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Upgrading possibilities

S

Shago

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 11, 2009
Messages
192
Hi

Current build: links below
cpu: AMD X3 720BE
mobo: Gigabyte MA790XT-UD4P
graphics card: XFX Radeon HD4870 (1gb GDDR5)
memory: kingston valueram - 4GB DDR3 @ 1333mhz
os: windows 7 32bit


Use:
General use (mailing, streaming movies, browsing,...)
Intense use: I will be playing SWTOR when it comes out (late 2011) and want to be sure to have a rig that can handle everything on maximum settings at a resolution of 1920x1200. Requirements are not yet known.


Questions:
1. The Gigabyte website shows that my motherboard can handle the newer 6 core cpu's but will my almost 3 year old motherboard be a bottleneck for this processor?

2. Upgrading to a newer graphics card or putting another 4870 in for crossfire?

3. Use a SSD to put the OS and frequently used applications on? Which brand?

4. Keep the processor, overclock it and try to unlock the 4th core?


Links:
Motherboard information (CPU support on the right side)
CPU information

/edit: Budget is around 400 euros

Any help/insight is appreciated!

Greetings
 
Last edited:
1) No
2) What PSU do you have? How cheap can you find the HD 4870 for?
3) Yes. Go with Intel's 510 series or Crucial's m4 series SSDs
4) Try unlocking it and overclocking it.
 
Thank you for replying.

I have a Corsair HX620w modular PSU.

Currently I can't seem to find any radeon 4870's second hand but I will go check some stores to see if there are any available.
Can you suggest a descent upgrade from this card? I have been compares specifications with the newer ATI lineups but its doesn't really show "that" much more power.

SSD will be ordered this saturday. Will be a 128GB 2.5" Crucial m4.
I'm new with SSD's, do they give brackets to put them in a 3.5" bay?

About the unlocking, I've contradicting reviews about it, some say the stock cooler can't handle it, others say it can. Anyway, If i'm going to overclock it, I guess its better to get a descent copper cooler. Any suggestions?
 
Go with the HD 6950 2GB. Should be a 30% to 50% performance increase depending on the game.

No, many SSDs do not come with brackets. You will have to buy them separately.

I recommend this HSF:
$30 - Xigmatek Gaia SD1283 120mm HSF
 
Contacted my local hardware show, has a Gigabyte GV R695D5-2GD-B for 230 euros. But probably going to wait.

Tried to unlock. Flashed my bios to the latest (non beta) bios but with no luck. I'm with the unlucky ones.

Anyway, SSD and cooler will be ordered this weekend. (Very nice suggestion for that cooler!! thanks!)

I'm going to wait till release date for the graphics card since I currently don't really need the extra power.

Again, thank you for the suggestions. I came here for help to buy this computer 3 years ago, best thing I ever did!
 
Last edited:
Yeah, thanks again for that, didn't need an upgrade for 3 years :D.

Anyway, minimum specifications for the new MMO I want to play is the following:

Code: 
[SIZE="1"]
CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4000+ or better · Intel Core 2 Duo Processor 2.0GHz or better

RAM
Windows XP: 1.5GB · Windows Vista and Windows 7: 2GB · PCs using a built-in graphical chipset, 2GB RAM recommended.
Video

ATI X1800 or better* · nVidia 7800 or better* · Intel 4100 Integrated Graphics or better*

DVD-ROM
8x or better 

*Minimum of 256MB of on-board RAM and Shader 3.0 or better support.[/SIZE]

Should be fine to play on medium I hope.
 
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