Which way should I go?

Hey everyone, what's up!

So, I’ve got this absolute dinosaur of a PC. Honestly, it still gets me through my daily tasks, but given how old it is, it can barely handle anything modern. My big dream was to finally play Ark: Survival Evolved, but yeah... that's a total pipe dream. It runs like a freaking slideshow—maybe 15-20 fps if I'm lucky.

Here’s the current breakdown:

Intel Core i5 4th Gen 8 GB DDR3 1600 ASUS mATX
4GB DDR3 1600
An ASRock mATX motherboard with a 960 chipset that supports both DDR2 and DDR3, so I don't have much room to grow...
GeForce GTX 1060 EVGA 650W
Corsair HX650

The whole thing is tucked away inside a Dell OptiPlex desktop case. I did that on purpose because I really want to keep it as a "sleeper" build—plus, I don't really feel like dealing with the headache of modding a new case right now. 😁

What do you guys think? Should I sink some cash into used parts to keep this thing on life support, or should I just bite the bullet and swap out the CPU, motherboard, and RAM entirely?

If I go the used route, any recommendations on what to grab (besides more RAM, obviously 😁)? Or should I just toss this thing in the trash? 😁

How much cash were you actually planning on dropping? Patching this thing up feels like just dragging out the inevitable, if you ask me.

If you've got the budget, you might as well just grab a fresh CPU, motherboard, and RAM combo. Honestly though, that GPU is pretty ancient and weak by today's standards, so you'll probably want to swap that out too.

So, I was thinking about doing this two-stage upgrade. First step might be swapping out my "holy trinity" for something in that Intel Core i3 class. I'm honestly not sure what the deal is with the integrated graphics on those—like, is having it built onto the chip actually any better than what I've got now, or should I just hunt down a used card instead?

For the first part of the swap, I'm looking to spend no more than $500. It's been a minute since I really messed around with PC hardware, so I'm guessing that’s a decent ballpark for an entry-level setup... 😁
Then I'd probably look for a GPU in the second stage... or maybe I do it the other way around? Hmmm... 🤔

Intel Core i3-1200 (3.1GHz up to 3.4GHz, 10MB (2MB+8MB), 4C/4T, LGA 1200, COOLER, 65W), 36MJ
DDR4 8GB (1x8GB), DDR4 3000, CL16, DIMM 288-pin, Corsair Vengeance LPX CMK8GX4M1D3000C16, 36mj
MB MSI B360M Pro-VD Plus, LGA 1200, micro ATX, 2x DDR4, Intel B360, S3 4x, VGA, DVI-D, 36mj

$585 - Telebit

As cheap as possible... I probably wouldn't go with an A320 motherboard, though.

You just need another 4 gigs of RAM and you're good to go, which is about $50

this proves your CPU isn't actually that bad



this is roughly your CPU (slightly weaker) and your GPU (slightly weaker)



your GPU



if you're looking for a better CPU, try an Intel Core i7, but watch out for the 95W limit... make sure it doesn't exceed that. You can check the manufacturer's site for a list of compatible CPUs for that board...

want a stronger GPU? maybe a used NVIDIA GTX 660

What NVIDIA GTX 660? Don't be ridiculous... you can't find them for less than $167, and honestly, they perform worse than an HD 7850 these days. I guess those Intel Core i7 chips aren't really worth it either... maybe an FX 6300 if you're looking at $83 or less.

The NVIDIA GTX 660 actually edges out the HD 7850 slightly

http://hwbench.com/vgas/geforce-gtx-...radeon-hd-7850

Here is the link for $150

https://www.ebay.com/itm/graphic-card-listing-example

Bryan Taylor6 said:Dude, you’re practically there! Just snag another 4 gigs of RAM and you'll be good to go. It's honestly such a tiny upgrade—you'll be gaming in no time! $50

See? This just goes to show that this processor isn't actually all that bad!

I can't actually watch videos through links! You gotta give me the details, man. Just drop the gist of what's happening in the video—what they're talking about, the main points, whatever—and I'll get to work rewriting it with that same high energy. Send it over!

So this is basically your estimate (though a little low) and your GPU (kind of a bummer too)!

