Help: Upgrade current build or save+buy new build

iiiusion · Jun 30, 2015

Hey guys, this is my current build:

This pc is 4-5 years old. I use it to play games such as league of legends and swtor(a mmo). It used to be good, same games are slower now.

Currently swtor is laggy and often fragmented jumping from frame to frame. LoL is still fine.

I have a budget of around $300 to upgrade this existing build, or I could save up $5-600 to buy a completely new pc focused on gaming.

My question is: Is this current build worth upgrading? I'd spend $150 upgrading it if I could get away with it but $300 is fine as well.

Also: If I should buy a new PC, can someone recommend me a build (or components) in the $5-600 range that would perform optimally (for gaming)? Is $5-600 usd even enough for a reasonable PC that doesn't lag all over the place?

Thanks!

quilciri · Jun 30, 2015

Hi there.

I don't see anything for what your current build is, please try posting it again.

Ryarwood99 · Jun 30, 2015

Could you save up the $5-600 to upgrade this build instead of buying a whole new one? You will need a new CPU and GPU l, but by using this build you'll save on case, drives and possibly PSU (It depends on what type)

boosted1g · Jun 30, 2015

Is this pc an OEM (dell, hp, etc) or a custom built?
If custom built what is the case, and what is the power supply?

If OEM, what is the model number of the PC?

Upgrading the current internals will do little to nothing as it is very old pc, but you may be able to reuse the case, power supply, dvd drive, and hard drive. Then all you would need is a new motherboard, cpu, ram and GPU. $400-500 range in upgrades would be a big step up.

iiiusion · Jun 30, 2015

quilciri :

sorry the picture must of not loaded for you or Boosted and thers, these are my stats:

Copyright @ 2009 Microsoft Corporation

Processor: Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU E5800 @ 3.20GHz 3.20GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 8.00GB
System type: 64-bit Operating System

Display Adapters: AMD Radeon HD6670

I think that's all the main stuff unless I'm missing something.

So you guys recommend I keep this, and save and spend 5-600 upgrading / replacing the stuff in it? Keep in mind it is 4-5 years old though.

Which CPU/ graphics card should I get? is there any chance someone can link me or perhaps just a name of the components I should purchase?

Ryarwood99 · Jun 30, 2015

PSU? You could get a 970 along with a i5 4460 and a decent h97 MoBo. I'll link in a minute.

Ryarwood99 · Jun 30, 2015

Take a look at this: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/QdB8XL

Ryarwood99 · Jun 30, 2015

I left you room to upgrade PSU if needed

quilciri · Jul 1, 2015

You can potentially do both! You video card is sufficient for swtor and MOBA games like LoL, but the CPU is causing you issues right now.

What is the make and model of your motherboard? If it supports Core 2 chips, you can pick up a Core 2 Quad Q9400 from ebay for $30. That will give you a big boost in those games while you save for a new system.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-2-QUAD-Q9400-LGA-775-Desktop-CPU-Processor-2-66Ghz-6M-1333Mhz-/261950920602?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cfd7dd79a

Cheers!

iiiusion · Jul 1, 2015

is this the motherboard information?

if can't see,
manufacturer: FOXCONN
ModelG41MXE-V 1.0
Chipset Intel G41 A3
LPCIO IT8720

quilciri · Jul 1, 2015

Yup, you're golden. Make sure your BIOS is at least the version listed, otherwise flash the BIOS up to the necessary version. I think it already might be since there's only one BIOS version on record for that motherboard.

http://www.foxconnsupport.com/cpusupportlist.aspx?type=mb&socket=Socket+775&model=G41MXE&cputype=Intel

MOBA's and MMO's tend to be CPU-intensive, going from a Pentium D to a core 2 quad will be a significant jump in performance.

*you'll probably need to spend another $8 on a tube of thermal paste if you don't have some on hand.

Cheers!

iiiusion · Jul 1, 2015

This core 2 Quad right?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-2-QUAD-Q9400-LGA-775-Desktop-CPU-Processor-2-66Ghz-6M-1333Mhz-/261950920602?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cfd7dd79a

Wow thanks alot! I think I'm going to save for now and just get the cpu till the future, and keep the list of parts from Ryarwood stickied.

The cpu and thermal paste.. are they easy to install within the computer? I'll probably youtube it or get someone local to install them if anything so minor issue. very much appreciated for the price I'll post again after checking the performance increase

Ryarwood99 · Jul 1, 2015

The fan that comes with the i5 should come pre applied with thermal compound. You should just be able to push the pins (since its intel) into the Motherboard.

quilciri · Jul 1, 2015

We're not talking about an I5.

Yup, that's the right one, iiiusion. Applying thermal paste and re-mounting the cooler assembly only has a few steps, it just takes a bit of time. Here's tom's tutorial (and the page before has info about which paste to buy as well:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermal-paste-heat-sink-heat-spreader,3600-5.html

Since that deals with new, aftermarket coolers instead of used ones, there is one more step you'll need to take - before you mount the heatsink to your new processor, clean off the old thermal paste with isopropyl alcohol and a clean towel (I use paper towel for this, make sure you get all the paper towel residue off if you do it this way) and allow it to dry first.

Ryarwood99 · Jul 1, 2015

Yep, I realized that afterwards, sorry!

quilciri · Jul 1, 2015

No worries!

iiiusion · Jul 8, 2015

Hey, I've run into a bit of an issue if anyone could help me out.

So I bought the new processor, (have to scroll down to see it) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-2-QUAD-Q9400-LGA-775-Desktop-CPU-Processor-2-66Ghz-6M-1333Mhz-/261950920602?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cfd7dd79a and took it to a local store to get it installed

The person helping me said my current processor:
(pentium (R) Dual-Core CPU E5800 @ 3.20GHz) would be faster than the one I had bought:
( Intel Core 2 QUAD Q9400 LGA 775 Desktop CPU Processor 2.66Ghz 6M 1333Mhz ) because 3.20 GHz is faster than 2.66Ghz.

He said he'd do it anyway but that if anything it would slow it down rather than speed it up. Is this true?

Ryarwood99 · Jul 8, 2015

In alot of MMOs and some other games they only use 1 thread, so he is right in a sense but if you only have 2 cores and you have your game open plus a couple other processes and apps then they'll be cutting into your gaming cores speed slowing it down. Where if you have a quad core then you don't have to worry about it.

quilciri · Jul 8, 2015

Holy crap. No Ryarwood, he's not right in any sense. That tech doesn't have a damn clue what he's talking about. (pardon my french). It scares me that he has a job recommending PC parts; what he said indicates massive incompetence.

Raw ghz hasn't been the main determinant of CPU speed for almost a decade now.

To be clear, a Yorkfield core 2 quad Q9400 @ 2.66 ghz is faster than a 3.2 ghz Wolfdale dual-core pentium E5800 at everything.

Does the tech think your 3.2 ghz pentium would be faster than a 3.0 ghz Haswell I5 as well?

iiiusion · Jul 8, 2015

Posting from cell, thanks for the reassurance because he was really swearing by me keeping it just off the ghz. It really goes to show since he does work in a comp shop.anyway im having it put in now thanks again

quilciri · Jul 8, 2015

Oh, and tom's has a handy chart to compare CPU's for gaming:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html

quilciri · Jul 8, 2015

Is there anyone else that can put the CPU in for you besides him?

Help: Upgrade current build or save+buy new build

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