upgrade or buy new?

Keegan_754 · Jul 17, 2017

Approximate Purchase Date: 6 years ago atleast

Budget Range: would like to stay under 500 but willing to go over depending

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming

Are you buying a monitor: Yes / No

Parts to Upgrade: not sure when i look at my windows experience index its saying that my processor is a score of 7.3 memory and ram is also 7.3 graphics is a 3.9 gaming graphics is a 5.2 and primary hard disk is a 5.9

Do you need to buy OS: Yes i think its windows 7 Ultimate x32 or windows 7 Service pack

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: probably newegg only place ive ever gotten parts from

Location: USA

Parts Preferences: doesnt matter just as long as its compatible with the rest of my system

Overclocking: maybe not sure how to go about doing this

SLI or Crossfire: not sure which ever would be better

Your Monitor Resolution: have a monitor its old but still does the job so not worried about that atm

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: ive been trying to get back into playing wow but the game runs horribly (1-10 fps)

if you need any other info just let me know

kaptainkuftic · Jul 17, 2017

hit start, type 'dxdiag', hit enter, take a screen shot of the information on the system tab, and the display 1 tab, or type the information here. That'll help us identify what we're working with.

Keegan_754 · Jul 17, 2017

kaptainkuftic :

Time of this report: 7/17/2017, 09:17:46
Machine name: KEEGAN-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_ldr.170209-0600)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 04/14/10 17:53:51 Ver: 09.06
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 640 Processor (4 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3328MB RAM
Page File: 3803MB used, 2849MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode

display

Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4200
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9710)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9710&SUBSYS_83A21043&REV_00
Display Memory: 1660 MB
Dedicated Memory: 252 MB
Shared Memory: 1407 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: AL2016W
Monitor Id: ACRAD64
Native Mode: 1680 x 1050(p) (59.954Hz)
Output Type: DVI
Driver Name: aticfx32.dll,aticfx32.dll,atiumdag.dll,atidxx32.dll,atiumdva.cap
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1077 (English)
Driver Version: 8.850.0.0
DDI Version: 10.1
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 4/20/2011 03:09:06, 676864 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D450-11CF-C677-A8A3BEC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x9710
SubSys ID: 0x83A21043
Revision ID: 0x0000
Driver Strong Name: oem3.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTx86.6.0:ati2mtag_RS880:8.850.0.0

ci\ven_1002&dev_9710
Rank Of Driver: 00E62001

kaptainkuftic · Jul 17, 2017

Personally, I think you're best off with a new build. I would want to upgrade the processor, memory, your 32 bit windows to 64 bit, motherboard, and given the common age of these components, your graphics card too. Essentially, the only things I would want to keep would be your case and potentially the power supply, but that likely needs an upgrade too.

Are you willing to build a PC, or are you looking to buy prebuilt?

RCFProd · Jul 17, 2017

Best to spend those 500 dollars, or something close to that amount, on a new build.

Keegan_754 · Jul 17, 2017

id like to build one just worried id buy everything then get stuck on something or break something etc etc so probably just buy prebuilt. if you have any suggestions on what would be the best for my $. only thing i really want is to beable to play wow because atm its rough in a dead area. id like to stay under 500 but would be willing to go over depending on the pc and what i could run graphics at

RCFProd · Jul 17, 2017

If you'd like to give building it yourself regardless, which isn't hard at all, this would be great below 500 dollars:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($78.89 @ B&H)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-B250M-Gaming 3 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card ($143.39 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master - N200 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($40.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $469.10
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-17 09:33 EDT-0400

Keegan_754 · Jul 17, 2017

RCFProd :

If you'd like to give building it yourself regardless, which isn't hard at all, this would be great below 500 dollars:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($78.89 @ B&H)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-B250M-Gaming 3 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($69.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI - GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card ($143.39 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master - N200 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($40.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $469.10
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-07-17 09:33 EDT-0400

alright ill have to look into it and what do you think i could run wow at? and about how many fps

kaptainkuftic · Jul 17, 2017

I'm having trouble finding anything around 500 USD that is anywhere near as good as the PC that RCFProd listed. I think that is your best bet

RCFProd · Jul 17, 2017

You'd be sitting at 1080p 60+FPS very comfortably with that build, it would run WoW easily.

YoAndy · Jul 17, 2017

Yes your PC is really outdated and like others have pointed out is better For you to build a new PC.

Hunter Abbott · Jul 17, 2017

If you are looking for a build that will last you $500 might require frequent upgrades down the line to keep it up to par. It may be better off saving and just buying one big beast gaming computer.

Keegan_754 · Jul 17, 2017

alright lol thank you both for your help looks like building is the way to go looks like ill start looking up how to etc etc thank you both again

bloodroses · Jul 17, 2017

Btw, in regards to fears of self building, it really isn't that hard to do. Also, if you run into issues, tomshardware's forums have been quite helpful over the years helping to troubleshoot it.

Self building is definitely the best route to go and I guarantee you'll me much happier you went that route down the road.

Keegan_754 · Jul 17, 2017

RCFProd :

do you think i could reuse the case i already have?

RCFProd · Jul 17, 2017

I'm not sure which case you have, maybe.

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