Since you only provided a link without any accompanying text to rewrite, I can't transform a specific post for you just yet! Drop the text you want me to overhaul right here. I'll make sure to keep that upbeat, choppy, "Sam Cruz11" energy while swapping out all those references to make it feel like it's happening right here in the States. Ready when you are!

What about your GPU?

If you’re looking to grab a better CPU, definitely go with that FX 8xxx series, but seriously—watch out for the wattage! Don't let it creep over 95W or you'll be asking for trouble. Check the manufacturer's website for the motherboard; they'll have a full list of supported CPUs right there.

Need a better GPU? Thinking about grabbing a used GTX 660?

Haha, I'm actually digging this first one! If they had details like that, I'd be so stoked. 😁

Man, I feel you! It’s like everything else works exactly how it should, but then the frame rate just goes totally bananas... total slideshow mode! 🍌📉 😵

So if I grab a CPU for like $250, toss in another $150 for some extra RAM—since I’m running two 2GB sticks right now—and then drop about $500 on a decent GPU... haha... man, I'll be flying! I'd basically be getting half the price of a whole new high-end rig, just without the graphics card included!

Look, let's get one thing straight—I'm not out here trying to play everything on some super ultra mega giga 16K settings, alright? That's just not me. I just want things to be playable, you know? Like, I don't need it to run on the absolute lowest of the low settings either. Somewhere around that middle ground, maybe like 1/3 quality? I'm not even expecting 1080p. Honestly, that 1400x900 resolution from the first video looks totally fine to me... actually, I'd be perfectly happy even with 720p! 😁

You might want to grab at least a 120GB Apple drive—actually, 240GB would be better so you can fit the whole OS on there. Keep your current RAM and just set the page file to 10GB since an Apple drive is so fast. That might actually be your best move...

It should look something like this, roughly...





Pay close attention to the RAM and page file values here...

Your other options are to buy another 4GB stick to get 2+4, or just sell your 2+2 setup and pick up 4+4 instead.

But honestly, the Apple drive thing could be the real game changer. You basically gain virtual RAM and everything—boot times, browsing, whatever else you're doing—will feel way faster...

I'd try the Apple drive first. Then you can swap out the CPU or the GPU later if you aren't happy with the performance...

This guy says his Apple drive made things insanely fast...

The absolute best way to go with an Apple

Bryan Taylor6 said:maybe grab an Apple drive with at least 120GB—honestly, 240GB is better so you can fit the whole ARK on there. Just keep your current RAM and set the page file to 10GB since that Apple speed makes it feel like extra memory. That might actually be the winning move here.

It’d look something like this, roughly

Pay close attention to the RAM and page file settings

Other options are just grabbing a 4GB stick to get 2+4, or ditching your 2+2 setup for a 4+4 combo

But the Apple thing could be legit! You basically get more virtual RAM and everything boots way faster, plus your web browsing and general stuff will feel snappy too...

I'd try the Apple route first, then worry about swapping the CPU or GPU later if you're still feeling sluggish

This guy claims his Apple drive made things insanely fast

So an Apple drive will help? Hmm... I have one, but my system is still stuttering... hmm... guess I'll have to wipe Windows and reinstall everything to test it out...

So is ARK just a total RAM hog? Maybe it's best if I just find a way to score some 8GB of RAM.... 😁

That works too... 8+2 DDR3

Sure, you might get a little bump from more RAM and an Apple, but don't expect a miracle. If you're getting 15-20 FPS now, you'll maybe hit 25-30, which is still basically a slideshow.

If you actually have the cash, I'd say just buy something new; anything else is just patching up a sinking ship.

fadedorca66 said:Look, you might grab some extra RAM and an Apple, but don't expect a miracle. If you're pulling like 15-20 FPS right now, you'll maybe bump up to 25-30. It’s still gonna be a total slideshow!

If you've got the cash, just go brand new. Anything else is basically just patching up an old wreck!

Honestly, I'm thinking the exact same thing. Most of the stuff I play is pretty old school anyway, so my hardware is definitely showing its age... at this point, putting any more money into it feels like just burning cash for the sake of it. Total waste!
Honestly? Better to just stack up a decent pile of cash and grab something newer and more reliable...

