My Computer / Recommend upgrades?

[polird]

I built a new computer in January and have been fine tuning all the parts. I had basically wanted to get a decent computer built on a budget to do video editing, rendering, but also some gaming (more like X-Plane than Crysis). Here's what i have:

ASUS P5E Deluxe
Core 2 Duo E8400
G.Skill DDR2 1066mhz
Sapphire Radeon HD 3650
2 320GB RAID arrays/ SATA 2 7200rpm
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
Cooler Master Mystique 632S

I know some of these are budget parts, but I am only 14 .

If this was your computer and you were on a budget, what would you upgrade first and what would you upgrade it too?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

By far the biggest gaming upgrade you could do would be to upgrade the GPU. The 3650 is a pretty weak GPU. You didn't mention anything about your PSU, but if it's a decent PSU you should be able to upgrade to a 4850 and have a much better gaming experience. You also didn't mention what resolution your monitor runs at. That has a huge impact on what parts we recommend.

HIS H485QT512P Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported IceQ4 Turbo Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161244 $99.99 - $20 MIR

 

[IH8U]

I'd upgrade the Video Card, and HSF first. Pick up an ATI 4770, or 4850 for the Vid. Then look for a better HSF and OC that 8400.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185093
$37 Scythe Mugen-2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770
$100 Sapphire 4850

What about the PSU?

 

[polird]

By far the biggest gaming upgrade you could do would be to upgrade the GPU. The 3650 is a pretty weak GPU. You didn't mention anything about your PSU, but if it's a decent PSU you should be able to upgrade to a 4850 and have a much better gaming experience. You also didn't mention what resolution your monitor runs at. That has a huge impact on what parts we recommend.

HIS H485QT512P Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported IceQ4 Turbo Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161244 $99.99 - $20 MIR

Sorry about that, its a Rosewill 550w. Monitor is an LG 22in and runs at 1680x1050. I like to use full resolution on games, but often i am not able to with my current gpu. I have been thinking about the 4850, i just don't know if i should get 512 or 1gb. It really depends on if video editing relies more on the cpu or gpu.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

So are you mainly trying to improve the video editing capabilities of the rig, or improve gaming? A quad core CPU would help the video editing, but wouldn't help with the gaming. Overclocking your CPU along with a GPU upgrade will increase your video editing performance (not as much as a quad core, though) as well as greatly improve your gaming. A 4850 512MB GPU would work fine at your resolution.

It's too bad you have a Rosewill PSU. They're generally considered junk and would be borderline powering a 4850 and overclocked CPU.

 

[IH8U]

Step one in that case is to replace that PSU, before it pulls a Chernobyl. Look for Antec, OCZ, Corsair, BFG, Zalman, PC P&C, or Seasonic (unless in a 220V area). Of at least 500W btw.
Step two, replace the Vid
Step three, replace the HSF

 

[polird]

So are you mainly trying to improve the video editing capabilities of the rig, or improve gaming? A quad core CPU would help the video editing, but wouldn't help with the gaming. Overclocking your CPU along with a GPU upgrade will increase your video editing performance (not as much as a quad core, though) as well as greatly improve your gaming. A 4850 512MB GPU would work fine at your resolution.

It's too bad you have a Rosewill PSU. They're generally considered junk and would be borderline powering a 4850 and overclocked CPU.

Replacing the cpu is a little out of the range of my budget, especially if i'm going for a quad.
I used http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine to find if my power supply would work. It recommends a whopping 360w with OC and everything! I think i will stay with my PSU unless it is going to fry my computer.

As for the GPU, i will definitely consider a 4850. Do these require a power connector? also, a game i get avg 15fps on now, what would i get with the 4850?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I think i will stay with my PSU unless it is going to fry my computer.

Yes, the chances of a Rosewill PSU blowing up and frying components is very high. A PSU upgrade to a quality unit should be in the very near future.

As for the GPU, i will definitely consider a 4850. Do these require a power connector? also, a game i get avg 15fps on now, what would i get with the 4850?

Yes, a 4850 requires a 6-pin power connector.

You'll have to check the benchmarks for the particular games you play, but a 4850 is a VERY big step up from the 3650. Your FPS will at least double in most games.

