Upgrading video card and PSU >first time upgrading<

[DutchDude]

Hello, i want to upgrade my computers video card and probably also power supply because they are both crap, remember that this is my first time doing anything to my pc, i am a total newbie in this area. I am planning to spend around 300 dollars or euros, since i live in the Netherlands.


Approximate Purchase Date: within a month or so.

Budget Range: (e.g.: 300-400) 300 dollars or euros, can be like 20 dollars more or less, shipping not included

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, surfing the internet, skype, using pc as a (minecraft) server, school work,

Are you buying a monitor: No, already have one

Parts to Upgrade: GPU and PSU

Do you need to buy OS: No.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: nope

Location: Ede GLD (GeLDerland, province), the Netherlands, Europe, the world, the Milky way

Parts Preferences: i've heard that amd gpu's are better and cheaper, but have no idea

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I would like to play games like skyrim, bf3, MoH warfighter on NORMAL or low settings (don't need ultra)

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I can't play the newer games

Current specs:

CPU: QuadCore Intel Core i5-3450, 3300 MHz (33 x 100)

video card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 (3072 MB)

Mobo: MSI MS-7728 (2 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16, 2 DDR3 DIMM, Audio, Video, Gigabit LAN)

Storage: 1 TB HDD

RAM: 8 gb (2x4 gb)

Thanks in advance

PS: Is there free software where i can see my computer specs, i am currently using aida64 trial

 

[DutchDude]

ADDITONAL INFORMATION

For the PSU i am looking around the 600 watt area, and i would like to spend around 100 dollars, and for the video card i am spending around 200 dollars.

 

[scragnoff]

Hi DutchDude!

These are my recommendations:
■ PSU - Antec HCG-620 620W 80+ Bronze - EUR 81,84 - Link
■ GPU - Asus nVidia GTX 660 2 GB - EUR 212,89 - Link

To generate your system specs, I suggest using HWInfo.

 

[DutchDude]

Thanks, is the power supply reliable, how many years do you think it will last?

 

[scragnoff]

The Power Supply is manufactured by Antec, trusted when it comes to psu's. And it's 80+ efficient. It should last you for a long time, upwards of 5 years.

 

[DutchDude]

Allright, thanks a lot!

 

[DutchDude]

One more question: everybody is saying that your motherboard matters, i am really paranoïd about this, will my motherboard be able to run this gfx card and can it run like a gtx 690 or do i then need to upgrade my mobo?

Thanks in advance

 

[scragnoff]

Yeah, that's a very relevant question.

To be sure though, are these the specs of your mobo? Link

 

[DutchDude]

Yes, that is definitely my motherboard.

 

[scragnoff]

The GTX 660 interfaces with the mobo using a PCI Express 3.0 x16. However, it is backward compatible and can make use of the PCI Express 2.0 x16.

The MS-7728 mobo has one PCI Express 2.0 x16 port.

So yes, it can run a GTX 660. It can also run a GTX 690, although you will most certainly have to upgrade your specs as your current setup will be severely bottlenecked.