Old PC Upgrade? GeForce 9800 GT

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
KDart

KDart

Reputable
Nov 12, 2015
22
0
4,510
My dad is having some trouble playing Arma 3 with his PC. That's the only game he cares about and it's freezing on him. Wondering if I can upgrade it somehow to make it more efficient and smooth.

Specs:
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz 2.40 GHz
RAM: 4 GB HyperX brand
System: 32-bit OS x64-based processor
MB: Asus P5N-E SLI with dual graphic card slots
Graphics: EVGA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-Bit GDDR3
Power Supply: Forget...500watt or something
HD: WD 250gb

Someone recommended upgrading gpu to a GTX 750 Ti, GTX 950 or R7-370.

What is best?
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
KDart

KDart

Reputable
Nov 12, 2015
22
0
4,510


I have a Coolmax CL-700B 700w power supply but I'm not using it because someone here said it was a fire hazard. Thanks I'll try to find a 750 ti!



 
Upvote 0 Downvote
BFG-9000

BFG-9000

Splendid
Sep 17, 2016
3,424
439
27,090
Your dad has the minimum recommended system at the moment with the exception of the 32-bit OS which is below minimum, which also limits it to using less than the full 4GB minimum memory.

I'd suggest installing a 64-bit OS and overclocking the Q6600 to at least 9 x 367 = 3.3GHz (should be doable with nothing but a Vcore bump and reducing the memory multiplier to 2.0) before considering a GPU.


Any particular reason you think a 60 watt card is needed when there's a 125 watt one in there already with a 6-pin PCIe connector? What would make the 90 watt 950 with a 6-pin PCIe connector unsuitable? The 950 is 2x as fast as the 750Ti which is only about 50% faster than the 9800GT. More importantly the 950 is faster than the recommended 660 while the 750Ti is not.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
KDart

KDart

Reputable
Nov 12, 2015
22
0
4,510


I thought this system isn't compatible with 64 bit. How do you install 64 on it? Sorry I'm new to this stuff. Also never done over clocking.

just saw its a 64x processor and now im questioning if thats right

EDIT: so i should install 64 bit and leave the graphics card the same or get a 950? He doesn't need full graphics by any means (tho he'd think its cool)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
BFG-9000

BFG-9000

Splendid
Sep 17, 2016
3,424
439
27,090
It's a 64-bit processor all right, and will run 64-bit Windows 7 or 10 just fine. You install Windows 7 by booting the DVD (you'll need the nVidia F6 SATA drivers on a USB stick) or Windows 10 by booting the USB stick itself.

The reason I suggested a 64-bit OS is because any single process in 32-bit Windows can only access up to 2GB of memory, and running out of memory into paging is what causes noticeable freezes. A slow GPU would only be slow even if it ran out of VRAM--framerate would drop to single digits but it wouldn't freeze.

Arma 3 is known to be much more dependent on a fast CPU than GPU and runs on only a single core--so your dad's quad core at 2.4GHz really is the minimum recommended CPU and even 9 x 333 = 3.0GHz should make a big difference and usually doesn't require any voltage adjustment at all.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
KDart

KDart

Reputable
Nov 12, 2015
22
0
4,510


OK thank you!! For some reason I thought it wouldn't let me install 64 bit. I'll install it when I go to his house next month. It just needs to hold on a year or so then we can build a new one. You are a life saver!
 
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