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Upgrading an old PC

Rednegniw
By Rednegniw
in New Builds and Planning
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Hi guys, my PC, which I bought for years ago, is no longer good enough to play modern titles with decent performance.

 

Here are its specs: 

 

Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 550 Callisto 45nm Technology
RAM: 4,00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 666MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard: MSI 740GM-P25 (MS-7623) (CPU1)
Monitor: PHL 203V5 (1600x900@60Hz)
Graphics: 1024MB NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 (Undefined)
Storage: 465GB Seagate ST3500412AS ATA Device (SATA)
Optical Drives: DTSOFT Virtual CdRom Device
                        HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50 ATA Device
 
I am a student and can spare about 6000 - 7000 CZK, which is approximately 300 - 350 USD.
 
What do you think? Can it be upgraded to play new games (AC Unity, Far Cry 4, Shadow of Mordor) decently on at least Medium? Or should I save and wait to buy a new PC altogether? 
 
How would you do it? I'd love to hear any suggestions.
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Save and  build a new PC.

All the hardware on your PC is now close to 5 years old or more. 

#SAMSUNG  "provided us 4 1tb ssds so we could run the whole site off solid state." - LinusTech


#GALAXY


#ATIV


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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-HD3 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($55.18 @ Newegg) 
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 270 2GB Double Dissipation Video Card  ($139.99 @ NCIX US) 
Total: $285.16
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-10 07:04 EST-0500
 
With enough to spare for an extra 4GB of RAM (highly recommended). You will probably need a new PSU for this though, get the CX430 or CX500 (or CX430M/CX500M)

RIG: I7-4790k @ 4.5GHz | MSI Z97S SLI Plus | 12GB Geil Dragon RAM 1333MHz | Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 970 (1550MHz core/7800MHz memory) @ +18mV(Maxed out at 1650/7800 so far) | Corsair RM750 | Samsung 840 EVO 120GB, 1TB Seagate Barracuda | Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 (Closed) | Sound Blaster Z                                                                                                                        Getting: Noctua NH-D15 | Possible 250GB Samsung 850 Evo                                                                                        Need a console killer that actually shits on every console? Here you go (No MIR/Promo)

This is why you should not get an FX CPU for ANY scenario other than rendering on a budget http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/286142-fx-8350-r9-290-psu-requirements/?p=3892901 | http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/266481-an-issue-with-people-bashing-the-fx-cpus/?p=3620861

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There's nothing you can do to get that computer to run modern games at 1080 reasonably well, I suggest saving for a PC.

In the time it takes you to save, the landscape will have definitely changed, but for now, I suggest just putting more money back until you can afford to build one.

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There's nothing you can do to get that computer to run modern games at 1080 reasonably well, I suggest saving for a PC.

In the time it takes you to save, the landscape will have definitely changed, but for now, I suggest just putting more money back until you can afford to build one.

What I linked can run BF4 on ultra with about 50/55 fps average with drops to 40's, which means it's more than playable enough on high and BF4 is pretty demanding

RIG: I7-4790k @ 4.5GHz | MSI Z97S SLI Plus | 12GB Geil Dragon RAM 1333MHz | Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 970 (1550MHz core/7800MHz memory) @ +18mV(Maxed out at 1650/7800 so far) | Corsair RM750 | Samsung 840 EVO 120GB, 1TB Seagate Barracuda | Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 (Closed) | Sound Blaster Z                                                                                                                        Getting: Noctua NH-D15 | Possible 250GB Samsung 850 Evo                                                                                        Need a console killer that actually shits on every console? Here you go (No MIR/Promo)

This is why you should not get an FX CPU for ANY scenario other than rendering on a budget http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/286142-fx-8350-r9-290-psu-requirements/?p=3892901 | http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/266481-an-issue-with-people-bashing-the-fx-cpus/?p=3620861

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The storage, the ram, the monitor, the OS, the media drive all could be used in a new build.  If you are satisfied with gaming at 1600x900 then a new monitor definitely would not be needed.

Too many ****ing games!  Back log 4 life! :S

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What I linked can run BF4 on ultra with about 50/55 fps average with drops to 40's, which means it's more than playable enough on high and BF4 is pretty demanding

Oh yeah, no, switching out the CPU/GPU and motherboard definitely would work, but we don't know what state any of this stuff is in, plus the 4GB RAM is only at 667MHz.

I think OP would likely have a better chance selling the complete unit when the time comes and building a PC from scratch. Almost everything is unusable, and I imagine the case and PSU are the same story.

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Hi guys, my PC, which I bought for years ago, is no longer good enough to play modern titles with decent performance.

 

Here are its specs: 

 

Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 550 Callisto 45nm Technology
RAM: 4,00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 666MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard: MSI 740GM-P25 (MS-7623) (CPU1)
Monitor: PHL 203V5 (1600x900@60Hz)
Graphics: 1024MB NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 (Undefined)
Storage: 465GB Seagate ST3500412AS ATA Device (SATA)
Optical Drives: DTSOFT Virtual CdRom Device
                        HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50 ATA Device
 
I am a student and can spare about 6000 - 7000 CZK, which is approximately 300 - 350 USD.
 
