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Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Other Components > [Solved] Computer upgrade for under $400

[Solved] Computer upgrade for under $400

Forum CPU & Components : Other Components [Solved] Computer upgrade for under $400

Best answer from FlintIronStagg.

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Hello there. My video card fried (old 8800) so I'm in the market for a new one, and thinking of taking the oportunity to do a mobo/vid/CPU upgrade (from a core 2 duo 1.8). Not entirely sure if this is the correct subforum but here goes.

There's a big catch, though. I live in Venezuela, so legally I can't pay for more than $400 a year online, and buying it here means I'd have to pay three times as much money for less hardware. Another catch, Amazon.com is the only place I've found that sells online and let's me pay with a credit card from Venezuela while shipping to the US (I'm using a carrier service to bring the stuff to the country), so I have to buy from them.

So, here's what I'm looking at:

Video card:
ASUS GTX460 1 GB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card ENGTX460 DirectCU/2DI/1G?D5
$164.99

Motherboard
Gigabyte LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard GA-H55M-UD2H
$91.24 (I've had good experience with gigabyte mobos before)

CPU
Intel Core i3 Processor i3-540 3.06GHz 4MB LGA1156 CPU BX80616I3540
$104.02

Memory
Corsair XMS3 4 GB 1333MHz PC3-10666 240-pin DDR3 Memory Kit for Intel Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD CMX4GX3M1A1333C?9
$26.99 (I'll add more later, which is why I'm getting 4 gigs in one single stick)

Gran total: $378, leaving a little bit left for the shipping to miami.

So... any advice on what I could do better (without passing the $400 line including shipping)? I'm going intel/nvidia because it's what I've used in the past, but I'd be willing to go amd/ATI if I can get more bang for the buck.

To sum it up:

I can't spend more than $400, including shipping. This is a yearly amount and doesn't carry over if not used, so "wait until you have more money and get XXX" isn't an option for me.

I has to be on amazon.com, or if any other retailer it must allow me to buy with a credit card from Venezuela and ship to Miami. As of last time I tried, newegg, compusa and tigerdirect didn't allow this.

Reply to locoman
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Definitely go with the new Sandy Bridge processor. They are much faster besting even some AMD quad cores when it comes to gaming.

I'd go with the Intel Core i3-2100 Processor 3.1GHz 3 MB Cache Socket LGA1155 - $125

and Gigabyte Corei7/5/3 H61 1155 PCIE DDR3 SATA 3Gb/s Micro ATX DDR2 1333 Motherboard GA-H61M-D2P-B3 - $75

both on Amazon.


Message edited by elpaletero on 08-31-2011 at 11:20:48 PM
Reply to elpaletero

Concerning the i-3... I would try and go with a quad. You will get much better performance out of a Quad than a dual core, esp. with the integration of hyper threading in newer gaming. If thats what you are set on, then go for it, you will be able to moderately game with that setup.

Reply to FlintIronStagg

i agree with elpaletero :)

Socket 1156 is pretty much a dead end, at least with 1155 you have some upgrade capability down the road.

Reply to popatim
Best answer

popatim wrote :

i agree with elpaletero :)

Socket 1156 is pretty much a dead end, at least with 1155 you have some upgrade capability down the road.


yeah, true, the 1155 will enable you to get somethign better later on, and let you play right now on what you have selected

Reply to FlintIronStagg

Best answer selected by mousemonkey.

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This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey

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