Cheap Upgrade for Skyrim

[Shez]

My current rig is in my signature. I'd like to upgrade on the cheap in the hopes of being able to play Skyrim on High settings (ie getting to the recommended settings for the game). If I'm going to upgrade, I'd need to keep expenses between $200-300.

I can cannibalize my PSU, case, Vista, HD but would need a...

CPU/Mobo (they say quad core required...)
RAM ($25)
GPU (GTX 260/Radeon 4890 or higher)

Is this even possible?

 

[FinneousPJ]

Well, $300's not much:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157215 Cheap mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103945 Athlon II X4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908 6850

Total: 287.97

Plus RAM's a bit over $300.

 

[Shez]

You sir, are awesome.

Question though. In looking at the specs, the CPU is socket FM1 and the mobo is socket AM3. Is that an issue or do FM1s fit into AM3s?

 

[Shez]

Would this be better

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103993

with a cheapo cooler?

 

[FinneousPJ]

Oh duh, sorry! I forgot AMD has released the faulty APUs too... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103889 this is what I was looking for. It's a bit a more expensive, might as well go with a Phenom II X4.

 

[Shez]

So the lineup could look like

CPU Athlon X4 645
Mobo Cheapo mobo
GPU Radeon 6850
RAM 4GB
Cooler Cheapo

Total of... $340

Thoughts on how future proof this rig would be? Or at least how upgradable? The sensible part of me would feel rather silly dropping $340 to play a single game.

 

[FinneousPJ]

Unfortunately not very upgradable. Of course if the mobo was an AM3+ model it would theoretically be upgradable to AMD FX - but ATM it's not worth upgrading to. Hopefully it will be next year. But the cheapo mobo kind of limits the choices.

There's also the option of buying a quad core for your current system (assuming your mobo supports one), but that's even less upgradable and might be costly too.

 

[dazed69]

If you just want to play Skyrim your better off buying a PS3 if all you got is $300 .
"At least it has resale value and netflix"lol but seriously I'd wait for more cash.

FM1 is a laptop chip don't buy that.

you could put an old Q6600 series in it but your 4 pin power supply on that board isn't great for OC'ing and that chips sold out i'm pretty sure.

6870 would be the card I'd buy on sale.


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I would wait until i had $500 ,buy a good MB 120.00 some fast DDR3 Ram for $50.00 and 180.00 for a new CPU ,quad maybe 6 core or go Intel but AMD is cheaper usually. new GPU's coming soon also check black friday sales after thanksgiving usually great deals.