Upgrade for older PC

Manodriver

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Aug 1, 2014
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Hi my pc is really bottlenecked it never goes pass 70% cpu ussage
Pc spec

CPU : q6600 2.4ghz
RAM: 6gb ddr2
GPU: GT 430 2gb

what to upgrade? my budget is 250$ i would spend it on gpu?
 
Solution
Not the worst unit out there, by far, but not the best either. It's probably fine for now.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story3&reid=84


In my opinion, this would be the best card to pair with your system, but the GTX 760 might be ok too, especially if you want something a little better that is going to be a better long term solution than the 750 TI in the event you upgrade later. You might even be able to go with a higher tiered unit but it will of course be more expensive and THEN you might certainly have a bottleneck with your current CPU. That might be ok though if you plan to upgrade the CPU, motherboard and RAM at some point in the near future. If not, I'd look to the 760 or this...
If it doesn't go past 70% CPU usage, then it's not "bottlenecked". A bottleneck would be 100% CPU usage with relatively low GPU usage. For 250 bucks I'd upgrade the whole shebang since that system really isn't worth upgrading. What country are you in?
 
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To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You could also experiment with removing one core. You can do this in the windows msconfig boot advanced options option. set the number of processors to less than you have.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.
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If you come out, thinking you need a graphics card upgrade, then fine do it.
If you need stronger cpu, you are looking at a new build.
 
Of those, I'd think maybe the 750 TI would be the best fit for your CPU, but it's also going to matter on which model you get and what the model of your current power supply is.

There may be other options available, and again, regardless of which direction you go, knowing what country you're in would help to determine what recommendations we can make according to what's available in your region. Or, a link to the website you prefer to order from.
 
Not the worst unit out there, by far, but not the best either. It's probably fine for now.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story3&reid=84


In my opinion, this would be the best card to pair with your system, but the GTX 760 might be ok too, especially if you want something a little better that is going to be a better long term solution than the 750 TI in the event you upgrade later. You might even be able to go with a higher tiered unit but it will of course be more expensive and THEN you might certainly have a bottleneck with your current CPU. That might be ok though if you plan to upgrade the CPU, motherboard and RAM at some point in the near future. If not, I'd look to the 760 or this:

http://www.pin-computers.hr/article.php?id=1838


 
Solution


That tells me that a graphics upgrade is in order.
A GT430 is about the capability of current integrated graphics.
A GT730(64 bit, not 128 bit) would be a decent upgrade.
If you can manage a GTX 750 or GTX 750ti, that would be a very big jump.
Your FSP 500w is a good unit, it is capable of supporting an even stronger graphics card, like a GTX970, but I think that would be inappropriate for your cpu.