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Best component to upgrade at lowest cost

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  • Components
Last response: in Components
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September 25, 2014 3:36:27 PM

Hi, a friend of mine uses his PC to only play Microsoft Train Simulator, its just been updated to the 2014 version and he is now getting lag/stuttering while playing on anything above low settings. As he only plays this game, so he doesn't want to spend too much to increase performance.

From the PC spec below, could anyone advise on the best component to upgrade please?

Windows 8.1 (x64)
BIOSTAR Group A55MD2 (Socket FM2)
AMD A4-5300 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GT 640
Crucial 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C16 1600MHz
ATAPI iHAS124 1TB Sata (904GB free)
600w PSU

Thanks

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September 25, 2014 3:39:44 PM

Why is there an APU paired with a GT 640? I mean really the CPU,Motherboard and Graphics card could use an update. I would start with the CPU.
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September 25, 2014 4:00:21 PM

Video card and cpu are pretty low-end none gaming devices. suggested is: 8800 GT or better. amd x3 440 or better. yours is below both suggestings. You can try a much better video card, the cpu might be able to keep up.
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September 25, 2014 4:06:44 PM

Might get Athlon ii x4 750K or
Athlon ii x4 740 as an upgrade , that will give you double CPU performance . Then if the games lag , might get a better video card .GT 640 is capable of runnig maybe every game on HD resolution.

http://cpuboss.com/cpus/AMD-Athlon-X4-750k-vs-AMD-A4-53...

both new CPUs are supported by your mobo
http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_...

prices
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad740xokhjbox
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad750kwohjbox
i would get 750K .

Most likely , if the CPU upgrade doesnt help enough , may be you ll need a new rig .

Might run GPU-Z or MSI Afterburner and see the GPU load . If not 100% then , the video card is bottlenecked .

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September 26, 2014 1:53:41 PM

ImDaBaron said:
Why is there an APU paired with a GT 640? I mean really the CPU,Motherboard and Graphics card could use an update. I would start with the CPU.

I have no idea why the company he got the PC from paired them. At least he hasn't gone back to them this time, who knows what they might add. :) 

rockie_ said:
Might get Athlon ii x4 750K or
Athlon ii x4 740 as an upgrade , that will give you double CPU performance . Then if the games lag , might get a better video card .GT 640 is capable of runnig maybe every game on HD resolution.

http://cpuboss.com/cpus/AMD-Athlon-X4-750k-vs-AMD-A4-53...

both new CPUs are supported by your mobo
http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_...

prices
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad740xokhjbox
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad750kwohjbox
i would get 750K .

Most likely , if the CPU upgrade doesnt help enough , may be you ll need a new rig .

Might run GPU-Z or MSI Afterburner and see the GPU load . If not 100% then , the video card is bottlenecked .



Thanks for the help. If he played more than that one game I would defiantly recommend a new rig. I'll get him to start with the CPU and take it from there (",)
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