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Q's on upgrading basic PC for gaming

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  • Gaming
  • Graphics Cards
  • CPUs
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January 4, 2014 1:15:25 AM

Hello. I haven't owned a game console since PS1 or PC since Half Life 2. I was considering getting back into gaming. I have a surgery coming up that is going to keep me from being active, and I cant think of a better way to pass the time.

What I'd like to know is, if I bought a basic tower like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FAST-DELL-OPTIPLEX-DUAL-CORE-3-... and upgraded the RAM and added a decent Video Card, would I be able to run newer games with decent graphics settings?

I guess what I'm really asking is, do pretty much all computers allow room for strong graphics cards and xtra RAM? Do all (or most) graphics cards attach universally, or do some cards have different inputs than others? I dont want to end up buying a tower and upgrades and then find out they arent compatable.

Like I said, I'm not looking to have some Alienware mothership of gaming. I would, however, like to be able to play immense, time consuming, goodbye-real-world games like Witcher 2 and SkyRim. But if they can't look at least kind of pretty, i might as well just get a console right?

Thanks for any support, sorry for my ignance.

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January 4, 2014 2:44:14 AM

ryanlamf said:

What I'd like to know is, if I bought a basic tower like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FAST-DELL-OPTIPLEX-DUAL-CORE-3-... and upgraded the RAM and added a decent Video Card, would I be able to run newer games with decent graphics settings?


Well. No. Because in this situation, the CPU is going to bottleneck your graphics card - it simply isn't fast enough to process both the game and the video input from the graphics card at an acceptable rate - the FPS will be quite low I'd imagine, regardless of whether you put a GTX Titan or GT 610. I would honestly think a PS3 or XBOX 360 would be better than that desktop, let alone the PS4 or XBOX One.

ryanlamf said:

I guess what I'm really asking is, do pretty much all computers allow room for strong graphics cards and xtra RAM? Do all (or most) graphics cards attach universally, or do some cards have different inputs than others? I dont want to end up buying a tower and upgrades and then find out they arent compatable.


In this day and age? Mostly. Most computers from around 2006 onwards, for the most part share the same slots in which graphics cards, and other types of expansion cards such as USB 3.0 cards, and other things are used for.

As for RAM, most systems nowadays use DDR3 RAM - I think that system would be using DDR2. DDR3 and DDR2 RAM is not compatible - i.e., DDR2 RAM won't fit in DDR3 ram slots and vice versa.

ryanlamf said:

Like I said, I'm not looking to have some Alienware mothership of gaming. I would, however, like to be able to play immense, time consuming, goodbye-real-world games like Witcher 2 and SkyRim. But if they can't look at least kind of pretty, i might as well just get a console right?

Thanks for any support, sorry for my ignance.


True I guess. But PC offers better graphics, if you have the hardware, a wider arrange of graphics options and with Skyrim, especially, you have, I'd imagine, more easily accessible mods which can bring further gameplay. That and I suck at FPS with controller. :p 

Not to mention you can use your PC for more than just gaming and other entertainment options. But yes. A console in this case wouldn't be a particularly bad choice, but before you decide, I suggest you give us a budget to see if we could piece together a better PC for you which would outperform a console as far as graphics go.
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January 4, 2014 4:19:31 AM

That processor uses really old architecture making it less than impressive for gaming after maybe circa Team Fortress 2.

The motherboard isn't flexible enough for a lot of RAM either, and it uses older RAM, which is actually MORE expensive.

If you wanted to play games at a decent graphical level (high settings, not ultra with the works) a computer will run you around 400 dollars.

I strongly encourage you to build a PC for a few reasons...

- It does other things than games, and very well.
- After buying a PS3, Skyrim and Witcher 2 you have spent 340 dollars.
- Witcher 2 is literally FREE on PC.
- Games are cheaper on PC.


