Hey guys, I decided it's about time I upgrade my PC hardware. I'm finding it to be a bit slow when it comes to running some of the new games like Starcraft II. The reason I made this post was because I'm not really sure what should be upgraded to increase game performance. It'd also be nice to stop playing games at the lowest setting. So please help and suggest what I should upgrade.
So here are my computer specs:
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Profesional
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz, 2.80 GHz.
Memory: 1534 RAM (Reason for this was we originally got this computer with 512MB ram and be bought another GB a while ago)
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE
Now I also wouldn't mind upgrading my OS in the near future either.
It's time to look at a fresh start.
Quote from: Jake on August 28, 2010, 07:50:48 AM
It's time to look at a fresh start.
Care to elaborate? because that's so vague.
Quote from: JoEL on August 28, 2010, 08:53:38 AM
Quote from: Jake on August 28, 2010, 07:50:48 AM
It's time to look at a fresh start.
Care to elaborate? because that's so vague.
I think he means everything you've listed could be a little better to fit the modern day standard. For starters, 1.5GB is starting to be a little lacking, my sister's computer I'm using at the moment has a whopping 8GB, and I can tell you I ran the Starcraft 2 Beta just fine and dandy. Your graphics card also seems to be getting a little out of date, my friend is running a Geforce 7 series and he's always having to play at minimum graphics. I know less than jack shit about CPUs, so I'm not going to suggest anything there...
Quote from: JoEL on August 28, 2010, 08:53:38 AM
Quote from: Jake on August 28, 2010, 07:50:48 AM
It's time to look at a fresh start.
Care to elaborate? because that's so vague.
Basically he's saying it would be more worth your time to buy a new computer than pick and replace parts...and I would completely agree with that given the current situation...maybe you could even get a great deal on a set and saves hundreds of dollars than otherwise buying individual parts.
before you start upgrading or getting advice we need to know what your motherboard is and your powersupply because those will determine what you can upgrade too. some motherboards are so old that yyou wont be able to upgrade without getting a new motherboard.
might try pcwizard to find this stuff out
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/pc-wizard.html
I thought SCII actually had lower standards than most games on the market right now.
Anyway, your graphics card does look a bit dusty.
Quote from: JoEL on August 28, 2010, 07:11:46 AM
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Profesional
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz, 2.80 GHz.
Memory: 1534 RAM (Reason for this was we originally got this computer with 512MB ram and be bought another GB a while ago)
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE
Your OS is dated
Processor is extremely dated
RAM is extremely dated
Graphics card is extremely dated
Your motherboard, like Venuse was mentioning, might not even support a new graphics card or larger amounts of RAM
Your case might be too small to house new components, like an upgraded fan to support whatever new GPU you plan to get
My old computer is faster than yours, and that's saying something. It's time to start new.
might try looking over at newegg for a new gaming comp. infact heres a link
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006736+600030537&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&IsNodeId=1&Subcategory=10&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=
cheapest is $519 with free shiping
You may also want to check out cyberpowerpc.com or ibuypower.com and build your own PC (thats what it seems newegg goes through anyway). You can get great deals there. Needless to say, do some research on some of the latest hardware to get the best bang for your buck.
Hrmm. First off, I'm not entirly sure about Star Craft II, but I wouldn't be surprised if his VGA could run it just fine. Venuse I think it was, if your friend has a Gforce 7 Series and can't run on max settings, something about his computer is seriously wrong.
Anyway, your CPU is very lacking. Not even Dual core. And you should have 4gb of ram to game. Thankfully, since you can't buy 1.5gb sticks, it means you have two slots. You could buy 2 2g sticks for probably 60-70 bucks total. While I'm at it, You could most likely get a new processor, something that's almost double what you have for around 150-200.
Yes, I know, he should start over, but not everyone is rich.
Quote from: Seifer on August 28, 2010, 04:15:56 PM
Yes, I know, he should start over, but not everyone is rich. [/color]
These days, you don't even have to be rich to get a decent setup. That's the beauty of extremely high end hardware that comes out so often; it brings the prices on everything else way down.
He said he doesn't want to play games at the lowest setting anymore, including new games. If he wants that, he's gotta do more than upgrade the machine he's got.
Quote from: Seifer on August 28, 2010, 04:15:56 PM
Yes, I know, he should start over, but not everyone is rich.
