Upgrading PC to improve performance as a Media Center

[Mogwi]

Hello all, I have an older desktop PC that I do not use very often. I have been using my Macbook Pro as my main workstation. As of last week I picked up a brand new TV and have setup this desktop PC as a media center sending video to the TV via HDMI and music or all sound for that mater to my stereo system. The PC at the moment is having issue playing video with a resolution larger then 780p, a good bit of stuttering. I notice this from both youtube and twitch streaming video. 

 

What I would like to do is upgrade this existing PC for better performance. Have a feeling upgrading the video card will provided the biggest increase in performance so I am posing it here. Though I am also open to upgrading other components.

 

Here are its current specs as well as the TV I have purchased:

 

Motherboard

Manufacturer: Asus

Model: P5n-E SLI

Chipset: Nvidia nForce 650i SLI

Graphic Interface: PCI-Express (Link Width x4) (Max Supported x16)

 

CPU

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.40GHz

 

Memory

4gigs of DDR2 400Mhz

 

Video Card

Radeon HD 5770

 

TV

Sceptre U500CV-UMK 49" 4K Ultra HD 60Hz Class LED HDTV

 

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The TV is capable of 4K playback, though I have a feeling my current setup even after upgrades would not be capable. Am I wrong? Note that it will only be used for video playback and music, not gaming. Any advice would be super helpful. Thanks!

 

 

PS. @LinusMediaGroup - <3

[Curufinwe_wins]

What's your budget? Because that chipset is way out of date and isn't going to be cost effective to upgrade.

[Mogwi]

I have about a grand to play with.

[Snadzies]

That PC shouldn't be having any trouble playing videos.

I'd do a speed test to make sure your network connection to the PC is good.

 

If that checks out then I'd check Task Manager to make sure nothing is using up a lot of resources for no reason.

 

If there is nothing hogging resources then maybe run some virus and malware scans, a clean instal of Windows and all the drivers could be in order if you haven't done that in several years.

That should eliminate software as the culprit and point to a hardware issue should that PC still not play videos well.