What should I do?

Squiner · 09-26-2006, 12:18 PM

Without changing my video card, what change in hardware should I make to improve my computer for gaming? Will a new processor help a lot, more ram? Or is my computer fairly balanced and I would need an overall improvement to see appreciable gains in gaming? My comp is in the sig.

Thanks for looking

chrisalviola · 09-26-2006, 12:21 PM

your pc's better than mine and I can play all the new games out there.

bigsaucybob · 09-26-2006, 12:36 PM

If you have a pretty substantial budget, I would upgrade to Core 2 Duo. But that would also require you to upgrade your motherboard and RAM.

Otherwise I think another GB of RAM would nice.

chrisalviola · 09-26-2006, 12:47 PM

games today only have min specs of 1.4Ghz and 512Mb, our hardware is still a lot more advanced.

Squiner · 09-26-2006, 12:47 PM

If I were to change the CPU I was just thinking I would go to dual core so I could keep the MB I have now but I wasn't sure if it would be woth it. I'm not sure what Core 2 duo is so I need to go look that up. Also, I was thinking about another gig of RAM like you said bigsaucybob.

thealmightyone · 09-26-2006, 12:54 PM

The only worthwhile upgrade is another 1GB of memory. You really only want to upgrade the CPU or GPU when your computer can't handle what you want it to do (and defrags + adware/virus scans dont help).

chrisalviola · 09-26-2006, 01:14 PM

yup increase your ram its a lot cheaper. and you can re-sell them.

Diamondsleeper · 09-26-2006, 02:14 PM

Have you tried overclocking anything? Things I look at to maximize performance: Check for the latest bios versions for the M.B. Newest drivers for the video card? Keep the hard drive defragmented. Keep all spyware off of the computer using Lava-soft Ad-aware or similar. Close things I don't need running in the background in the system tray. Increase the amount of RAM. Increase cooling capacity. Keept the dust blown out of the case and off of the heat sinks. Get faster hard drive. I recommend W.D. 10,000 R.P.M Raptors in Striped RAID. Which is the same as saying RAID 0. Also I still think AMD is better for gaming. I basically had what you have before I upgraded recently. It ran BF2 pretty well with things set almost all on high with a few down to medium. Would occasionally get a chop here or there at the worst possible time. The new rig is awesome by the way. Unbelievable difference when playing BF2. No hiccups whatsoever with all settings maxed out. Super fast map loads. Also something I didn't really expect that improved my game playing. When I pan now (look around) while moving etc. everything is much smoother allowing greater vision of whats going on. Being able to spot things faster. Its GREAT!! Its like getting a new pair of glasses.

Squiner · 09-26-2006, 03:36 PM

I have not tried to overclock anything but the video card. I probably should OC the CPU some but I have been nervous about doing that. I think I will end up getting another gig of ram and OC the CPU a bit. I was really trying to determine if I had a weak link in my system so I could upgrade that component. Sounds like I have a moderate system that can be tweaked. I guess it's what I expected because I only spent about $600 on it about a year ago.

Thanks everyone

SirKenin · 09-26-2006, 04:06 PM

Putting a dual core CPU in it won't help that much. You can look for a very modest increase, but nothing you'll get excited about. A lot of games aren't going to use the dual core anyways. Some do for sure though (Quake 4 comes to mind). It's more of a benefit for multitasking and what not.

RAM I'm not convinced of either. Especially not with XP. There are a couple of games that will soak it up if you have it, but not too many. Start with the overclocking. It's free. See what happens from there.

09-26-2006, 12:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Squiner New Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 22	What should I do? Without changing my video card, what change in hardware should I make to improve my computer for gaming? Will a new processor help a lot, more ram? Or is my computer fairly balanced and I would need an overall improvement to see appreciable gains in gaming? My comp is in the sig. Thanks for looking __________________ MB: DFI nF4 Ultra-Infinity CPU: AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200+ Manchester RAM: CORSAIR ValueSelect 2 Gig Video: PNY VCG7600GXPB Geforce 7600GT PSU: Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-450

09-26-2006, 12:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
bigsaucybob Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: ny Age: 18 Posts: 3,913	If you have a pretty substantial budget, I would upgrade to Core 2 Duo. But that would also require you to upgrade your motherboard and RAM. Otherwise I think another GB of RAM would nice. __________________ Equipt NOW