 

[polird]

Yes, the chances of a Rosewill PSU blowing up and frying components is very high.

I hope i will see some warning signs before that happens. The PSU i got received good reviews though.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Good luck with that Rosewill PSU. I hope you don't end up with the indoor fireworks show that Rosewill's are so famous for.

Since you're willing to risk the system with the Rosewill PSU, a 4850 would be a very good upgrade to your system.

 

[tisello]

hey Polird. Replace your PSU instantly, that's almost an order!

No seriously, Rosewill PSU's are not very safe. They often send out random signals and *** into your CPU and GPU wich will destroy them internallly or even make them burn!

If you do want your all new GPU for about 100€ to burn up in flames and burn down your house with it just because you didnt want to spend like 100€ on a new PSU then i would say ok stick with the Rosewill PSU.

But since i guess this aint what you want i will give you a simple tips.

THROW THAT GARBIDGE PSU INTO THE TRASHCAN BEFORE YOU END UP BURNING DOWN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD!!!!!!

 

[tisello]

i think i got my opinion heard didnt i? =)

 

[captaincharisma]

most of the time there are no signals. one day you could be playing a game or watching a full screen movie on your PC and then suddenly hear a big POP! and smoke coming out of the back of your PC

 

[Onus]

As to the Rosewill PSUs, their older models got them an absolutely poopy reputation. People still commence linear raving panics (that's where you run in a straight line, frothing at the mouth and waving your arms, until you bang into something hard enough to knock yourself out) when they see one. Check www.jonnyguru.com, however, and a more recent one surprised them, and it wasn't even an Active PFC/80+ model. Don't get me wrong, there is NO WAY I'd ever buy one, but if you find that your model was favorably reviewed in a COMPETENT technical review (i.e. with load testing, waveform analysis, etc), you should be fine with it. In that case, I agree with others that getting a 4850 would make a huge difference. How much of that RAM do you have? If only 1GB, then get yourself a 4GB (2x2GB) kit to replace it; that will help in gaming but also in other things.

 

[polird]

How much of that RAM do you have? If only 1GB, then get yourself a 4GB (2x2GB) kit to replace it; that will help in gaming but also in other things.

I have 2x2GB

i think i got my opinion heard didnt i? =)

It definitley did. I am looking into a new PSU and GPU. I will replace the PSU first to make you happy.

 

[Onus]

If you decide to replace your PSU, among the better ones are Antec, PC Power & Cooling, Corsair, Seasonic, and Enermax. For a single 4850, you will not need any more than 500W; even the Antec Earthwatts 380 can run a single 4850, but leaves no real headroom, so I'd suggest at least the 430W model if you choose Earthwatts, or whatever is comparable (430-450) for the other brands.

 

[polird]

If you decide to replace your PSU, among the better ones are Antec, PC Power & Cooling, Corsair, Seasonic, and Enermax. For a single 4850, you will not need any more than 500W; even the Antec Earthwatts 380 can run a single 4850, but leaves no real headroom, so I'd suggest at least the 430W model if you choose Earthwatts, or whatever is comparable (430-450) for the other brands.

For price, power, and reliability, i am looking closely at the OCZ StealthXStream 700W. This should have plenty of power and is ranked very high for quality and reliability.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341019
As for the GPU, im looking at XFX Radeon HD 4870 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394
If i decide it is too expensive, i will get the HIS one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161244

 

[Onus]

That OCZ unit is not in the same league as the others. Although it has Active PFC, it is not 80+ certified. It also has considerably more capacity than you need, but at that price looks like it still may be a decent deal. A review of what would appear to be a similar model appears here: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/704 ...and was favorable. Overcome one possible design shortcoming by using a surge protector (a good idea anyway). Also, the model you are considering has more SATA connectors, unlike the reviewed model, which had only three.
It looks like a decent choice.

 

[jbakerlent]

Go with the OCZ ModxStream 500W instead if you want OCZ

Edit: there's also a 700W version, both are 80+

 

[polird]

Go with the OCZ ModxStream 500W instead if you want OCZ

Edit: there's also a 700W version, both are 80+

Thanks for the recommendation. I found the 700w ModXStream Pro on amazon for 53$ !
That is probably what I'll get. Thanks.