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What's My Cheapest Best Gaming Upgrade

Forum Homebuilt Systems : General Homebuilt - What's My Cheapest Best Gaming Upgrade

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I want to upgrade 1 componet on my PC to play games better. What should I upgrade and links to items would be great. Thanks

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This Week

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, video editing, mp3, internet

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: na

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type Intel only

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: NO

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1400x900

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Quiet

I have

asus p5q
Intel qx 9750
ati hd3870
4 year old samsung 160gb HD
newer seagate 320 hd for storage
cooler master gemini 2 heatsink
4g (4 1gb sticks) ddr2 800 supertallent memory
aspire 550w 4 year old PS
dvd burner and dvd player

------------------------------ qx9750(not a typo)
Coolermaster Gemini2
MsiHD4870 1gb
4gbDDR2

Add a reply

PSU/GPU for gaming quality and performance.

Budget?

i have 2 3870's of my own, im getting a gtx 285 and a ud3r gigabyte board.

one thing to tell you to remember in the past is, memory, always get it in 2x2gb = 4gb.
but, since you already have it, your good.

You could look into ddr2 1006mhz btw if money isn't a problem after upgrading the gpu/psu.

Message edited by fullmetall on 04-20-2009 at 09:22:03 PM

Reply to fullmetall

My MB cant support dual video cards so xfire is out. budget is around 200-300.

------------------------------ qx9750(not a typo)
Coolermaster Gemini2
MsiHD4870 1gb
4gbDDR2
Reply to sontan

Buy an HD 4890 and a good quality 650-750W psu.

Reply to orangegator

Im not saying crossfire 2 3870's im saying that "I have 2 of them".

For $300

You can get a 4870 1gb sapphire at $189.99 + a 650tx corsair at $99.99

Reply to fullmetall

@ orange - 4890's aren't worth the buy, + that would be a $400 buy as they are still $250+ and a rebate.

4890's are basically an oc'd 4870, they didn't do really anything to it.

so still think the 4870 1gb Sapphire + the 650tx is your best bet on $300.

Message edited by fullmetall on 04-20-2009 at 09:36:14 PM

Reply to fullmetall

For optimising gaming I would add a new graphics card ATi 4870 1Gb and new PSU, Corsair 750TX would be suitable, if a little overkill really.

That would probably hit around the $300.

Check offerings and prices for NVidia too.

Edit: Above posts are all good. 650TX might be more suitable PSU.

Message edited by jpdykes on 04-20-2009 at 09:37:18 PM

Reply to jpdykes

so you guys think my ram and HD setup is ok for now. Ie...not my limiting factor?

------------------------------ qx9750(not a typo)
Coolermaster Gemini2
MsiHD4870 1gb
4gbDDR2
Reply to sontan

i like the 4870 idea. my MB as an 8 pin power connector on it but im only using 4 with my current PS. should i find a PS with an 8pin out? they seem hard to come by.

------------------------------ qx9750(not a typo)
Coolermaster Gemini2
MsiHD4870 1gb
4gbDDR2
Reply to sontan

There are some good deals out there for the HD 4890. The die has some small changes compared to the 4870 and it will OC to over 1Ghz, unlike the 4870. I've seen many deals for it ranging from $180 - $200AR. And the TX750 can be had for $85-$100AR.

Reply to orangegator

hd is fine, ram is fine, just remember what i said.

Reply to fullmetall

Orangegator - the lowest possible price on a 4890 from Newegg as from what the OP mentioned he is buying from

is $250.

the lowest price on the 750tx from newegg is $119.99

Yea they have Rebates but, it takes 6 weeks to get rebates back.

That puts him $380+

For the Sapphire 4870 1gb and a 650tx under $300 is a better deal and he's not going to lose performance, thats a big gain over a crappy 3870.

an oc'd 4870 could be not far off from a 4890..

If you were to be able to OC that Vapor x Edition Sapphire 4870 2gb card, it would be an amazing card.

Message edited by fullmetall on 04-20-2009 at 09:54:10 PM

Reply to fullmetall

@ Fullmetall : You realize there are other places besides Newegg to buy stuff. Just because it's listed as "preferred" doesn't mean "only". And waiting six weeks for a rebate is worth it to save a lot of money. In the end, the money is still in your pocket.