If you're interested in building a PC let me know and I will post a bunch of parts that work together to kill these games on high settings and keep it below 450 bucks. If we find some deals we can even keep the price of the PC around 370 bucks.
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January 4, 2014 4:44:03 AM

What's your budget?
- Below $500, I'd go for a PS4 / XBoxOne
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/xbox-one-vs-sony...

- IF you need to keep the price lower get a last Generation console PS3 / XBox360 (maybe even a USED one...)
http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/08/26/xbox-360-vs-play...

No muss, no fuss, no compatibility issues just sit down n play...

It's tough to buy a older used computer and upgrade it, as has been pointed out:
- CPU's go out of production (775, 1156, 1366, AM2, AM3, .. etc no longer made) quickly making it near impossible to upgrade 'em and why would you as the new CPU are far faster any how...
- DDR RAM and DDR2 RAM (used in older systems) are now obsolete and cost FAR more than current spec DDR3

If you want a project, folks on this board can Certainly help you get all the parts for a gaming PC..... But under $500, WITH and operating system (like Windows 7) you'd be better off on a Console....

I'd say a more realistic threshold for a gaming PC would be $1000 to be Markedly better than a Console......
January 4, 2014 5:31:18 AM

Hmmm. As far as budgeting is concerned, keep in mind that I fully intend to buy everything either used or refurbished. It may sound silly or cheap, but that's what my family always did while I was growing up, and we were always able to afford PCs with much greater staying power (5yrs or so) as opposed to friends families who bought everything new, spent more money, and were outdated in a couple years. Plus many sellers of even used parts seem to offer decent warranties.

With that said, I was hoping to spend somewhere around $400 or so for a setup that could, at least, run most of the games from the last few years, and then over the next year continue upgrading and making it a powerhouse.

After rent and bills are paid each month I usually have around $400 to play with. So I know it would be smarter to just wait 2 months to have $800 to throw down, but that would also mean waiting a month with absolutely nothing to do.

So let me know if buying used/refurb makes that even remotely realistic or if I'm still dreaming. I already found the video card for the Witcher 2 "recommended" requirements for like $30 on ebay where new it would be, I believe, $150. And that's the game I would buy first.

And to whoever said they can't play FPS from a controller (sorry I'm doing this from my phone so it won't let me quote) Amen to that. Aside from the obvious perks of buying a PC when you don't have one, I prefer mouse and keyboard over controller any day. They're way more accurate, and the crazier games get, the more often console control buttons each perform 20 different actions.

My normal pastime is skateboarding and music. Due to combined circumstances they're both about to be unavailable to me. Normally in a situation like this I would just piss my money away at the bar. Kinda weird to be choosing the option that's much less likely to result in getting lucky. I think that's called growing up?
January 4, 2014 5:37:30 AM

Oh ya, one more thing. Thank you all for all of your replies!

Could someone also explain why, when a game says it requires a 2.8ghz processor, that 3.0ghz that I linked isn't powerful enough?
a b U Graphics card
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January 4, 2014 5:46:52 AM

In general you need a quad core CPU for today's games.... I'll check out eBay & send you a few links

1). The older CPU's while they ran at high frequencies, basically didn't get as much done per clock cycle as the new CPU's (in Car Terms: my 1970 400HP V8 Mustang got 8--10mpg.... my current 2010 400HP V8 Mustang get 25mpg it too is "more efficient" )

2). Older CPU's also had one or two cores running at those frequencies, modern ones have 4 to 8 cores running at those same or higher frequencies (on top of being more efficient per clock cycle...)
January 4, 2014 6:15:43 AM

Ah gotcha. Actually the more I'm thinking about this, the more learning how to build a computer is sounding intriguing, and an entertaining time consuming task in itself.

So with that one last variable in place, (the I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing, but am totally willing to buy and install each component as it becomes available/affordable) let's see what we can do. So lets say I don't need a fully functional unit from the start and I'm going to do a slow build.

