PC Upgrade

[Adrian Potocki]

Hi, my pc is an ACER ASPIRE M3920 and I'm planning to buy new ram, new PSU and new GPU..

So i am currently running a stock Acer Aspire m3920.

Specs:

CPU: Core i5 2300 @ 2.8 Ghz

GPU: Nvidia GeForce 405

RAM: 6GB DDR3

PSU: Stock 300 W bronze quality

Stock Motherboard.(I've already done some test with cpu z and it says that the motherboards name is the same as the PC model name, however I found the same motherboard on ebay:http://m.ebay.com/itm/141532945868?_mwBanner=1)

Hardware that I want to buy :

GPU: asus GeForce GTX960

RAM: HyperX savage 2x4gb 1600 MHz DDR3

PSU: EVGA 100-W1-0500-KR ( 500 watt silver class PSU)

I wanted to ask you some advices, because I don't want to buy wrong hardware and it will be my first time upgrading some hardware ( I don't have problems with changing hardware )

[NicekillBG]

you cpu isnt quite good BUT i dont think it will bottleneck , what games are you going to play?

[Xaring]

Check the distribution of the RAM modules on your board, its 6GB, so it must be 3*2GB modules? if you wan't 8gb, you can probably just add a 2GB module more in the last slot.

[NicekillBG]

Check the distribution of the RAM modules on your board, its 6GB, so it must be 3*2GB modules? if you wan't 8gb, you can probably just add a 2GB module more in the last slot.

that also and is this mobo ddr3?

[Xaring]

That CPU is DDR3, and the OP said its 6GB DDR3, so i think so.

[Aytex]

that also and is this mobo ddr3?

the ram it came with is ddr3 so yes

[NicekillBG]

the ram it came with is ddr3 so yes

it looked quite old

[xloexs]

Not so sure if the board can handle the GTX960 because the Geforce 405 takes only 25W Graphics power and the 960 takes 120W.

[Fictionvl]

Okay, so what you'll need to check is the motherboard if it has enough ram slots, also, check if the case is big enough for the graphics card, and most of the pre-built PCs aren't good in the cable managment department so I recommend getting a lot of twist ties and zip ties for working with the PSU unless you're getting a fully modular PSU, but still, try to keep everything neat for air flow to go through your PC case 

[VortexS]

Not so sure if the board can handle the GTX960 because the Geforce 405 takes only 25W Graphics power and the 960 takes 120W.

What? GPU power doesn't go through the board but through 6/8 pin power connectors directly from the PSU.

[Adrian Potocki]

Xaring I've got 3x2 gb of ram as you said.

I'm gonna upgrade this pc because I want to play games like witcher 3 near ultra sets, I know the cpu isn't the best but it isn't as bad as many people think...

[Adrian Potocki]

Speaking about case, I tooked off the USB 3.0 chip so there is enough space to put a gtx 960.

Can someone explain to me why my motherboard probably would not make the gtx 960 run ?

( sorry for my bad English )

EDIT:

the motherboard has only one pcie 2.0 slot, I don't think it would be a problem for the graphic card.

[Adrian Potocki]

Not so sure if the board can handle the GTX960 because the Geforce 405 takes only 25W Graphics power and the 960 takes 120W.

I don't understand, isn't the gpu connected directly to PSU to use electricity?

[Adrian Potocki]

you cpu isnt quite good BUT i dont think it will bottleneck , what games are you going to play?

 

What is a bottleneck?

 

EDIT: 

I already figured out, with one GPU as GTX 960 it should not happen.

[R_Golden]

I don't understand, isn't the gpu connected directly to PSU to use electricity?

In most cases yeah. In the case of the 960 yeah, it will be connected to the PSU.

[Nena Trinity]

R9 280 and a Cooler Master PSU is a good mix!

[Adrian Potocki]

Nena i already made a choice by looking at performance tests, nvidia gtx 960 is better than the R9 280, the R9 280 performs less than the GTX 960.

 

Speaking about PSU, i've chosen the EVGA one because i have a limited budget and also because i wanted a really good GPU, if i had more money i would definitely take a cooler master.

[dougdangger]

What resolutions do you want to game at?

If you'll be happy with 1080p at around 45ish frames per second, get a GTX 750ti.  You also don't have to change your power supply since they have very low tdp.

 

If you want the full 60fps, then you'll have to go with the 960 and a new PSU.

[dougdangger]

Your case doesn't look like it has good ventilation.  If you go Radeon, get a reference cooler (you'd go deaf with how loud they are).  Same with Nvidia, but their cards are always cooler so you could get away with a non-reference design which is usually quieter.

[dougdangger]

Looks like you have good clearance for a long card.

I would add a fan to the front of the case.

[Adrian Potocki]

What resolutions do you want to game at?

If you'll be happy with 1080p at around 45ish frames per second, get a GTX 750ti.  You also don't have to change your power supply since they have very low tdp.

 

If you want the full 60fps, then you'll have to go with the 960 and a new PSU.

I want to take a good GPU to run a game like Witcher 3 (at ultra without shit turned on like Nvidia HairWorks... ect.. ect...) at 40/60 FPS with a 1080p 1920X1080 resolution.

I was also looking forward to buy other GPU like this one: http://www.amazon.it/Sapphire-Vapor-X-GDDR5-Radeon-3072GB/dp/B00P3HTQZU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1433793007&sr=8-3&keywords=sapphire+r9+280x

 

Or:

http://www.amazon.it/Sapphire-Dual-X-280-GDDR5-Overclock/dp/B00IRTXPBM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433793007&sr=8-1&keywords=sapphire+r9+280x

 

Any advice? 

[Adrian Potocki]

Looks like you have good clearance for a long card.

I would add a fan to the front of the case.

 

yes this is my case, i've already tooked off the PSU to see how all the cables are to be connected.

[Adrian Potocki]

I can say that my budget is about 350 euros (I live in Italy).

 

I would appreciate your help dougdangger with chosing the hardware. 

[Blebekblebek]

those parts would be great upgrades.

I don't know why these people keep telling that i5 isn't good enough.

 

that is something definitely better than Pentium G3258 or even Athlon X4 860k

[Nena Trinity]

Nena i already made a choice by looking at performance tests, nvidia gtx 960 is better than the R9 280, the R9 280 performs less than the GTX 960.

 

Speaking about PSU, i've chosen the EVGA one because i have a limited budget and also because i wanted a really good GPU, if i had more money i would definitely take a cooler master.

What games?