Upgrading old Built. Video Card Upgrade.

SeregaXAPbKOB

Commendable
Jan 17, 2017
6
0
1,510
Hi gang. I'm looking into either updating or totally rebuilding my PC. I built my desktop about 9 years ago and really never upgraded it since:

Motherboard: ASUS 5PQ
PSU: Coolmax RM-750B 750-Watt
CPU: Core 2 Quad Q9650 3GHz Processor
Memory: 8GB DDR2 1066MHz Quad Channel(4x2048)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 4870 1024MB GDDR5, PCI Express 2.0 x16, CrossFireX Ready
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 3 TB HDD SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 7200 RPM 3.5-Inch
Sound Card 8 CH VIA 7.1 PCI Sound Card
26" HDMI Samsung Monitor.


I'm not a huge gamer but was looking into playing some new video games and have a better performance in my WOT, and apparently my system (I suspect Video Card) is not up to date.
Haven't been into building computers or into gaming world for a while... Been traveling the world and busy with work, but now have free time to jump back into it. Seems like many worthy new games are out there. Money is not a huge issue, but my goal is to keep as many parts as I already have, if necessary I'll swap out whatever needed to be changed for smooth operation.
Any help appreciated.
 
Solution
While I'll agree that you should build a new PC, you could just try to upgrade your GPU to a GTX 1050 ti or RX 460 (make sure both are the 4GB model) which ever is cheaper and depending on the game you still run into issues due to your CPU but if you are forced to build a new PC you will be able to use the GPU you buy in the new build. Also gives you time to see if the GPU is enough for now. You may also look into getting a SSD boot drive now reloading and see how it feels.

Dunlop0078

Titan
Ambassador
Your current system with a decent gpu would handle older games or light indie games. If you want to play AAA cpu intensive titles like say fallout 4 or battlefield 1 I would just look into upgrading the whole system. The Q9650 was one of the best cpu's in its day and it can still play many games respectably but like you said its 9 years old, so you cant really expect it to handle modern games at decent framerates.
 

ikaz

Distinguished
While I'll agree that you should build a new PC, you could just try to upgrade your GPU to a GTX 1050 ti or RX 460 (make sure both are the 4GB model) which ever is cheaper and depending on the game you still run into issues due to your CPU but if you are forced to build a new PC you will be able to use the GPU you buy in the new build. Also gives you time to see if the GPU is enough for now. You may also look into getting a SSD boot drive now reloading and see how it feels.
 
Solution

SeregaXAPbKOB

Commendable
Jan 17, 2017
6
0
1,510
Thanks for all the Solid responses. I'll get used/preowned 1050ti or RX 460, play some older games while slowly getting parts and building new system with new Monitor. Don't want to sell, not sure if I can even get $200 for the whole set up. Will probably give it to my wife for her BSN Degree to use.
Looking to spend $1500-2000 for new one... with all the money I saved in 9 years building a good one back than, it only makes sense!
Thanks again...
 


A good p that plays today's games great doesn't cost much more than 1000usd. Also if you are going used you might as well look for some previous generation cards like the gtx 970 /r9-390(x). Or something. Also just save up the money and buy everything at once as spending it slowly will end up being more expensive than buying it all at once.
 
I'd invest in a new power supply, making sure it'll be enough for a future build when you are ready to do that. Probably something with two 6+2 pci-ex connectors. That will power anything, new or used, you're likely to buy. The reason is your system is old enough that I would not trust the PSU you have. You got your money's worth out of it, get a new EVGA or something.
 

SeregaXAPbKOB

Commendable
Jan 17, 2017
6
0
1,510
So I plugged in a new rx 460 4gb and the screen is not loading (just blank)
So I tried to plug in my old Video card and same thing nothing on the screen... tried HDMI with new card nothing, tried to reset battery and clear RTC on motherboard, still nothing, what could've happened? I puzzled!
 

ikaz

Distinguished
That is odd if you can't get your old card to work ether you may try to do a BIOS reset you would need to find a copy of the MB manual and there should be some jumper you can set to reset your bios. Assuming you get your old card to boot then make sure you update your bios to the newest available then try again. Also if you haven't even though your going from AMD to AMD uninstall your video drivers.
 

SeregaXAPbKOB

Commendable
Jan 17, 2017
6
0
1,510
Ok so I got it fixed, for those who interested or run into the same problem:

I tried simple BIOS reset right away, no luck. Went with the full on power everything off reset and it Worked. I reset the motherboard bios, by clearing CMON and RTC on (ASUS 5pq) its near the battery to the right. Also with the reset I took off all the PS cords and battery. When I moved the pins, I gave it a little juice (it wont turn on with pins moved, but the power to MB light was one). Than moved the pins back, unplugged and plugged back in memory and video card. And it worked... right away.

Also used nice FREE program DDU to remove all old drivers. It helps with optimization of the new GPU.