Cheapo Gaming Upgrade Advice

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Ladic

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Mar 30, 2006
Messages
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Ok want to upgrade an older gaming pc, but I'm on a budget.
Reso that I will play in is 1680x1050
Already have OS just need a few parts.
No Overcloking
My idea is to stay below $250 on the 3 pieces I need.

Current Build:

CPU: C2D 4400 (2ghz)
MoBo: Gigabyte (cant remember model)
Ram: 3gb ddr2 (2gb 800 and 1gb 667)
Video: Nvidia 880gts 320mb


Parts I can reuse:

Case: Coolermaster
PSU: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W
Video: Radeon 4870 512mb (I have this card already)
hardrive, dvd drives, etc

What I need to Buy:

CPU, Ram and Motherboard


So Far I was thinking the following parts:

CPU:AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz $74
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103872

MoBo: ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X $84
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131402

Ram: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260

Total: $228 + shipping

Ok so would this give me a noticeable improvement in gaming over the old build?
Is this the best I can do for under $250?
 
You can get a faster CPU if you're willing to cut down on the motherboard a little:
$180 - AMD Phenom II X4 925 CPU + MSI 870-G45 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard Combo

RAM wise, since you're not overclocking, zero reason to go with DDR3 1333 RAM:
$60 - G.Skill F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT 2 x 2GB DDR3 1333 RAM
 
Go with the G.Skill kit that Danny recommended, as it has free ground shipping.
 
That corsair ram does not have a heat spreader. That is a sticker. RIPJAW ram is 64.99 if you want some good cheap ram. %64.99, free shipping.
 
Ryan_Brantley said:
That corsair ram does not have a heat spreader. That is a sticker. RIPJAW ram is 64.99 if you want some good cheap ram. %64.99, free shipping.
Click to expand...

The lack of the heatspreaders on the RAM is not a dealbreaker, especially if the OP isn't overclocking.
 
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