In addition to what Jake said...as I mentioned in a previous post...a lot of times buying a full new set is much cheaper than buying individual parts...There is often great deals on computers for buying all the parts at once as a package...where as individual parts in the long run tends to be much more pricey. So while I am not completely aware of his financial situation...I can say that if he is really looking to replace 4 parts...because in honesty he should to play some of the newer more graphically intense games...it would probably be cheaper for him to just buy a completely new PC.
I second what most the rest of you are saying. If you really want to do anything more than make your computer slightly less dated than it already is, you probably will need to just get a new one/start over. If you really want something decent by todays standards, there wouldn't be a whole lot worth salvaging out of the one you listed there.
I'm with jake and meiun and every one else. The only thing you need to upgrade is everything. AKA a new pc. :/
edit:
I take that back. your cpu is way too low.
Quote from: venuse on August 28, 2010, 12:04:38 PM
before you start upgrading or getting advice we need to know what your motherboard is and your powersupply because those will determine what you can upgrade too. some motherboards are so old that yyou wont be able to upgrade without getting a new motherboard.
might try pcwizard to find this stuff out
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/pc-wizard.html
Quote from: Seifer on August 28, 2010, 04:15:56 PM
While I'm at it, You could most likely get a new processor, something that's almost double what you have for around 150-200.
In almost every case, if you are upgrading your CPU, you will have to upgrade your motherboard. Especially if your CPU is relatively old. The newer CPUs just won't work. In addition, if you're getting a new motherboard, you may also have to get a new case depending on how different the motherboards are.
How it usually works is you build a machine from scratch, then you upgrade every couple years or so, and start from scratch again around 4-5 years. If your computer is older than 4-5 years you will most likely not be able to upgrade much of anything without having to start over. You could potentially upgrade certain things like RAM, maybe a slightly better graphics card, but you will probably regret it in a year or two when you're back in the same position you're in now. Better to spend the money on a new system then throw more money into an old one. You'll be much happier with the result.
You are imagining his computer as much too old. Any MOBO will fit in ANY Mid-Tower or above. Mid-Tower being the standard case size. You can have microboards and such in them, and I'm sure his case is not tiny, it will be a Mid-Tower, so he will not have to switch MOBO's. If his MOBO is recent enough to support DDR2, which most likely it is, unless it's 8+ years old, than it will also support CPU's up until the new I7's which require new, special MOBO's. A Video Card slot is a Video Card slot. Either PCI-E or AGP slot, it doesn't matter. A VGA from now and a VGA from 8 years ago both go in the same slot.
If you want to make an awsome computer, something that could say, run Crisis on full without issue than yes, you would need to start over, but if his computer is 5-8 years old, than most likely he could buy something like a much better CPU, cheap, that is very good on heat so it won't overheat in his shitty computer, a 6800 VGA, which are excellent and run a lot of modern games on mid-max, for around 50-60 bucks and are very heat efficient, and he could also replace his two ram pieces with two 2gig peices.
Aside from the switch from regular CPU's to I7's and DDR to DDR2, there aren't a lot of changes in the way computer parts go together and interact with one another.
Maybe 8-15 years ago when they were truly defining the computing market, exploring the possibilites of the power they could create did we have to constantly upgrade to keep up. Now? Hardly. I built my computer over 3 years ago now. They still havn't put anything out that can put a toll on my computer. And if they do, than I buy a 2nd VGA and SLI it, and tada, double VGA power, and I've still two more slots for ram if need be. I don't expect I will ever have to "start over" unless we get to the point where we have some sort of virtual gaming which takes super computers.
Dude Seifer he's probably rocken an old HP / Dell PC. They lock down those systems. His mobo is not like your's with all its customizability. The bios on those systems will probably not support a different CPU let alone a newer one. And you cant exactly update the bios on those things easily or if at all. To top that we don't even know if he has sufficient cooling to support newer stuff.
The easiest thing I can recommend is like a $50-80 gpu but I have a feeling his cpu will still be too low to really help him much since StarCaft 2 is more of a CPU based game.
This is starting to become farther away from a quick and easy fix. (I will lol if he comes back to this topic to add that his system is also a laptop XD)
Quote from: Seifer on August 30, 2010, 08:39:30 PM
You are imagining his computer as much too old. Any MOBO will fit in ANY Mid-Tower or above. Mid-Tower being the standard case size. You can have microboards and such in them, and I'm sure his case is not tiny, it will be a Mid-Tower, so he will not have to switch MOBO's. If his MOBO is recent enough to support DDR2, which most likely it is, unless it's 8+ years old, than it will also support CPU's up until the new I7's which require new, special MOBO's. A Video Card slot is a Video Card slot. Either PCI-E or AGP slot, it doesn't matter. A VGA from now and a VGA from 8 years ago both go in the same slot.