Gonna try pairing this up with an Apple drive to see how it all shakes out! :-)

Give it a shot, it won't cost you anything, but I guess you should probably think twice before dumping cash into an old junker because once that money is gone, there's no coming back. 😁

Bryan Taylor6 said:the GTX 660 is slightly more powerful than an HD 7850

http://hwbench.com/vgas/geforce-gtx-...radeon-hd-7850

here is the link for $150

https://www.ebay.com/itm/graphics-card-listing

The bottom line is—today. That link you shared features tests from ages ago; if you look closely, the newest titles are stuck in 2012. If you followed the Kepler architecture, you know it didn't age particularly well with modern titles and drivers, whereas GCN GPUs held up much better.

By the way, that listing you linked is dead, and even if it weren't, this is a better deal (it's more powerful, newer, and has a superior cooler).

Every now and then, a GTX 760 or a GTX 960 will pop up at a great price, but you have to hunt for those deals. Personally, I’d suggest he aims for something even more potent once he reaches his budget.

@Sam Cruz11

ARC is absolute garbage when it comes to performance—at least it was during its early access phase. Your best bet is to upgrade the whole platform; trying to fix things with half-baked solutions won't give you the rebirth you're looking for. Ultimately, just check the benchmarks and YouTube videos to see how the game actually performs on specific hardware.

Timothy Kim60 said:The big thing is—today. That link you shared? Those tests are ancient history. If you look at the dates, the newest titles are from like 2012. And if you were following the Kepler era, those didn't age all that great with newer games and drivers, whereas the GCN GPUs actually held up pretty well.

By the way, that ad you linked is dead anyway, and even if it wasn't, this is a much better deal (it's more powerful, newer, and has a better cooler).

Sometimes you can snag a GTX 760 or a GTX 960 for a steal, but you gotta hunt for them. Personally, I’d tell him to aim for something even beefier once he's ready to drop some real cash.

@Sam Cruz11/">@@Sam Cruz11

ARC is absolute garbage when it comes to performance—well, at least it was during early access. Honestly, your best bet is just swapping the whole platform, because trying to fix things with half-baked solutions isn't gonna give you that "new PC" feeling. Just check out the benchmarks and YouTube videos; you can see exactly how the game runs on different hardware.

Ugh, you're tempting me! That card isn't bad, and I actually have a WindForce model right now and it's awesome... damn this car, I have to race it this month hahah😁😁

Yeah, I get that it's risky... but I'm a die-hard fan of the Red Team, so I'll probably stick with AMD for now.🕺 😁

Timothy Kim60 said:By the way, that ad you linked is dead. Even if it weren't, this is a much better deal (stronger card, newer architecture, superior cooler).

Sometimes you can snag a GTX 760 or a GTX 960 at a steal, but you have to hunt for them. Personally, I’d tell him to aim for something even beefier once he reaches his budget limit.

It was live yesterday, clearly sold already...

I agree, an R9 270 is solid, along with everything else mentioned...

But let's get back to basics... he'll hit 30fps at 720p either by using an SSD with a fast page file—basically leveraging the RAM—or just upgrading to 8GB of DDR3. It's a quick fix for about 200 bucks... or even just a Windows 7 reinstall if there's already an SSD installed.$100

Everything else is just spending whatever your wallet allows... Smartic's build $583 + an overclocked R9 270 $150 = $733 and you're good to go.

Bryan Taylor6 said:It was active yesterday, clearly sold....

Totally agree, and that R9 270 is solid, just like everything else mentioned.....

But let's get back to basics here....you can hit 30fps at 720p if you slap an SSD in there and use a fast page file—basically using it as RAM—or just grab 8GB of DDR3 memory....it's a quick fix for maybe 200 bucks$100, or even just reinstalling Windows 7 if you already have the SSD

Everything else is just spending whatever your budget allows.....if you take Smartic's setup $583 + an overclocked R9 270 $150 = $733 and just enjoy the ride

To start, I'm gonna try the SSD combo first, then slowly save up cash to build something newer in the $833 range, because it's pretty obvious that $500 is a budget... well... crap 😁

send over the results