09-26-2006, 12:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Squiner New Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 22	If I were to change the CPU I was just thinking I would go to dual core so I could keep the MB I have now but I wasn't sure if it would be woth it. I'm not sure what Core 2 duo is so I need to go look that up. Also, I was thinking about another gig of RAM like you said bigsaucybob. __________________ MB: DFI nF4 Ultra-Infinity CPU: AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200+ Manchester RAM: CORSAIR ValueSelect 2 Gig Video: PNY VCG7600GXPB Geforce 7600GT PSU: Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-450

09-26-2006, 12:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
thealmightyone Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: York, UK Age: 21 Posts: 1,000	The only worthwhile upgrade is another 1GB of memory. You really only want to upgrade the CPU or GPU when your computer can't handle what you want it to do (and defrags + adware/virus scans dont help). __________________ E8200 @ 3.576GHz with GA-P35-DS3L 2900 Pro, flashed to XT, oc-ed to 850/1860. Crucial Ballistix Tracers PC2-8500 2GB Enermax Modular 620W Creative Audigy 4 2x Seagate Barracuda 250GB Jeantech Nitro case, XP Pro and 19" LCD

09-26-2006, 02:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
Diamondsleeper Silver Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 178	Have you tried overclocking anything? Things I look at to maximize performance: Check for the latest bios versions for the M.B. Newest drivers for the video card? Keep the hard drive defragmented. Keep all spyware off of the computer using Lava-soft Ad-aware or similar. Close things I don't need running in the background in the system tray. Increase the amount of RAM. Increase cooling capacity. Keept the dust blown out of the case and off of the heat sinks. Get faster hard drive. I recommend W.D. 10,000 R.P.M Raptors in Striped RAID. Which is the same as saying RAID 0. Also I still think AMD is better for gaming. I basically had what you have before I upgraded recently. It ran BF2 pretty well with things set almost all on high with a few down to medium. Would occasionally get a chop here or there at the worst possible time. The new rig is awesome by the way. Unbelievable difference when playing BF2. No hiccups whatsoever with all settings maxed out. Super fast map loads. Also something I didn't really expect that improved my game playing. When I pan now (look around) while moving etc. everything is much smoother allowing greater vision of whats going on. Being able to spot things faster. Its GREAT!! Its like getting a new pair of glasses. __________________ M.B. - ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wi-Fi CPU - AMD Athlon 64x2 6000+ Socket AM2 3.0GHz RAM - Corsair 4GB XMS2- 6400 (800MHz) + LEDs Video - Qty 2 B.F.G. 8600GTS OC2 256MB in SLI Mode Sound - S.B. X-Fi Fatality 64MB X-Ram Storage - Qty 4 - WD 10,000 RPM 74GB Raptors paired in RAID 0, Optical - ASUS 20X Lightscribe DVD recorder. Power - "SilverStone 750W" / Modular Blue UV Cables Case - Antec - Nine Hundred - Gamer Case Last edited by Diamondsleeper; 09-26-2006 at 02:42 PM.

09-26-2006, 12:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
chrisalviola Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 866	your pc's better than mine and I can play all the new games out there.

09-26-2006, 12:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
chrisalviola Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 866	games today only have min specs of 1.4Ghz and 512Mb, our hardware is still a lot more advanced.

09-26-2006, 01:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
chrisalviola Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 866	yup increase your ram its a lot cheaper. and you can re-sell them.

09-26-2006, 03:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
Squiner New Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 22	I have not tried to overclock anything but the video card. I probably should OC the CPU some but I have been nervous about doing that. I think I will end up getting another gig of ram and OC the CPU a bit. I was really trying to determine if I had a weak link in my system so I could upgrade that component. Sounds like I have a moderate system that can be tweaked. I guess it's what I expected because I only spent about $600 on it about a year ago. Thanks everyone __________________ MB: DFI nF4 Ultra-Infinity CPU: AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200+ Manchester RAM: CORSAIR ValueSelect 2 Gig Video: PNY VCG7600GXPB Geforce 7600GT PSU: Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-450

09-26-2006, 04:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
SirKenin banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,711	Putting a dual core CPU in it won't help that much. You can look for a very modest increase, but nothing you'll get excited about. A lot of games aren't going to use the dual core anyways. Some do for sure though (Quake 4 comes to mind). It's more of a benefit for multitasking and what not. RAM I'm not convinced of either. Especially not with XP. There are a couple of games that will soak it up if you have it, but not too many. Start with the overclocking. It's free. See what happens from there.

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