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Next System Upgrade for $150

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  • Computers
  • Systems
Last response: in Systems
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What to upgrade next?

Total: 1 vote

  • Increase RAM to 16GB
  • 0 %
  • Purchase a 120GB SSD
  • 100 %
  • Go for a GT640 and Hybrid PhysX
  • 0 %
  • Other (please specify below)!
  • 0 %
June 1, 2014 7:33:07 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks to the awesome help from this community, I've managed to build a computer I'm quite happy with. I've now stumbled upon some surplus cash and I was wondering where I could put it to good use in my system. Specs as follows:

CPU: Xeon E3-1230V2 @3.7Ghz.
MB: MSI Z68 G65.
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB (4X2) @1866 10-10-10-28.
GPU: XFX Radeon 290X DD.
HDD1: Mushkin 60GB SSD.
HDD2: Seagate 1TB ST1000DM003.
PSU: 750W 80+ modular.
Cooling: CM Hyper T4.
Monitor: Qnix 2710 1440p@90hz.

I figured these would be my best upgrade paths:

1) Increase my RAM to 16GB. I don't really stress the computer much other than gaming though. Watch Dogs performance is already pretty good. However, RAM usage does seem to be increasing these days.

2) Purchase a 120GB SSD. I'll probably just use this for game installations. My current SSD still has 22GB free though so I won't need it for normal programs. I'm not sure whether there's actually any real benefits from gaming using an SSD.

3) Purchase an Nvidia card for hybrid PhysX (probably a GT640). I guess there would be other uses for an Nvidia GPU as well such as 3DVision for media. This seemed like a good option before. However, it now looks like this project is dead in the water. Shame.

My max budget would be roughly $150. I could stretch this to $200 if it's really crucial.

So where do you reckon I put my hard-earned money?

Thanks a lot for the help and suggestions in advance guys! Love this place!

More about : system upgrade 150

June 1, 2014 7:43:23 AM

Upgrade your SSD to a samsung 840 pro, everything else in your build is perfect
June 1, 2014 7:45:08 AM

If u wont occupy 8gb of ram then the extra 8 gb would be total waste
I cant see any reason why you should buy a gt640 while u have a 290
I'd say go for an SSD upgrade, Samsung 840 Pro 128GB (100$) or 256 (200$) preferably
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June 1, 2014 12:15:44 PM

IHaveDaBestPC said:
Upgrade your SSD to a samsung 840 pro, everything else in your build is perfect


sDGam said:
If u wont occupy 8gb of ram then the extra 8 gb would be total waste
I cant see any reason why you should buy a gt640 while u have a 290
I'd say go for an SSD upgrade, Samsung 840 Pro 128GB (100$) or 256 (200$) preferably


You guys sure about the SSD upgrade? At the moment I've only used around 36GB of my 60GB one. My games are currently all installed on the 1TB Seagate (which coincidentally also has 600GB free). I think Watch Dogs is the only (reported) game to benefit substantially from an SSD.

Or are you guys just suggesting an SSD to improve on my current one?
June 1, 2014 6:34:59 PM

SSDs are good for everything. You add some more programms to it and some games you play often even if you cant see any difference from the HDD.
If you buy another SSD you can load the OS and programs like browser etc. on the fastest one. The rest space will be for other programs you use often. The slower and any free space in the faster can be used for games.

Actually this is an optional upgrade if you really wanna spend more money on your build. You can also save your money since u are not gonna see any major upgrade with and extra SSD.
The only viable upgrade would be the RAM but since you dont occupy the 8GB you own, you dont need 16GB
!