Need some upgrade advice

[CoDrift07]

Before I start, my budget is VERY limited. I got about 150$ to spare on a new GPU, PSU, RAM, CPU and a monitor (and possibly a chair, although it's not urgent). Already have a system with the following specs:

i3 2120
8GB DDR3
DELL OEM mobo + case
128GB SSD
1TB HDD
HD 7570 1GB DDR5

Here's what I am willing to upgrade to:

RX 570 4GB - 80$
XEON E3 1230 - 20$ (UPGRADE)
PSU 450W - 15$
4GB more ram - 15$
1080p monitor - 40$ (Currently have a 720p panel which I'm gonna use for a dual monitor setup)

I can exchange the OEM PSU and the old GPU for about 20$, that brings the cost to a total of 150$, is there any better way to allocate my cash? Do I need that CPU upgrade? Also, I'm not gonna stream or anything (If I ever wanted to, I can probably use ReLive or VCE right?).

Side note: The GTX 1650 costs about 320$ here, so I can only go AMD.

 

Oh and will running 4+8 GB in flex mode effect performance?

[Mateyyy]

Those upgrade options sound decent, with the exception of the "$15 450W PSU". For $15 you might as well buy a lighter and some gas and light your computer on fire. 

I mean if you're lucky it won't send your PC up in flames right away, but the RX 570 isn't exactly power efficient, and I definitely wouldn't even think about powering it with some no-name, almost empty, grey metal box power supply.

 

At the very least I'd look for something like a new Corsair VS450 (grey label) or CV450, a be quiet! System Power 9 400W or a Seasonic S12III 450W.

[Haro]

20 minutes ago, CoDrift07 said:

PSU 450W - 15$

This will be a fire hazard. If anything cheap out on anything but the PSU. 

 

20 minutes ago, CoDrift07 said:

150$ to spare on a new GPU, PSU, RAM, CPU and a monitor (and possibly a chair, although it's not urgent). Already have a system with the following specs

The upgrade seems decent. 

If you want. Sell the 2120 with the case and the GPU and get a better PSU 

Or you can save up more because in all honesty. Just don't get that cheap of a PSU.

[CoDrift07]

25 minutes ago, Mateyyy said:

Those upgrade options sound decent, with the exception of the "$15 450W PSU". For $15 you might as well buy a lighter and some gas and light your computer on fire. 

I mean if you're lucky it won't send your PC up in flames right away, but the RX 570 isn't exactly power efficient, and I definitely wouldn't even think about powering it with some no-name, almost empty, grey metal box power supply.

 

At the very least I'd look for something like a new Corsair VS450 (grey label) or CV450, a be quiet! System Power 9 400W or a Seasonic S12III 450W.

It's a used thermal take psu tho

Edit: 80 plus bronze

[Mateyyy]

1 minute ago, CoDrift07 said:

It's a used thermal take psu tho

Edit: 80 plus bronze

Brand or the 80+ rating don't necessarily correlate with the actual quality of a power supply, unfortunately.

 

You can check the forum's PSU tier list here which should give you a fairly decent general idea of good and not so good PSUs.

[CoDrift07]

13 minutes ago, Mateyyy said:

Brand or the 80+ rating don't necessarily correlate with the actual quality of a power supply, unfortunately.

 

You can check the forum's PSU tier list here which should give you a fairly decent general idea of good and not so good PSUs.

Ok, thanks for that, so will saving 10$ and upgrading to a i5 2400 rather than an E3 1230 be sufficient? I can put more cash into PSU for that matter. Or should I keep the CPU all together? Also can you please help me with the flex mode I stated in the final line of the post? Many thanks! 

[Mateyyy]

2 minutes ago, CoDrift07 said:

Ok, thanks for that, so will saving 10$ and upgrading to a i5 2400 rather than an E3 1230 be sufficient? I can put more cash into PSU for that matter. Or should I keep the CPU all together? Also can you please help me with the flex mode I stated in the final line of the post? Many thanks! 

Erm, it depends on what games you play. For an RX 570 the 2400 should be alright in many cases, though more modern AAA titles will overpower the i5 because of only having 4C/4T.

Running a 4GB stick and an 8GB stick will mean that your memory will run in single-channel instead of dual-channel. It's also not guaranteed to work correctly at all because DDR3 used to be even more finnicky with combining different memory sticks. For that generation of CPUs though not running the memory in dual-channel won't be the end of the world, but it's still something to consider.

[CoDrift07]

1 minute ago, Mateyyy said:

Erm, it depends on what games you play. For an RX 570 the 2400 should be alright in many cases, though more modern AAA titles will overpower the i5 because of only having 4C/4T.

Running a 4GB stick and an 8GB stick will mean that your memory will run in single-channel instead of dual-channel. It's also not guaranteed to work correctly at all because DDR3 used to be even more finnicky with combining different memory sticks. For that generation of CPUs though not running the memory in dual-channel won't be the end of the world, but it's still something to consider.

Mostly APEX and Dead by Daylight. Thanks alot!

[PeachGr]

To be realistic, just buy a PS4. There are giving them for free those days, on at black Friday sales

[Haro]

53 minutes ago, PeachGr said:

To be realistic, just buy a PS4

You do realize there advantages to PC and not to mention a 570 will absolutely perform better than what ever Polaris gpu consoles have?

[PeachGr]

1 hour ago, TofuHaroto said:

You do realize there advantages to PC and not to mention a 570 will absolutely perform better than what ever Polaris gpu consoles have?

I am a pic user, but for 150$, and all parts been second handed? There will always be drawbacks

[Haro]

Just now, PeachGr said:

There will always be drawbacks

Yea don't expect a PS4 to cost 150 bucks new. 

[PeachGr]

Just now, TofuHaroto said:

Yea don't expect a PS4 to cost 150 bucks new. 

They were selling it lower than that when PS5 announced, there will be nice offers as the time passes, take my word for it. Not to mention second hand when the new releases

[CoDrift07]

20 hours ago, PeachGr said:

They were selling it lower than that when PS5 announced, there will be nice offers as the time passes, take my word for it. Not to mention second hand when the new releases

I didn't expect this thread to become PS vs PC, but I'm a student anyway so I can't spend too much on stuff that will distract me. Also, I might get a PS5 just to "try out" a console later on.

150$ for a PS4 isn't possible in my country as many people still use PS3s, for context as I said in the main post, a GTX 1650 which is supposed to be 150$ is sold for 320$ here XD