What should be my priority upgrade?

spoplandius · Oct 10, 2015

Seeing the minimum spec for Fallout 4 has made me feel that it's probably time to upgrade. I built this system 2 years ago on a limited budget (and even more limited technical know-how). If you were me,what component(s) should be my priority upgrades? (With moderate prices and modern gaming in mind.) Thanks!

My current system

OS: Windows 7 64bit
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 LE R2.0 Motherboard
CPU: AMD FX-4 4100 4 Core 3.6Ghz Socket AM3+ 8MB L3 Cache Processor
GPU: XFX Radeon HD 7850 Graphics Card 2GB PCI
RAM: Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz Unbuffered CL 11 DIMM
Power: Corsair CX 500W
Storage: 2 x 128 SSD + 250GB HDD (happy with disk space)
No extra cooling other than the fans included with case – have not yet found this to be a problem...

theonerm2 · Oct 10, 2015

Here is what I recommend.
Upgrade to Windows 10 so you can take advantage of DX12.
Switch your motherboard to ASRock H97M Anniversary http://www.outletpc.com/kt2413-asrock-h97m-anniversary-matx-motherboard.html?utm_source=kt2413-asrock-h97m-anniversary-matx-motherboard&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartpicker&utm_content=ASRock%2B-%2BMotherboards%20%3E%20Intel%20LGA1150
Switch your CPU to Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=E3-1231V3B&c=CJ
Upgrade the GPU to a GTX 970 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3NK2LE/?tag=pcpapi-20
Upgrade the Power Supply to Seasonic S12 II Bronze 620W 80Plus Power Supply http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=PSS12II620&c=CJ
Also upgrade to a 1TB HDD http://www.outletpc.com/mb1752.html?utm_source=mb1752&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartpicker&utm_content=Seagate%2B-%2BHard%20Drives%20%26%20SSD%20%3E%20Desktop%20SATA%20Hard%20Drives
That would cost you around $750

The minimum that I would go for is:
Windows 10
Keep your motherboard
Upgrade to an FX 8320 http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=FX-8320BOX&c=CJ
Upgrade to an R9 280x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150678&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
Keep your RAM
Upgrade the Power Supply to Seasonic S12 II Bronze 620W 80Plus Power Supply
Upgrade the HDD to a 1TB drive http://www.outletpc.com/mb1752.html?utm_source=mb1752&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartpicker&utm_content=Seagate%2B-%2BHard%20Drives%20%26%20SSD%20%3E%20Desktop%20SATA%20Hard%20Drives

Those upgrades will cost around $500

All prices are in US dollars. If you live in a different country then prices may be higher.

Now let me explain why you need that many upgrades. Fallout 4 needs a little more powerful CPU than you have and it also needs a little more powerful GPU than you have. There's no way around it you need a new CPU and a new GPU for that game just to meet the bare minimum requirements. Also in order to upgrade that GPU you will need a better quality power supply and the one I picked out is very good quality. Lastly, I know you say you're happy with 250GB of HDD space but I highly recommend at least 1TB because games are huge these days and some games will require 50GB or more HDD space to install. You almost need a whole new computer.

spoplandius · Oct 13, 2015

theonerm2 :

Here is what I recommend.
Upgrade to Windows 10 so you can take advantage of DX12.
Switch your motherboard to ASRock H97M Anniversary http://www.outletpc.com/kt2413-asrock-h97m-anniversary-matx-motherboard.html?utm_source=kt2413-asrock-h97m-anniversary-matx-motherboard&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartpicker&utm_content=ASRock%2B-%2BMotherboards%20%3E%20Intel%20LGA1150
Switch your CPU to Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=E3-1231V3B&c=CJ
Upgrade the GPU to a GTX 970 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3NK2LE/?tag=pcpapi-20
Upgrade the Power Supply to Seasonic S12 II Bronze 620W 80Plus Power Supply http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=PSS12II620&c=CJ
Also upgrade to a 1TB HDD http://www.outletpc.com/mb1752.html?utm_source=mb1752&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartpicker&utm_content=Seagate%2B-%2BHard%20Drives%20%26%20SSD%20%3E%20Desktop%20SATA%20Hard%20Drives
That would cost you around $750

The minimum that I would go for is:
Windows 10
Keep your motherboard
Upgrade to an FX 8320 http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=FX-8320BOX&c=CJ
Upgrade to an R9 280x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150678&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
Keep your RAM
Upgrade the Power Supply to Seasonic S12 II Bronze 620W 80Plus Power Supply
Upgrade the HDD to a 1TB drive http://www.outletpc.com/mb1752.html?utm_source=mb1752&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartpicker&utm_content=Seagate%2B-%2BHard%20Drives%20%26%20SSD%20%3E%20Desktop%20SATA%20Hard%20Drives

Those upgrades will cost around $500

All prices are in US dollars. If you live in a different country then prices may be higher.

Now let me explain why you need that many upgrades. Fallout 4 needs a little more powerful CPU than you have and it also needs a little more powerful GPU than you have. There's no way around it you need a new CPU and a new GPU for that game just to meet the bare minimum requirements. Also in order to upgrade that GPU you will need a better quality power supply and the one I picked out is very good quality. Lastly, I know you say you're happy with 250GB of HDD space but I highly recommend at least 1TB because games are huge these days and some games will require 50GB or more HDD space to install. You almost need a whole new computer.

Thanks that's given me a lot to think about... yeah I was worried about the whole new computer thing.

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What should be my priority upgrade?

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