Cheap upgrade to my PC

[hardtofindinthefuture]

What is a cheap upgrade that could make my PC handle games better

Specs

C2D e4400 2.66Ghz

4GB drr2

Gt 730 2gb ddr3 (overclocked)

1tb HDD

budget $60 ish

i dont know if i should buy a new CPU, more ram or a better GPU

[Damascus]

Get an i5 2400/2500 + mobo + RAM combo, they go for about 50-70 used

[Damascus]

If you can't find an i5 an i3 2130 prebuilt is more likely to go sub $30, get one of them.

[serguzzle]

You can also catch a 660ti on ebay for $60, and that GPU served me really well for years.

[PartyWire]

Hd 7850 for 50 usd or so, 6970 for also 50 usd or so, maybe even less, performs notably better than the GT730...

[Zando_]

15 minutes ago, Damascus said:

Get an i5 2400/2500 + mobo + RAM combo, they go for about 50-70 used

@Brainless906  has i5 2400s (He had 3, I hope he still still has some left) for $45 USD. I got one, and it’s awesome!

[demonix00]

Used processors from that socket can be obtained for cheap, so if the board accepts it upgrade to a C2Q and if you can push the budget a bit upgrade the graphics card to a GT1030.

[kaiju_wars]

2 hours ago, v0nn_toaster said:

What is a cheap upgrade that could make my PC handle games better

Specs

C2D e4400 2.66Ghz

4GB drr2

Gt 730 2gb ddr3 (overclocked)

1tb HDD

budget $60 ish

i dont know if i should buy a new CPU, more ram or a better GPU

Is your budget $60 for everything?

If so.  Check if your motherboard can handle Core 2 Quads, if so get that, they're cheap.  If you can bump up the RAM, do so, especially if you have more open RAM slots.

For a GPU... gonna have to buy used.  Hell, even a used HD 7770 would kick the 730's ass.

[Damascus]

3 hours ago, Zando Bob said:

@Brainless906  has i5 2400s (He had 3, I hope he still still has some left) for $45 USD. I got one, and it’s awesome!

Only issue with that is the cost of the board and RAM.  The upgrade to a sandy bridge i3 is  what I did for a friend who had an ancient 775 dual core + GT 730.  The 730 is a surprisingly good little chip when paired with a not trash CPU

33 minutes ago, kaiju_wars said:

Is your budget $60 for everything?

If so.  Check if your motherboard can handle Core 2 Quads, if so get that, they're cheap.  If you can bump up the RAM, do so, especially if you have more open RAM slots.

For a GPU... gonna have to buy used.  Hell, even a used HD 7770 would kick the 730's ass.

IMO a sandy i3 + mobo + 8gb of RAM (easily attainable for 60) will give the system a far larger performance boost - even with the weaker GPU

[kaiju_wars]

Just now, Damascus said:

Only issue with that is the cost of the board and RAM.  The upgrade to a sandy bridge i3 is  what I did for a friend who had an ancient 775 dual core + GT 730.  The 730 is a surprisingly good little chip when paired with a not trash CPU

IMO a sandy i3 + mobo + 8gb of RAM (easily attainable for 60) will give the system a far larger performance boost - even with the weaker GPU

 

I guess so.  I do know Core 2 Quads do still pack a punch which is surprising considering their age.  

I figured he could upgrade it to a C2Q and the GPU would get him better performance in games.  

Granted with the Sandy Bridge i3, he can potentially upgrade to Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge i5s and i7s later.

[Damascus]

3 minutes ago, kaiju_wars said:

 

I guess so.  I do know Core 2 Quads do still pack a punch which is surprising considering their age.  

I figured he could upgrade it to a C2Q and the GPU would get him better performance in games.  

Granted with the Sandy Bridge i3, he can potentially upgrade to Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge i5s and i7s later.

yeah,  2600s go for as low as 90 bucks now adays, it would be a major improvement

[kaiju_wars]

Just now, Damascus said:

yeah,  2600s go for as low as 90 bucks now adays, it would be a major improvement

While this is true, I also think of it from another perspective.

(Granted I don't know if this is how OP is looking at it)

A lot of people on the very low budget end of the spectrum don't care as much as about potential upgrades or futureproofness.  They want to get what's the best for them at that moment.

 

I'm not trying to turn your suggestion down at all.  (in fact, since I know I will have income of some sort coming in later, it's the path I'd take).  But I know this isn't viable for everyone, and I feel C2Q and used GPU would be a more "complete" package.

 

(but yes, in terms of LGA 775 or Sandy Bridge... go Sandy Bridge every day, especially if you can upgrade later or are getting one of them i5s or i7s right away)