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What should I upgrade?

E

EagerForHelp

n00b
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Messages
4
Hello everyone I am looking for help upgrading my computer but I am already sort of in a situation, hear me out. My computer is 3 years old, its an Alienware custom built aurora. The specs are as follows:http://speccy.piriform.com/results/dFKnDo4bePC4CuMiro27ztv

The basic rundown if u don't want to click link (Info from original invoice + speccy)

OS = Windows 7 64x bit
Motherboard = Asus 790fx M3A32-MVP Deluxe
Ram = (4) Elpedia 1GB DDR2 PC2-6400 U-DIMM 800 MHZ
CPU = AMD,X2,5800+,3000,2X1M,2C G2.89 WATT PROCESSOR
GPU = (2) Visiontek ATI HD4850 512MB PCI-E (Running in crossfire)
Monitor = Samsung SyncMaster (1920 x 1200)

Now my situation is that I didn't really do my research and bought a GPU ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=oqsmdqt53bxd) for 170$ (150 After M.I.R)

The GPU is XFX HD-687A-ZHFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP (If you didn't want to click link)

Now from doing some research I have come under the impression that the my 2 radeon 4850's are just as good or a little less (performance wise) then this radeon 6870. I originally bought the GPU because i was under the impression that my GPU's were getting old since they have started to make more noise and run at 80-83 C idle.

Now if you are still with me, my question(s) is simple but i have some input. First off, what part of my spec's is in need of an upgrade the most? I can return this GPU and purchase a new Mobo/CPU/RAM if that will boost my performance more than this GPU, if not is this GPU a good buy for what i have paid? (Im sort of hoping so) I am looking to just upgrade slowly over the next year, so my budget as of right now is the $170 i have invested in the new GPU. Like i said i can return it and maybe go up to $200. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance
 
yeah i think that gpu was a decent buy for what you paid. dont forget that its a much newer architecture and it supports dx11. also running a single newer gpu rather than the older 4850s will probably use less power. that mobo is AM2+, you should be able to use an AM3 proc with it. moving to something like a phenom II x4 955 black edition would be a solid upgrade assuming that motherboard supports it (it should, but not positive.)

im not sure if the board supports ddr3. i was under the impression that most AMD chipsets were backwards compatible with ram, but im not sure if ddr3 support was available with that chipset.

the most optimal situation would be to replace everything but the video card and monitor (i suppose you could keep the case if you wanted.) that would mean new cpu, mobo, psu, and ram. im assuming since you purchased an alienware that the intended use for this pc was gaming originally. if you are still wanting to game you would be better off with an intel 2500k build.

so basically you need to decide whether you want to upgrade and keep the pc alive for a little while longer or build a new computer. upgrading slowly over the next year is going to net you sub par results as available hardware and prices change so frequently. basically if you want to upgrade you should do it NOW. if you dont have the funds and you need to wait i would suggest simply saving for a new build and coming back to us once you have the funds ready (lets say around $600 assuming we keep your monitor, case and gpu)
 
The problem is that you need both a CPU and GPU upgrade.

Here's the deal: your current CPU was already a bottleneck for your video cards 3 years ago. So you might not actually be getting the full performance out of your HD 4850 512MB Crossfire setup. However, due to your high resolution, your HD 4850 512MB CFX setup will no longer cut it due to their 512MB of combined VRAM with many games now. Not to mention that Crossfire scaling with the HD 4xxx series wasn't/isn't as good as it should be.

With that said, you should notice a more performance difference with that HD 6870 than with just a CPU, mobo, and RAM upgrade alone due to your high resolution. The extra VRAM, better scaling, and updated drivers should provide a decent noticeable performance or settings increase. But you wouldn't be getting the full performance out of that HD 6870 until you upgrade the CPU, mobo, and RAM.

The HD 6870 for $170 is a good buy.
 
thank you for the reply, that is sort of good news for me considering im debating whether to send the $170 GPU back, take a 15% refund loss then attempt to research and look for a CPU/mobo/ram and then get all installed (which isnt cheap since i cant install myself). So your saying the 6870 would be a boost in performance, and would be the first to upgrade rather than the CPU/mobo/ram? If so thats good, what part should i upgrade next (which is bottlenecking the 6870 the most)
Im looking to upgrade over the year (yes i know fluctuating prices and always being outdated but not much i can do). I am just trying to run SWTOR and would like to just increase performance for my computer gradually since from what i have heard, swtor isn't too graphically demanding
 
EagerForHelp said:
(which isnt cheap since i cant install myself).
Click to expand...
Maybe learn how to? Tons of guides on the net on how to do that. Hell several of those guides are linked in the General Hardware FAQ.
EagerForHelp said:
So your saying the 6870 would be a boost in performance, and would be the first to upgrade rather than the CPU/mobo/ram?
Click to expand...
It should be a boost in performance. However, I'm not saying it should be the first to upgrade since virtually every part in that PC needs to be upgraded. And I'm already assuming, something that I don't like to do when it comes to PSUs, that your PSU will be enough for that HD 6870.
EagerForHelp said:
Im looking to upgrade over the year (yes i know fluctuating prices and always being outdated but not much i can do).
Click to expand...
I disagree. Unless there's a particular reason why you can't save money that you're already planning on spending on PC parts, your best bet after the GPU upgrade is to just hold and save your money so that you can upgrade everything at once.
 
My psu is a generic 750 watt oem atx, it came with the computer when it was built. If i kept the card, could i upgrade the mobo/ram/CPU for around 200$? Id like to maximize performance of the 6870
 
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If you locate a picture of the PSU online, please take a picture of the label on the side of that 750W PSU. That label should have a chart of sorts of numbers and such.

Now I'm curious whether or not that PSU can take another upgrade.

But yes, you might able to do a CPU + Mobo + RAM upgrade for around $200. Possibly a little more.
 
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