What do you think? Can it be upgraded to play new games (AC Unity, Far Cry 4, Shadow of Mordor) decently on at least Medium? Or should I save and wait to buy a new PC altogether? 
 
How would you do it? I'd love to hear any suggestions.

 

Remember to follow your topics and quote members whose help you want :D

 

I agree with @Archangel1994 :)

 

I also suggest you get new DDR3 RAM, something faster..

 

Spare a little bit more money, and buy 8Gb of RAM (can be a singe stick), and some cheap, reliable, 500W PSU :)

http://animezone.boards.net/

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I also suggest you get new DDR3 RAM, something faster..

I also still use 1333 and it is in no way a bottleneck. No point in upgrading the speed just yet, do recommend upgrading the capacity

 

 

Spare a little bit more money, and buy 8Gb of RAM (can be a singe stick), and some cheap, reliable, 500W PSU :)

While not a tier 1 PSU, I recommend the CX430 or CX500 for this or their -M counterparts

RIG: I7-4790k @ 4.5GHz | MSI Z97S SLI Plus | 12GB Geil Dragon RAM 1333MHz | Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 970 (1550MHz core/7800MHz memory) @ +18mV(Maxed out at 1650/7800 so far) | Corsair RM750 | Samsung 840 EVO 120GB, 1TB Seagate Barracuda | Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 (Closed) | Sound Blaster Z                                                                                                                        Getting: Noctua NH-D15 | Possible 250GB Samsung 850 Evo                                                                                        Need a console killer that actually shits on every console? Here you go (No MIR/Promo)

This is why you should not get an FX CPU for ANY scenario other than rendering on a budget http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/286142-fx-8350-r9-290-psu-requirements/?p=3892901 | http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/266481-an-issue-with-people-bashing-the-fx-cpus/?p=3620861

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Oh yeah, no, switching out the CPU/GPU and motherboard definitely would work, but we don't know what state any of this stuff is in, plus the 4GB RAM is only at 667MHz.

It's not at 667, it's at 1333 because DDR stands for Double Data Rate which means you need to double the measured speed for the actual speed which is 1333 in this case

RIG: I7-4790k @ 4.5GHz | MSI Z97S SLI Plus | 12GB Geil Dragon RAM 1333MHz | Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 970 (1550MHz core/7800MHz memory) @ +18mV(Maxed out at 1650/7800 so far) | Corsair RM750 | Samsung 840 EVO 120GB, 1TB Seagate Barracuda | Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 (Closed) | Sound Blaster Z                                                                                                                        Getting: Noctua NH-D15 | Possible 250GB Samsung 850 Evo                                                                                        Need a console killer that actually shits on every console? Here you go (No MIR/Promo)

This is why you should not get an FX CPU for ANY scenario other than rendering on a budget http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/286142-fx-8350-r9-290-psu-requirements/?p=3892901 | http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/266481-an-issue-with-people-bashing-the-fx-cpus/?p=3620861

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It's not at 667, it's at 1333 because DDR stands for Double Data Rate which means you need to double the measured speed for the actual speed which is 1333 in this case

You still use 1333? I guess I use my PC for a lot more than just gaming, and it's about the same price as 1600 and I see no point of going slower.

I still think it would be more cost effective to sell the computer whole rather than taking out and scrapping the parts he won't reuse.

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You still use 1333? I guess I use my PC for a lot more than just gaming, and it's about the same price as 1600 and I see no point of going slower.

I still think it would be more cost effective to sell the computer whole rather than taking out and scrapping the parts he won't reuse.

I bought my CPU/RAM back when the I5-2400 was one of the newest CPU's and I only do gaming so there is no point in upgrading my 12GB DDR3-1333. :P

RIG: I7-4790k @ 4.5GHz | MSI Z97S SLI Plus | 12GB Geil Dragon RAM 1333MHz | Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 970 (1550MHz core/7800MHz memory) @ +18mV(Maxed out at 1650/7800 so far) | Corsair RM750 | Samsung 840 EVO 120GB, 1TB Seagate Barracuda | Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 (Closed) | Sound Blaster Z                                                                                                                        Getting: Noctua NH-D15 | Possible 250GB Samsung 850 Evo                                                                                        Need a console killer that actually shits on every console? Here you go (No MIR/Promo)

This is why you should not get an FX CPU for ANY scenario other than rendering on a budget http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/286142-fx-8350-r9-290-psu-requirements/?p=3892901 | http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/266481-an-issue-with-people-bashing-the-fx-cpus/?p=3620861

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well someone recommended an amd one so I decided how about some intel variations :).

 

 
Motherboard: MSI H97M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($119.50 @ Newegg) 
Total: $274.47
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-10 07:43 EST-0500

Live your life like a dream.

 
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  • Author

Thanks so much for your suggestions guys.

 

If I am going to upgrade the RAM to 8 GB, is my 450 W PSU going to be enough?

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