Gonna start looking up tutorials later today, but fronm the start I'm going to need a motherboard to start building off of right? With the idea in mind that I'd like to be able to continually upgrade, a large case would also be a plus too, I assume.
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January 4, 2014 6:58:34 AM

Order isn't important... Goto Microcenter.com, see if there is a store near you. You can get an AMD Motherboard and CPU combo's from them for $70 !!! (I rarely see anyone selling used stuff for a price like that...)...
A good size case is nice....
A 600watt or more power supply (you can get a new Corsair CX600 for like $35 on-sale with rebates...)
Dam Windows 7 operating system is what sets you back $100.....

What you CAN find used, and cheap enough to make 'em worthwhile are video cards. You can pick up 5870's for under $100, they cost $400+ less than 3 years ago. Current cards of that power are over $200......

See if you can find someone getting rid of some DDR3 RAM, usually they have 2 : 2 Gb sticks and want to upgrade be sure you get it cheap....
a b U Graphics card
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January 4, 2014 7:00:20 AM

Order isn't important... Goto Microcenter.com, see if there is a store near you. You can get an AMD Motherboard and CPU combo's from them for $70 !!! (I rarely see anyone selling used stuff for a price like that...)...
A good size case is nice....
A 600watt or more power supply (you can get a new Corsair CX600 for like $35 on-sale with rebates...)
Dam Windows 7 operating system is what sets you back $100.....

What you CAN find used, and cheap enough to make 'em worthwhile are video cards. You can pick up 5870's for under $100, they cost $400+ less than 3 years ago. Current cards of that power are over $200......

See if you can find someone getting rid of some DDR3 RAM, usually they have 2 : 2 Gb sticks and want to upgrade be sure you get it cheap....
January 4, 2014 11:41:24 PM

jb6684 said:
Order isn't important... Goto Microcenter.com, see if there is a store near you. You can get an AMD Motherboard and CPU combo's from them for $70 !!! (I rarely see anyone selling used stuff for a price like that...)...
A good size case is nice....
A 600watt or more power supply (you can get a new Corsair CX600 for like $35 on-sale with rebates...)
Dam Windows 7 operating system is what sets you back $100.....

What you CAN find used, and cheap enough to make 'em worthwhile are video cards. You can pick up 5870's for under $100, they cost $400+ less than 3 years ago. Current cards of that power are over $200......

See if you can find someone getting rid of some DDR3 RAM, usually they have 2 : 2 Gb sticks and want to upgrade be sure you get it cheap....


Great advice. Ya I've been reading up online, and building a comp from scratch actually seems way less overwhelming than I thought it would. I think what I'm gonna do is just buy one of the last generation consoles and a TV for super cheap, and then slowly build a decent tower over the next few months. That way I don't end up with a disappointing system just because I was impatient or trying to meet a certain price limit.

Ya it seems like Video Cards, RAM, and PSU's, and optical drives are where I'll be able to find refurbished, used, and just plain good deals. No legal way of getting around having to buy Windows though...

A couple more questions. I remember, whenever my folks would by buy a new computer, each one would have all these different drives and ports that they were talked into adding. I remember one in particular had like 6 different card format reader slots, none of which we ever used. Same goes for the ZIP drive on an earlier model. It seems firewire, which I actually liked, is no longer a standard. Since I've been off the grid I've lost touch with what modes of data storage and sharing have actually kept and connectivity have actually kept and which were just fads. Is a modern mother board going to have everything essential I need?

Also, will decent graphics cards come with HDMI ports?

When I'm finally ready to build I'll come back to the forum for advice. Should I start a new thread then, or just resurrect this one?
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January 5, 2014 4:10:33 AM

Pretty much everything plugs into a "USB" port today (external hard drives, wireless adapters, printers, removable storage (called "thumb" or "zip" drives)

Firewire, can be found if you look for it... (Serial ports & parallel ports are gone..)

There are no longer ANY forms of removable magnet media.. (all replace by DVD/CD drives or Thumb drives)

I'd pick a solution and close out this thread. A new thread generally grabs more attention.....

!