Need help picking upgrades.

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
P

Patrick Tweedie

Reputable
May 29, 2015
36
0
4,530
I am looking to upgrade parts on my desktop so I can run Fallout 4. My current rig is as follows:

Operating System
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
CPU
AMD FX-6100 50 °C
Zambezi 32nm Technology
RAM
8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 668MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. SABERTOOTH 990FX (AM3r2) 35 °C
Graphics
SAMSUNG (1776x1000@59Hz)
1024MB ATI AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series (XFX Pine Group) 65 °C
Storage
931GB Western Digital WDC WD10 EADS-11M2B3 SATA Disk Device (SATA) 35 °C
465GB Seagate ST950032 5AS SATA Disk Device (SATA) 31 °C
Optical Drives
ASUS DRW-24B1ST a SATA CdRom Device
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

As far as the GPU goes, I am looking at the:
SAPPHIRE Radeon R9 290 100362SR 4GB 512-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card.

For the processor, I am kinda sketchy on this as I am not sure if an upgrade is necessary. However, I have looked at the:

AMD FX-8350 Black Edition Vishera 8-Core 4.0GHz (4.2GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W FD8350FRHKBOX Desktop Processor.

I am wanting to stay with AMD since most of my parts are already AMD, it will make upgrading easier for me.

I am not sure what kind of PSU I will need for this, my current PSU is a XFXPro 550w.

any help and advice greatly appreciated.
 
Solution
DonkeyOatie
OK. I get that. The CPU cooler is the fan and heatsink on top of your CPU to keep it cool. If overclocking is a mystery, then start by getting a new GPU and see how it works. Run some benchmarks to see how well it does.

I'd run these free, downloadable, synthetic benchmarks:
ASUS RealBench
3dMark
PCMark 7
PCMark 8
Unigine Heaven
Unigine Valley

and two or three in-game tests for games you like on your old system before you upgrade so you know what you started with and then do the same after you have upgraded to see how good it was.
Sort by date Sort by votes
DonkeyOatie

DonkeyOatie

Champion
Sep 16, 2014
12,141
1
50,960
I'd try overclocking the FX6100 with a good aftermarket CPU cooler (you will need the cooler if you get the FX8350/8320 anyway) after you get your new GPU and before you replace the CPU. It may do enough and will save you a lot of money. I'd look at an overclocked FX 8320 it's cheaper and nearly as good as a FX8350, but I'm hoping that overclocking the FX6100 will be enough.

One of the newer 390 cards should use a bit less power, but might cost more. Do the GPU upgrade first and see how it works out.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DonkeyOatie

DonkeyOatie

Champion
Sep 16, 2014
12,141
1
50,960
OK. I get that. The CPU cooler is the fan and heatsink on top of your CPU to keep it cool. If overclocking is a mystery, then start by getting a new GPU and see how it works. Run some benchmarks to see how well it does.

I'd run these free, downloadable, synthetic benchmarks:
ASUS RealBench
3dMark
PCMark 7
PCMark 8
Unigine Heaven
Unigine Valley

and two or three in-game tests for games you like on your old system before you upgrade so you know what you started with and then do the same after you have upgraded to see how good it was.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
P

Patrick Tweedie

Reputable
May 29, 2015
36
0
4,530
So If I bought the 860k 290 I won't need to upgrade my PSU at all? I hope that is the case. Which Cooler would you reccommend? for the AMD FX-8350 Black Edition Vishera 8-Core 4.0GHz (4.2GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W FD8350FRHKBOX Desktop Processor, that's the one I'm looking at.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DonkeyOatie

DonkeyOatie

Champion
Sep 16, 2014
12,141
1
50,960
I'm sorry. I made a mistake when I posted and answer to this thread, I meant to do it to another similar thread.

Summary of position

1. To play modern games and 'keep up' you will need to overclock any CPU on that motherboard/socket.
2. The 290 is a good powerful card, although 390 options might be better or cheaper, only you know.
3. Your motherboard will support the CPU and GPU you want.
4. Your PSU is good, but close for an overclocked FX8xxx and a R9 290

So

a. Test the heck out of your system
b. Upgrade your GPU and re-test.
c. Overclock your existing CPU re-test. Stop here if you are satisfied
d. Replace CPU with overclocked FX8320.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

Patrick Tweedie

Reputable
May 29, 2015
36
0
4,530
Ok, sorry I am hounding you with questions. You've no idea how grateful I am. I've had friends tell me I have to buy a new windows 10 liscense/reinstall windows 10 if I ever change any hardware . is this true?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DonkeyOatie

DonkeyOatie

Champion
Sep 16, 2014
12,141
1
50,960
The OS is keyed to your motherboard. If you change your motherboard, you will often need to re-install the OS if you have a 'full' version, and get a new OS if you have an OEM version.

Over the summer, for our Science Fai research system, I must have changed processors ten times, changed memory sticks twenty times, changed CPU coolers fifteen times, changed CPUs ten times, taken the motherboard out and then put the same motherboard back in twice and swapped out the PSU once. No change was required to the OS ever during that time.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

Patrick Tweedie

Reputable
May 29, 2015
36
0
4,530
Ok, so what I am looking at is the 390, amd fx 8350, which seems to be the strongest for it's price (unless I am mistaken) which comes with a cooler, and those will both run on my MB, and my current PSU is strong enough for those. Okay. I am just trying to be careful, I don't wanna be without a PC, or end up frying something. I am really sorry for being super annoying.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DonkeyOatie

DonkeyOatie

Champion
Sep 16, 2014
12,141
1
50,960
You are not being annoying. You are going to spend a lot of money and want to do it wisely.

Just a note, you keep saying 8350, and I keep saying 8320. The 8320 and the 8350 are identical silicon. The 8320 is cheaper and most of the can be overclocked to 8350 levels and beyond.

Follow the steps I suggested to ensure that spending the money on the FX8 is needed.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom