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PC Upgrade Ideas

Started by Sam Sanchez3 · · 👁 5 views · 168 replies

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Participants Sam Sanchez3Drew Sanchez82crimsonstag84swiftfalcon89Robert Rodriguez2Kimberly Gomez34Richard Stewart64Larry Ortiz5fadedorca66swiftscout21Benjamin King2Robin Young7Alex Doyle90Alexander Moore67Henry Campbell4rapidpuma59Bryan Taylor6Taylor Gray8David Sanders4Peter King4Chloe Lewis11graniteharbor85Samuel Rivera72Megan Brown38
swiftscout21 swiftscout21 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Nov 2014
#41 ·
Benjamin King2;47592238 said:Grafa -
PSU -

You've got a solid motherboard there—honestly, that processor should handle 3 GHz at 12x250 on stock voltage without breaking a sweat, provided you grab a better cooler to keep things chill:

It’s about $400, but the best part is you can carry all those parts over to a brand-new build down the road.[/QUOT

Doesn't look like much of an upgrade to me (well, unless you're counting rabbit calories, haha)—but what do you think? Will it actually hold up for a while? thanks! 🙂 I'll give you a shout if I try to order anything and they're out of stock. Catch ya later!
Robin Young7 Robin Young7 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Jan 2015
#42 ·
I’m a bit out of my element with this stuff, so I could use some help regarding an upgrade.
I just want to play Madden NFL 14 without my eyes burning after two matches, haha.

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=2434#sp

2GB RAM
Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT
Kimberly Gomez34 Kimberly Gomez34 Regular
686 messages
joined Jul 2009
#43 ·
Robin Young7 said:I’m a bit of a novice when it comes to this stuff, so I’d really appreciate some advice regarding an upgrade.
I’m looking to play Madden NFL 14 without my eyes straining after just two matches, haha.

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=2434#sp

2GB RAM
Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT

What CPU are you currently running? And what about your power supply? (You should be able to find the model name by checking the side panel of your PC case.)
Robin Young7 Robin Young7 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Jan 2015
#44 ·
Timothy Kim60 said:So what CPU are you running right now? And the power supply? Just pop the case open and look for the model number.

iso-450pp 350w

amd athlon(tm) 64 X2 dual core 4800+

I think I nailed the power supply model.😁
Kimberly Gomez34 Kimberly Gomez34 Regular
686 messages
joined Jul 2009
#45 ·
Robin Young7 said:iso-450pp 350w

amd athlon(tm) 64 X2 dual core 4800+

I think I nailed the power supply model here.😁

That PSU is absolute junk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqQyjLbPj90
😬

First off, what exactly do you mean by your eyes feeling strained?
Could it be an issue with the monitor itself?😁

If you're looking to upgrade—what kind of budget are we working with?
Look, this PC isn't anything special by today's standards. The real question is whether upgrading makes any sense. For example, if you wanted a better CPU, you'd have to hunt down used parts that actually fit your current motherboard. If you decide to stick with the current setup, you'd have to ask if just getting a better graphics card is worth it, or if adding more RAM would be a smarter move. Honestly, at this stage, the best path is usually a fresh start: a new motherboard, CPU, GPU, and RAM, plus a reliable power supply.
Robin Young7 Robin Young7 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Jan 2015
#46 ·
Timothy Kim60 said:trash power supply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqQyjLbPj90
😬

First off, what do you mean by your eyes stinging?
Could be an issue with the monitor? 😁

If you're looking to upgrade—what's your budget look like?
Look, this PC isn't anything special by today's standards. Is it even worth upgrading a CPU that fits that motherboard? You'd be hunting for used parts. If you stick with the current setup, would a better GPU even make sense? Adding more RAM would be smart too. Honestly, the best move is a new motherboard, CPU, GPU, and RAM. And grab a decent power supply while you're at it.

hm so how much do you think I could get for my rig if I sold it?
And if I'm buying something new that can actually run modern games, is it better to build a new PC or just grab a PS4 or an Xbox One?
Kimberly Gomez34 Kimberly Gomez34 Regular
686 messages
joined Jul 2009
#47 ·
Post your specs here if you want an estimate (just make sure to list everything—case, hard drive, all of it)

CPU—maybe $50, RAM could be around $100-$120, and for the power supply, just give me whatever you can get—maybe $17

If you decide to keep your current case and hard drive (assuming it's a SATA port), you could pick up

Even though Madden NFL 14 isn't super demanding right now, there’s a good chance a next-gen version will hit PC within the year. With the build mentioned above, you should be set for sports games for several years, and you'll run any older titles without breaking a sweat. It really boils down to this: the more cash you throw at it, the more performance you get.

If you're a hardcore gamer, you might want to consider a console instead. That would carry you through an entire generation of gaming, though I'm not sure how easy it'll be to find cheap or unofficial copies of games😬
Robin Young7 Robin Young7 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Jan 2015
#48 ·
Timothy Kim60 said:Ask over here for an appraisal (but list everything—case and hard drive included)

CPU might be $50, RAM maybe 100-120, PSU whatever you can grab—maybe $17

If you ditch the case and the hard drive (assuming it's a SATA port), you could buy

Even if Madden NFL 14 isn't demanding right now, next-gen sports titles will probably hit PC in a year. With that build, you'll be set for sports games for a few years, and older titles should run fine too. It all comes down to how much cash you want to throw at it—you get what you pay for.

If you're a hardcore gamer, just buy a console. You'd be set for the whole generation. I just don't know how many games you'll actually be able to afford—will they even be crackable? 😬

So that's a decent price once you add it all up for a new machine $767, but hey, you get what you pay for...

I think a serious gamer wouldn't be worrying about the bare minimum spend, but rather the maximum they're willing to drop. I love gaming, but not more than I love existing.😁

I had an Xbox 360, but I got rid of it because I figured something new was coming and didn't want to sell it for peanuts later. I only picked it up once people started cracking the games.
Newer consoles might be cheaper than previous ones, but game prices are brutal. It’ll likely take a year or two before piracy becomes an option again.
Alex Doyle90 Alex Doyle90 Member
15 messages
joined Oct 2020
#49 ·
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional 32-bit sp3
At the heart of this particular machine sits the Intel Celeron 326 Prescott 90nm, a processor that truly defines an era of computing.
RAM: It’s just a single-channel 512MB DDR stick running at 166MHz with those rather sluggish 2.5-3-3-7 timings.
Motherboard: Gigabyte Technology Co. 8I865GME-775-RH (Socket 775) | Temperature: 72 °F
Graphics setup: running an L204WT monitor at 1280x960 @ 60Hz, powered by an Intel 82865 g Graphics Controller from Gigabyte.
Hard drive status check: my Western Digital WDC WD3200AAKS-00V1A0 (SATA) is currently sitting at a steady 30 °C.
Optical drives: the NEC DVD_RW ND-3570A.

So, here is my current PC setup. I’m planning to upgrade the parts I've highlighted in bold—specifically the RAM—but honestly, I’m staring at this list and feeling a bit lost on how to actually pull it off. This rig was originally put together back in 2008, so it’s definitely seen better days. Can anyone point me in the right direction regarding what exactly I should be looking for and the best way to go about making this happen?
Alexander Moore67 Alexander Moore67 Active Member
137 messages
joined Jun 2013
#50 ·
Alex Doyle90 said:OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional 32-bit sp3
CPU: Intel Celeron 326 Prescott 90
RAM: 512MB single-channel DDR @ 166MHz (2.5-3-3-7)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Technology Co. 8I865GME-775-RH (Socket 775) 22 °C
Graphics: L204WT (1280x960@60Hz) Intel 82865 g Graphics Controller (Gigabyte)
Hard Drives: 298GB Western Digital WDC WD3200AAKS-00V1A0 (SATA) 30 °C
Optical Drives: NEC DVD_RW ND-3570A

Here is my current setup. I'm planning on upgrading the bolded part (the RAM), but I'm really not sure what the best move is. I bought this PC back in 2008. Can anyone give me some advice on WHAT to get and HOW to go about it?

This seems like the cheapest option
http://www.craigslist.org/ram-memory/...-listing-9797181
Alex Doyle90 Alex Doyle90 Member
15 messages
joined Oct 2020
#51 ·
Alexander Moore67 said:this is the cheapest option available
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ram-memory-listing-example

Alright, thanks for the heads-up. If I go ahead and pull the trigger on this RAM, will I actually be able to run Windows 7 64-bit?
Benjamin King2 Benjamin King2 Active Member
138 messages
joined Apr 2007
#52 ·
Just grab two 1 GB sticks of DDR 400, and let that little guy deal with the rest.
fadedorca66 fadedorca66 Regular
372 messages
joined Nov 2022
#53 ·
Alex Doyle90 said:Alright, thanks. If I grab that RAM, will I be able to run Windows 7 64-bit?

Look, this motherboard is pretty ancient and there aren't any official drivers for Windows 7 here:

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...px?pid=2568#dl

But you could probably try; I guess Windows might just use some generic drivers built-in...
Alex Doyle90 Alex Doyle90 Member
15 messages
joined Oct 2020
#54 ·
So, what I'm hearing is that I'm looking at either a brand-new motherboard or an entirely new PC build, right? Or am I just being overly optimistic about my current hardware's survival?
fadedorca66 fadedorca66 Regular
372 messages
joined Nov 2022
#55 ·
Maybe give the install a shot and see if it sticks; you might be able to dig up some drivers online if you're lucky.

Plus, upgrading to a new rig would definitely give you a much faster machine, so if you've got the cash, why not...
Alex Doyle90 Alex Doyle90 Member
15 messages
joined Oct 2020
#56 ·
If I finally pull the trigger on a brand-new PC build, $1000 what exactly should I be looking out for, and what would you all recommend I prioritize?
Kimberly Gomez34 Kimberly Gomez34 Regular
686 messages
joined Jul 2009
#57 ·
fadedorca66 said:But you can certainly give it a shot; Windows usually comes packed with some generic drivers out of the box...

It’ll likely work.
I recently installed it on a newer build than yours (an LGA 775 setup)—where the motherboard didn't even have official drivers for Windows 7 32-bit—and everything functioned perfectly fine.

Alex Doyle90 - what exactly are you planning to use this PC for?
Alex Doyle90 Alex Doyle90 Member
15 messages
joined Oct 2020
#58 ·
Most of the time, I’m really just using it for surfing the web, catching movies, or listening to some music.
Kimberly Gomez34 Kimberly Gomez34 Regular
686 messages
joined Jul 2009
#59 ·
So, are you planning on doing any gaming at all? Because if not, you can definitely find a better deal—probably north of $220 using an Intel Celeron 326 Prescott 90

If you’re working with a SATA drive, you could just drop this right into your current setup

Since you're relying on integrated graphics, pretty much any power supply will handle the load
Alex Doyle90 Alex Doyle90 Member
15 messages
joined Oct 2020
#60 ·
No, I don't actually need it for gaming... Is this something I should be looking at for my current setup, or is it more of a consideration for when I upgrade to a newer rig?

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