Upgrade my system!

[xcel_jkl]

Okay, say you have $300 left, which will you upgrade and in what order will you upgrade them?

CPU: amd phenom2 x4 945 3ghz

Mobo: asus m2n68-am se2 socket am2+

Ram: 1x kingston 1gb ddr2 667mhz
1x corsair 1gb ddr2 667mhz

Gpu: palit nvidia 9400gt 1gb

Psu: silverstone st50f-es 500w 80+

Monitor: 20" LED LG E2040T

Hdd: seagate 80gb 7200rpm sata


... I mostly need the pc for all around daily use and playing games like WoW.

Feel free to add anything else ive missed. I dont plan to sli or crossire or hardclock overclock in the future but who knows!

Thanks!

 

[Griffolion]

I'd sack those sticks of RAM off and buy at least 2GB of matched sticks that are guaranteed to work together fine.

Up that GPU to something a bit better, maybe a 5770.

If theres anything left, a bigger HDD.

 

[calguyhunk]

Certainly, you don't wanna upgrade that beast of a CPU.

Since that Mobo is accommodating your CPU, you also don't wannabe doing anything 'bout that now.

RAM : G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 1066

Keep the GPU for WOW. In the future, rather than SLI'ing that one, get yourself a DX 11 card like the Radeon HD 5770

Keep the PSU if you don't wanna SLI/Xfire for now. Never used a silverstone product, but why throw away something that ain't broke?

If you want to upgrade the HDD : SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3

 

[xcel_jkl]

Is it worth it for me to wait for a nice mobo + ddr3 combo or upgrade my ram to 4gb ddr2 and stick wd my current mobo?

 

[calguyhunk]

Wont really upgrade your WOW performance a whole lot, but YES. DDR2 and AM2 are both dead, so going with DDR3 +AM3 makes sense, if you want new tech, and are ready to shell out the moolah.

 

[xcel_jkl]

In the back of my mind i just dont feel that comfortable buying myself new ddr2 ram considering i might buy a mobo ddr3 combo within the next year.

Thanks! Any more input is appreciated.

 

[asteldian]

Yes, 5770 for $140 after rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121363&cm_re=5770-_-14-121-363-_-Product

4gb DDR2 800mhz - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231207&cm_re=4gb_ddr2_800-_-20-231-207-_-Product

or slightly more expensive A Data - $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211282&cm_re=4gb_ddr2_800-_-20-211-282-_-Product

HDD 500gb Samsung Spinpoint F3 - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&cm_re=samsung_spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-181-_-Product

Total: $280 ($275 with cheaper RAM)

Or, if you want to update your system (seems a shame to spend $80 on outdated RAM)

Asus mobo - $65 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131603&cm_re=asus_770-_-13-131-603-_-Product

5770 + 4gb OCZ 1333mhz RAM - $218.98 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.462556

Total: $283

I myself am not a big fan of OCZ RAM, so you could go with G Skill which will cost about $105 for 1600mhz 4gb. But that would bring the total to $310 (65, 140, 105)

Getting the new mobo means losing out on the HDD which you also should replace when you can

 

[calguyhunk]

Yup! Wait for a few more months & then put down the money for a more future ready Mobo, RAM & HDD.

But for now, just spending 80 - 100 bucks can give you a couple of years from this system, maybe with a newer Video card.

 

[asteldian]

Going with the combo I gave, the 5770, the RAM, mobo, and one of the best HDDs around will cost you a total of $338. Taat gives you an up to date machine and pretty darn close to the $300 you wanted to spend.