I would go is 750w for CF.

kunthakenthe · Sep 26, 2014

tiny voices :

not all games but a lot of popular games it will.

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014/06/09/msi_radeon_r9_280_gaming_oc_video_card_review/4#.VCT36CXXoxA

http://www.techspot.com/review/827-watch-dogs-benchmarks/page3.html

tiny voices · Sep 26, 2014

^ basically every one of those benchmarks for 1080p ultra settings are below 60fps and many are below 50fps. Definitely not maxing those games. You would be playing them at high in order to lock at 60fps, for a much smoother experience.

SovietFred · Sep 30, 2014

High is fine for me honestly as long as I get 60+ fps and the parts last a couple years at least.

So this is what I have so far, can someone look it over and tell me if it's all set? It's a bit out of budget but hopefully on black friday I'll be able to get it around $400.

Is the GPU okay or can I do better for the price? Also the PSU seems a bit pricey but I'm not sure.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Lg8Lpg

kunthakenthe · Sep 30, 2014

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($28.49 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280 3GB Dual-X Video Card ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 850W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $503.45
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-30 19:48 EDT-0400

tiny voices · Sep 30, 2014

Looks good to me.

kunthakenthe · Sep 30, 2014

SovietFred :

thats a good priced psu, especially for the quality and 10yr warranty with it. also that gpu is gold for price performance.

SovietFred · Sep 30, 2014

My friend also recommended getting 2 cards and doing I think it's called crossfireX? It's that worth it or should I stick to this single gpu?

Need Help Upgrading

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