If you want to make an awsome computer, something that could say, run Crisis on full without issue than yes, you would need to start over, but if his computer is 5-8 years old, than most likely he could buy something like a much better CPU, cheap, that is very good on heat so it won't overheat in his shitty computer, a 6800 VGA, which are excellent and run a lot of modern games on mid-max, for around 50-60 bucks and are very heat efficient, and he could also replace his two ram pieces with two 2gig peices.
Aside from the switch from regular CPU's to I7's and DDR to DDR2, there aren't a lot of changes in the way computer parts go together and interact with one another.
Maybe 8-15 years ago when they were truly defining the computing market, exploring the possibilites of the power they could create did we have to constantly upgrade to keep up. Now? Hardly. I built my computer over 3 years ago now. They still havn't put anything out that can put a toll on my computer. And if they do, than I buy a 2nd VGA and SLI it, and tada, double VGA power, and I've still two more slots for ram if need be. I don't expect I will ever have to "start over" unless we get to the point where we have some sort of virtual gaming which takes super computers.
Your forgetting that he now has to up his power and will still need better cooling. I'd also take a gander that he's not running a mid-tower, but rather a smaller one, where things just don't like to fit well at all.
Okay I used the PC Wizard program to workout what kind of motherboard I actually have, heres what PC Wizzard stats:
Manufacturer: HP Pavilion 061
Mainboard: Asus EMER
Bios: Phenix Technologies, LTD
Chipset: Intel i945P
Physical Memory 1536MB(3 x 512 DDR2-SDAM)
And by the looks of it my motherboard has a total of 4 slots for RAM.
I went into the "Process" section and it says I have 2 cores. While I'm playing Starcraft II they are both running around at 24-32%
Oh hell, that is very upgradeable!! That's a decent Mobo. Supports up to 4gb of ram, two VGA slots, a much better CPU than you have. I stick by my decision that you should buy 4 new gigs of ram, a new VGA and a new CPU.
What would you suggest?
Depends on your budget.
edit:
Ill sit and watch. If something comes of this I have learned something.
Being in Australia if you're looking for a new PC you'd best try somewhere like Centrecom (http://www.centrecom.com.au), or if you know how to put it all together you can save a heap from buying the parts from somwhere like MSY (http://msy.com.au) as it will save you a bundle.
If you're on a tight budget you could probably look at AMD and ATI for your cpu and Graphics, but I would personally recommend Intel and Nvidia.
Something like:
Cpu: intel Core i5
GFX: Nvidia GTS 250
RAM: 4gb
shouldn't be too expensive and will last you a while and should be able to play all current games somewhat close to maxed out.
just quickly looking I've found a few PCs that may interest you.
AMD Budget Gaming PC (http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=3a&products_id=46149) - This is the box only, if you want the screen and speakers and whatnot bundled click here (http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=3a&products_id=46163) This has a AMD dual core with 1gb ATi graphics and 4gb of RAM and for under $1,000 (AUD) is pretty decent.
If you've got a bit more money to play with you might try looking at Intel i7 Gaming PC (http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=3a&products_id=46169) it of course being more expensive is a significantly better PC, again if you wish to have screen, speakers etc.. included Click Here (http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=3a&products_id=46172) With an i& processor and some of the latest ATi graphics cards and between 4gb and 8gb of RAM this PC will hold strong for the next 5 or 6 years without needing an upgrade.
Why do you have the idea that 1,000$ is budget? Are you some rich kid?
Quote from: Seifer on September 10, 2010, 01:50:12 PM
Why do you have the idea that 1,000$ is budget? Are you some rich kid?
Why are you so pompous lately? It's getting annoying.
I too consider a 1,000$ gaming PC to be budget these days. It's no where near top of the line, even if it can run modern games decently.
You can build a computer for less than 1 grand than can run Crysis nearly max.
I don't mean to come off pompus, but really? 1000 is budget? Maybe I am just a poor person, but I would never consider 1000 budget.
Quote from: Seifer on September 10, 2010, 05:06:36 PM
You can build a computer for less than 1 grand than can run Crysis nearly max.
At what frame rate?
QuoteI don't mean to come off pompus, but really? 1000 is budget? Maybe I am just a poor person, but I would never consider 1000 budget.
