Upgrade my GPU or Processor First?

DarkWandering · Jan 9, 2017

I got a new PC about a year ago and, although it was a big upgrade, I'm overall kind of disappointed with how it handles higher end games (It can't even run LOL on max settings without tanking the FPS). Looked at similar threads but found none with similar hardware, so I'll add another of these oft repeated questions.

Processor: AMD A10-7800 R7

GPU: Stock R7 Card. I think its the 400 series, but name in dxdiag is only R7 with no extra details. Chip name has '0x130F' in brackets at the end, DAC is listed at 400Mhz, total memory is 6585 MB.

I'm guessing the GPU is the weakest link but I haven't been keeping up with technology and really don't have a clue. I'll eventually do em both up, but for the sake of not pissing off the wifey, I can't do it all at once. Many thanks in advance for any advice!

dontlistentome · Jan 9, 2017

Are you sure there's a videocard installed or is it just the integrated graphics? I'm guessing it's integrated graphics since LoL isn't that hard to run. There's no real upgrade path for the CPU, when you do that it's going to be new motherboard/ram/CPU time. Pretty much an all new computer.

Good news is that a relatively inexpensive GPU upgrade will help you a lot with LoL type games. I'd suggest either an RX 460 2GB model or a GTX 1050. These are perfect for those games and are not overpowered so you're not paying for performance you can't use. They also don't all require a power connector.

edit: To clarify, you have what is in effect a budget gaming system. As such, you can't expect too much from it when running demanding games. This is why these cards are a good fit, since they can handle the appropriate games/settings for your CPU.

DarkWandering · Jan 10, 2017

Thanks dontlisten, I appreciate you taking the time, and to show my appreciation I'm going to pester you for more details lol. The GPU came packaged with the PC, but the reason I chose it over a similar box was that it was not an integrated card. I wish I could give better info but I last really knew anything about PC specs when Pentium processors were the revolutionary new breakthrough.

dontlistentome :

For sure, this is a system which was never meant to run the best games anywhere near their potential. My main reason for choosing it originally was that it was marketed as a 'starter kit' type box, supposedly set up in a way that piece by piece upgrading would be as simple as possible. I envisioned myself researching components, picking the perfect ones, and slowly building a dream-machine. How foolish I was. Now I just want to make whatever quick upgrades I can so that my escape from work and the wife can be a little more immersive.

I was looking at the RX 480 series, but I take it from your post that to run that and a suitable processor I'd be looking at upgrading a bunch more stuff? I know the power supply for my box is made to handle much better components than what's in it, but if all those pieces need to be changed I'm probably being a bit too ambitious.

I was using LOL as an example of how crappy the games are that I can't even run well. I'm really hoping to get the best out of games like Witcher 3 and the upcoming Mass Effect. I don't need to run em on ultra but it would be sweet to get somewhere close to that.

Thanks again!

RobCrezz · Jan 10, 2017

If you go for a mid range card like a RX470 or 1050 Ti, should run fine on that CPU. But anything higher and youll really want to change to a better platform entirely.

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Upgrade my GPU or Processor First?

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