What do i need to buy next for a 4 year old computer?

[schecterplayer]

hi i have a question about what i need to get next. i play games and i come from console . i just switched to pc games not too long ago but i bought my brothers computer and its a bit dated. specs are phenom x4 9950 oc to 2.9 ghz, 2.5 g ddr2 ram, just bought an hd 6850 graphics card.

so my question is what should i buy next? my processor is still good and i dont think ill need to upgrade that for a bit. im thinking that my ram is really holding me back. i get ok framerate in bf3. around 30 - 40 medium settings on my current hd 4850 graphics card(as stated i just ordered a sapphire hd 6850.
i also get hung up alot just using the computer. thats my reasoning for getting more ram.

Any thoughts?

 

[amuffin]

Overclock more. I would also get an ssd.

 

[schecterplayer]

i cant get up to 3 ghz without being unstable. the 9950 is not meant to go that high. ssd wont happen becuase i cant reinstall windows on it and im on a really tight budget.

 

[schecterplayer]

i dont care about load times and i know that an ssd helps with load times

 

[Onlyusemeisaac]

Does your motherboard support DDR3?

 

[schecterplayer]

no. the difference between ddr2 and 3 is not that signigicant from what ive seen.

 

[amuffin]

What do you mean by "hung" up? BTW SSD's come with software that allows you to copy windows onto it without buying another copy.

 

[loneninja]

no. the difference between ddr2 and 3 is not that signigicant from what ive seen.

Performance difference on a Phenom II 3 years ago wasn't much, but there are faster memory controllers now that would effect performance more. In any case there is a HUGE price difference with DDR2 being more expensive, 8Gb DDR3 is cheaper than 4Gb DDR2 last time I checked prices. I personally wouldn't invest money into any DDR2 RAM.

 

[schecterplayer]

like right now im playing BF3 and its running decently. when i exit the game the computer is just slow as hell for a few minutes. then after 5 mins its as snappy as my new i5 4 gig ddr3 laptop. again im not a performance whore. i just want to know whats the best to buy for under 100 dollars that will get me the best performance gains. when i graduate in 2 months ill get alot of money but i wont spend much on that for my computer.

 

[Onlyusemeisaac]

If you really want an upgrade then Mobo + ram is the way to go I reckon. But I doubt you'd get both for under 100 dollars.

 

[amuffin]

60gb ssd.

 

[schecterplayer]

Performance difference on a Phenom II 3 years ago wasn't much, but there are faster memory controllers now that would effect performance more. In any case there is a HUGE price difference with DDR2 being more expensive, 8Gb DDR3 is cheaper than 4Gb DDR2 last time I checked prices. I personally wouldn't invest money into any DDR2 RAM.

see my issue is if i get ddr3 i will need a new mobo plus cpu. and i can get a great amd upgrade for 350 from newegg but i have not even close to that. still in highschool. i know i will need a better cpu eventually but its a quad core at 2.9. its still very good.

 

[schecterplayer]

If you really want an upgrade then Mobo + ram is the way to go I reckon. But I doubt you'd get both for under 100 dollars.

dont forget ill need a cpu with that new mobo

 

[amuffin]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227725

 

[schecterplayer]

60gb ssd.

will an ssd help with getting hung up after a game exit? i also forgot to mention playing BF3 i get hung up. i figure because i have way less than required ram. is that the problem? i know all the upgrades i need to get in the future when more money comes but as of now i just need something to get me by till then. i dont even really need ddr3 and amazing processer because aside from bf3 i can play every game i can think of amazingly. skyrim is a constant 60 fps

 

[Onlyusemeisaac]

I'd say SSD is the only way to go to be honest if you're looking for performance. I own a 128gb M4 and can't believe I actually used my computer before! The difference is amazing.

 

[amuffin]

The ssd will make up for the ram. It will boot up windows faster, make game opening much faster, and it will overal make your system awesome.

 

[schecterplayer]

I'd say SSD is the only way to go to be honest if you're looking for performance. I own a 128gb M4 and can't believe I actually used my computer before! The difference is amazing.

keep in mind i have 4 year old biostar mobo. i dont even think i can connect an ssd to it

 

[mercer95]

just wait it out and save up, you not going to make a dent with $100 untill you have a new mobo.

 

[Proximon]

I think amuffin thought you were talking about the newer Phenom II x4 955. The 9950 is a fairly anemic CPU that was never recommended, mostly because it doesn't OC much.

I do think you should upgrade the CPU if possible. You haven't listed your MB yet. An Athlon II or even a used Phenom II would be a nice upgrade.

 

[schecterplayer]

The ssd will make up for the ram. It will boot up windows faster, make game opening much faster, and it will overal make your system awesome.

how can that be when my new laptop that has a 5400 rpm 500 gig laptop and i have a 1 tb 5400 rpm hard drive on my gaming desktop. and my laptop is much faster

 

[Onlyusemeisaac]

how can that be when my new laptop that has a 5400 rpm 500 gig laptop and i have a 1 tb 5400 rpm hard drive on my gaming desktop. and my laptop is much faster

It's the processor thats making the difference there.

 

[amuffin]

I think amuffin thought you were talking about the newer Phenom II x4 955. The 9950 is a fairly anemic CPU that was never recommended, mostly because it doesn't OC much.

I do think you should upgrade the CPU if possible. You haven't listed your MB yet. An Athlon II or even a used Phenom II would be a nice upgrade.

I absolutely have no experience with the previous gen of cpu's, then again I have only started looking at this stuff for roughly 7 months so I haven't really looked back, well at least on amd's side.. So I assume there is nearly 0 oc capability on 1st gen phenom?

 

[Onlyusemeisaac]

I have a Phenom II x4 @ 3.7Ghz, and I've never felt limited by it apart from rendering videos. Its one of the best price/performance options out there right now.

 

[Proximon]

They ran kinda hot I think. We had the Wolfdales about the same time and so Intel got all the nods, until the Phenom II's came out. THOSE were great value at the time. even an old used Phenom II x3 720BE would be a nice upgrade, if it's possible to still find one.