Reply to orangegator

http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php? [...] &Itemid=34

As you see, this does not apply to u.s. yet.

4890 isn't in the budget, neither the 750tx and the cheapest you can get it with a rebate is at $229.99 which is still over the limit for the OP.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by fullmetall on 04-20-2009 at 10:12:49 PM

Reply to fullmetall

fullmetall wrote :

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showt [...] light=4890
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showt [...] light=4890
But deals like these sell out quickly.

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-75 [...] 78325.html
I bought mine when it was only $83.

Reply to orangegator

@ sonata the 650tx has a 4 pin cpu power connector.

shouldn't matter if 4 works or 8.

FTW, Sapphire 4870 1gb + 650tx. That's my +1 and im sticking with it.

Reply to fullmetall

The gfx card is the weak spot , and as suggested an older psu is past its best .

For your monitors resolution a 4870 512 , or GTS 250 is all you will ever need .

The corsair 650 TX is a good upgrade choice for the psu

Reply to Outlander_04

Thanks for all the input guys. I think I am going to get some form of a 4870 1gb and later step up to the 650w corsair. After that, i will see where i stand and ask for more advice

Thanks

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ qx9750(not a typo)
Coolermaster Gemini2
MsiHD4870 1gb
4gbDDR2
Reply to sontan

Pretty rare CPU you got there. Anyway you're week point is your GPU. Since you don't have a crossfire board, I'd say just get a good video card, like a 4870 1GB, and you'll see a pretty good performance increase in gaming. It may help to get a better cooler to overclock your CPU as well.

4870 1 gig or GTX 260 (216)
I suggest you look up benchmarks to your fav games or games you like to see better performance in.

Reply to IzzyCraft

sontan wrote :

Thanks for all the input guys. I think I am going to get some form of a 4870 1gb and later step up to the 650w corsair. After that, i will see where i stand and ask for more advice

Thanks

Do not "step up" to a new psu later. Buy the psu and video card at the same time. Otherwise, you may fry your old psu and possibly your entire system.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to orangegator

orangegator wrote :

Do not "step up" to a new psu later. Buy the psu and video card at the same time. Otherwise, you may fry your old psu and possibly your entire system.

So my 550w will not handle a 4870? Its hardly breaking a sweat on my current setup

------------------------------ qx9750(not a typo)
Coolermaster Gemini2
MsiHD4870 1gb
4gbDDR2
Reply to sontan

Well, you say a 4 yr old 550w with a new sapphire 4870 1gb.

capacity has already kicked in, your not running 550 full watts anymore.

We dont know the amount of amperage is in the 550w but, usually a good 550w should work.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to fullmetall

fullmetall wrote :

here is the link to the PS i currently have. it has 36a on 1 12v rail

http://www.xpcgear.com/as520wbk.html

i cant access newegg at the moment but it says 36a

------------------------------ qx9750(not a typo)
Coolermaster Gemini2
MsiHD4870 1gb
4gbDDR2
Reply to sontan

Well, if it's similar to the one reviewed Here or Here, then it's garbage and should be replaced, no matter what the specs say.

Reply to orangegator

Apevia is more most likely used as a anchor in a lake.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.179760

Theres nice combos out there with the 4870 1gb.

But, still think you should look into the 650tx and the 4870 1gb.

Reply to fullmetall

ouch! brutal

------------------------------ qx9750(not a typo)
Coolermaster Gemini2
MsiHD4870 1gb
4gbDDR2
Reply to sontan

lol, sorry but, Apevia, raidmax, rosewill are the least looked upon psu's for quality/reliablility.

Reply to fullmetall

Jonnyguru reviewed some Aspire PSUs also; they melted or burned well under their claimed wattage/amperage.

Reply to jtt283

after checking out newegg. i think i will just pay up and get the corsair 750w for 119 plus 20 rebate. I will get the video card next month

------------------------------ qx9750(not a typo)
Coolermaster Gemini2
MsiHD4870 1gb
4gbDDR2
Reply to sontan

you looking to crossfire later on? then a 750tx or a pc power cooling 750w wouldnt be the pick to get, 650tx is your best bet mate.

Reply to fullmetall

thanks for the advice guys. this is what I ended up buying

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127413

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817148040

------------------------------ qx9750(not a typo)
Coolermaster Gemini2
MsiHD4870 1gb
4gbDDR2
Reply to sontan

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