I'm extremely poor and still bought a 2 grand computer, haha. I saved up the money I needed working two months at a minimum wage job.
You can get a PC that can play Starcaft 2 just fine with 1k. Max setting and all.
A q6600 CPU, GTX 9800 1g, and 4gb of ram can run Crysis on max with a good framerate. I don't want to re-install it and boot it up, but suffice to say the game ran damn smooth and looked beautiful.
q6600 + GTX 9800 1g is maybe 350-400 atm. 4 gb of good ram maybe 60. Insert Mobo, case, PSU, HD and fans for another 300+ = less than 1k. Of course I splurged on my Case and fans, so it cost me more than that, plus all my other goodies. But the point is, It's do-able.
Add that to the fact that you never really need that sort of power, you can play any new PC game or MMO with much lower grade peices. You can run most games these days smooth with a mere 6800 nvidia VGA.
What do you consider smooth?
I wouldn't even consider myself able to run crysis smooth despite the fact that I have 6 gig's of RAM, a GTX 295, and an i7 920.
Why does this even matter? He does not even need to run Crysis, let alone on max.
Quote from: Seifer on September 10, 2010, 01:50:12 PM
Why do you have the idea that 1,000$ is budget? Are you some rich kid?
The 'Budget PC' that I posted if you clicked the link was only $659, also Don't forget about the exchange rate as me and JoEL live in Australia which with current exchange rates is about $600 USD and in Australia everything is a little more expensive anyway. It only gets close to $1000 if you get the one bundled with the screen and speakers and whatnot which would be about $850 USD I would guess.
SO yes that i would consider a budget PC and in Australia I would consider under $1000 to be a budget PC.
Quote from: Jake on September 10, 2010, 06:30:52 PM
What do you consider smooth?
I wouldn't even consider myself able to run crysis smooth despite the fact that I have 6 gig's of RAM, a GTX 295, and an i7 920.
Time to install Crysis..
Quote from: Seifer on September 11, 2010, 07:09:31 AM
Quote from: Jake on September 10, 2010, 06:30:52 PM
What do you consider smooth?
I wouldn't even consider myself able to run crysis smooth despite the fact that I have 6 gig's of RAM, a GTX 295, and an i7 920.
Time to install Crysis..
I believe Jake knows my comps specs because he helped me order it...
I have a GTX285m, 6GB ram,i7 quad core...the works.
Can I successfully run Crysis maxed out on every single possible highest setting? Yes.
Is there graphical errors? Sudden black spots in random locations? Sudden loss of frame-rate in REALLY intense alien battles? Yes. Yes. and Yes. And I do consider my PC pretty high-end.
sorry but 1k for a comp is alot no matter where you live. if you are spending 2k on a computer you arent poor. i bet the people that say they are poor probably live in a place that is more then 1k sq ft. i live in a house that is only 360 sq ft and dont even have a bedroom or a bed.
Quote from: venuse on September 11, 2010, 05:16:37 PM
sorry but 1k for a comp is alot no matter where you live. if you are spending 2k on a computer you arent poor. i bet the people that say they are poor probably live in a place that is more then 1k sq ft. i live in a house that is only 360 sq ft and dont even have a bedroom or a bed.
If you sold your art you would live in a house on a plot of land surpassing 1k sq ft.
Quote from: venuse on September 11, 2010, 05:16:37 PM
sorry but 1k for a comp is alot no matter where you live. if you are spending 2k on a computer you arent poor. i bet the people that say they are poor probably live in a place that is more then 1k sq ft. i live in a house that is only 360 sq ft and dont even have a bedroom or a bed.
Yeppp. My thoughts exactly. Our idea of "poor" and theres is very different. When I think poor, I'm talking I have a single mother who waitresses. My family doesn't drive, and we live paycheque to paycheque. That is poor. Where do you fit in a 2 grand computer exactly? And even if your a kid(since SO is full of them) working a part time job that you get to keep all the money from, your probably getting say, 400$ pay cheque every 2 weeks, if you work good hours. Of that 400, you probably spend 150-200, since your family doesn't have a dime to give you, so you buy your own meals at school, and spend your own money to go out with friends. So your saving 250 every 2 weeks, 500 a month, thats 4 months to save for a computer. That's a pretty long time when you think about it. I'm pretty sure we didn't want to just tell mr.I need a computer solution here to go save for 4 months and come back and THAN we will help him.