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Noob needs help with hardware upgrade

D

Desertfox89

n00b
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
14
Hi people,

I am a self-admitting noob when it comes to what is the best new hardware and such for my PC. I am on a MSI K9N SLI Platinum Mobo (AM2 Chipset) with AMD64 3500+ and Nvidia 7600 GT vid card.

Recently I upped my memory from 2 GB Corsair DD2 Memory to 4 GB OCZ Memory. To bring up the rest of my system so I can play the new PC games coming out, I was wondering what new upgrades I should get?

I am speculating that I will be needing a new CPU and Vid Card, but I really dont want to spend above 200 dollars for both cause I am pretty poor at the moment.

My friend was recommended either an ATI 4850 or Nvidia 9800 for the vid and anything dual core for the CPU.

What I want to ask everyone here is what you think would be the best CPU and Vid Card for my upgrade, which will be good and cheap? Thanks!
 
For 200, personally I dont see how you are going to be able to afford a 9800 and a dual core gpu. I would have recommended purchasing an 8800gt (used) and a core 2 duo (used), which would bring you to around 250 bucks. With my specs (look down), i can run cod4 at my max resolution 1900x1200 at 80fps without spending too much money on my gpu.
 
What's the make and model of your PSU? Considering the age of your system, you might need to get a new PSU as well. So please list your PSU
 
Danny Bui said:
What's the make and model of your PSU? Considering the age of your system, you might need to get a new PSU as well. So please list your PSU
Click to expand...

I have an Antec True430....i know it's embarrasing I got it 7 years or so back!

I think it would be better for you to save up a little more cash so you can afford something along the lines of a Phenom 9850 to go along with an HD4850/9800GTX... or if you can wait even longer, upgrade your mobo to an AM3 socket so you'll be futureproof.

Otherwise, this is a good CPU for your budget:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103289
Click to expand...

What is the difference between AM2 and AM3?
 
You need a new power supply, first and foremost. Any future upgrades that you make may end up overloading the PSU. Get the BFG LS-550 now, while it's still around the same price as some 450+ watt PSUs.

To answer your question, AM3 is the new "socket" for the Phenom II processors. It's starting off similar to how the original Phenom started off for the "new" AM2+ socket... only this time, it seems like AMD and the motherboard manufacturers came prepared. Some AM2+ motherboards can support the Phenom II processors with a BIOS upgrade, and there are a few Socket AM3 board out now with new chipsets that are designed to work with the Phenom II right out of the box. With the age of your components, however, you may have to purchase a new board if you're considering going with the Phenom II.

Which monitor/resolution are you using now? Are you planning on getting a new monitor soon?
 
tiraides said:
You need a new power supply, first and foremost. Any future upgrades that you make may end up overloading the PSU. Get the BFG LS-550 now, while it's still around the same price as some 450+ watt PSUs.

To answer your question, AM3 is the new "socket" for the Phenom II processors. It's starting off similar to how the original Phenom started off for the "new" AM2+ socket... only this time, it seems like AMD and the motherboard manufacturers came prepared. Some AM2+ motherboards can support the Phenom II processors with a BIOS upgrade, and there are a few Socket AM3 board out now with new chipsets that are designed to work with the Phenom II right out of the box. With the age of your components, however, you may have to purchase a new board if you're considering going with the Phenom II.

Which monitor/resolution are you using now? Are you planning on getting a new monitor soon?
Click to expand...

Is that PSU something that you would recommend that could last quite a while? Also I am running on 1440 x 900 on my Westinghouse 19" Widescreen LCD so I don't think I'm getting a new one any time soon
 
If you want to upgrade your components, I believe that the PSU should be the first thing that you upgrade. You said that you've had your Antec PSU for seven years, which is an eternity when it comes to computer technology. It likely won't be able to handle any new video card (which is really all that you could afford, should you decide to upgrade) that you place in your system.

Given the (presumed) overall age of your system, in the long run, it would be better for you to start saving up for a new system to be built at some point in the future. There is a good chance that your current motherboard may not be able to utilize any of the newer AMD X2/Phenom processors, even with a BIOS update. (I'm not 100% sure on that, however, so I suggest that you find out on your own.) But if you insist on upgrading now, get the BFG LS-500 -- which you should be able to carry over to your next build, if/when you decide to go that route -- and a cheap yet effective card like the HD4830. Its performance is about the same as the 9800GT, and there are currently a few good deals on them, like this Sapphire model for $90.
 
I would find a way to get that budget to $300 then you are good to go. $200 just wont cut it. The mobo you have now will only support an X2 6000 or 6400 which are now outdated and not a reccomended buy. So you would also need a new mobo as well as a highly recomended new psu as others have stated. Here is what I see as your minimum quality build,

AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core black edition + free shipping
GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX $54.99
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $39.99 + free shipping
SAPPHIRE 100265HDMI Radeon HD 4830 512MB $89.99 - $15 mir
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified $54.99 - $10 mir + free shipping
Total: $305 - $25 mir.
 
I recommend going for the build that hossdaddy posted for you. You can omit the video card at this time (for the moment, reuse the 7600GT) and downgrade the processor to the X2 4850e in order to keep everything under/around $200. (As an aside, the AMD Black Edition processors don't come with retail HSFs, which necessitates an additional purchase.)

Once that build is established, sell your old parts. You should also start saving up some money at the same time so you could purchase a new video card -- and, if you wanted to, a better processor -- at the earliest possible time.
 
I can't agree with 4850e suggestion. I don't see the point of getting such a CPU for gaming.
 
If you do go for hossdaddy's build, you can omit the RAM, since you already have 4GB of DDR2.

lt_shiro said:
I can't agree with 4850e suggestion. I don't see the point of getting such a CPU for gaming.
Click to expand...

Yes, it would be best to get hossdaddy's build, but if the guy can't get another $100, its simply not an option.

@OP:
Simply put, any dual core CPU will greatly improve performance on your system, even for gaming. Here's yet another option for you if you can't get the funds for a system overhaul:

$55 - Corsair CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified (Free Shipping) ($10MIR)
$90 - Sapphire 100265HDMI Radeon HD 4830 512MB ($15MIR) (FS Promo: EMCLPNR39)
$54 - AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core (Free Shipping)
==========
$199 + tax (free shipping) - any MIRs

If you have the extra $15, get the BFG. Otherwise, the Corsair has a lot more power on the +12V rails than your True430, which is where your system will draw most of its power.

EDIT: If you keep your board, you'll need a BIOS update: http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=prodcpu2&prod_no=251&maincat_no=1#menu
 
its a $6 more is going to kill the bank? amazon has them instock with free shipping for $60.
 
lt_shiro said:
its a $6 more is going to kill the bank? amazon has them instock with free shipping for $60.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you're referring to the 7750. He'd need a new mobo to use that CPU, which costs $55 more, going by hossdaddy's build. So I guess he doesn't need $100 more like I mentioned earlier, but rather $61 more, plus tax. ;) Nor is it simply $6 more, but rather ten times that amount. :p

hossdaddy said:
...
AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core black edition + free shipping
GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX $54.99
SAPPHIRE 100265HDMI Radeon HD 4830 512MB $89.99 - $15 mir
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified $54.99 - $10 mir + free shipping
Total: $260 - $25 mir.
Click to expand...

get free shipping promo on vidcard from my post above. I'd find a way to get $60 more, because you'll get far greater performance with that extra $60 than if you went with the $200 build I posted above.
 
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