Upgrading my PC into a Gaming System

M

mmsmm

New Member
Current Specs

Operating System:
MS Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit SP2

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 @ 3.00GHz

RAM:
2.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 266MHz (4-4-4-12)
Memory slots
Total memory slots 4
Used memory slots 2
Free memory slots 2

Motherboard:
4Core1333-FullHD (CPUSocket)

Graphics:
SMB2030N (1600x900@60Hz)
512MB GeForce 8600 GT

HardDrives:
244GB FUJITSU MAXTOR STM3250310AS ATA Device (SATA)

Optical Drives:
Optiarc DVD RW AD-7200A ATA Device

Audio:
High Definition Audio Device

400W PSU

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I would like to be able to play the news games coming out such as as Skyrim on MAX settings on a 1600x900 monitor.

Do i need to upgrade my RAM?

What graphics card should i get? i have no idea which one

Is my processer ok?

What W PSU will i need?

How much would i need to spend?
 
The system requirements is listed here for that game.

http://www.elderscrollv.com/skyrim-system-requirements/

*Recommended*

gpu - gtx460 or hd5850
cpu - 3ghz quad core with 2ghz daul core minimum
ram - 3gb

1.

So your looking at replacing your existing 2gb memory (2x1gb sticks) with 4 gb (2x2gb sticks) unless you can find the exact same memory that is currently installed.

2.

Getting either a gtx460/hd5850 or higher video card.

3.

Replacing the psu with something like this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028
 
 
mmsmm said:
1. will my pc be able to run this (2x4gb RAM) http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-%282x4gb%29-corsair-ddr3-vengeance-racing-red-pc3-14900-%281866%29-non-ecc-cas-9-10-9-27-xmp-15v

It is only £8 more than the 2x2gb RAM http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4gb-%282x2gb%29-corsair-ddr3-vengeance-jet-black-pc3-16000-%282000%29-cas-10-10-10-27-xmp-150v

How much RAM do most modern games need?

2. should i get a gtx460 or hd585?
Will this play modern games or max or should i invest in a better GPU

3. good psu? http://www.scan.co.uk/products/650w-psu-corsair-enthusiast-series-650txv2uk-85-eff-80-plus-bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-quiet-fan-a
Click to expand...

That RAM won't work. You need ddr2

Video card - Both are good card. 5850 is last gen. go for 6870

PSU - corsair 650 TX is good. But you can get some other cheaper Option
http://www.ebuyer.com/159918-antec-truepower-new-550w-modular-psu-tp-550-ec
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/520w...-eff-80-plus-bronze-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx-v23
 
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Which RAM should i buy the one johnb35 linked was 1GB so max i could get would be 4GB. Is there any good 2GB DDR2 RAM? If not ill buy 4 * 1GB DDR2 RAM

GPU: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-xfx-hd-6870-dual-fan-black-edition-4600mhz-gddr5-gpu-940mhz-1120-stream-processors-dvi-hdmi-mdp-

PSU: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/650w-psu-corsair-enthusiast-series-650txv2uk-85-eff-80-plus-bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-quiet-fan-aALSO would i need any extra cooling products?

ALSO would i need any extra cooling products?

AND would this play Crysis on MAX?
 
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yeah the cpu is fast enough, but i'd start saving up for a new mobo, cpu, and then you'll also need a new os unless you have a retail copy or can contact ms about it, and also some ddr3 ram if not ddr4 by that time. and for the psu part, if the comp is a normal desktop tower computer than it's almost guaranteed to fit.
 
jonnyp11 said:
yeah the cpu is fast enough, but i'd start saving up for a new mobo, cpu, and then you'll also need a new os unless you have a retail copy or can contact ms about it, and also some ddr3 ram if not ddr4 by that time. and for the psu part, if the comp is a normal desktop tower computer than it's almost guaranteed to fit.
Click to expand...

I may have enougth money...

could you link me a good mobo and ill guess ill buy Windows 7 but i do have a disk of win vista 64bit will that work again? and ill buy some 2x4GB DDRM 3 RAM for £50.

Would i need another cpu if i replaced mobo? if so which one would you suggest?

And do you know i site that could teach me to replace mobo and psu?
 
Ok... I think this thread will have a much more usefull outcome if we are given a budget on this system. What is the max you are willing to spend?

Once you answer that people can give you a parts list for maximum performance within the budget.
 
Ok guys i have changed my mind and want to build a new pc altogether!

Ive been looking and this is what ive came up with: (Budget £1000)

Case: Coolermaster HAF 932 Black/ Titanium Tower Computer Case (£99.58)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coolermaster-haf932-black-high-air-flow-tower-case-w-o-psu
882965-a.jpg


MotherBoard: Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3-B3 (Version B3) Intel P67 Express Socket 1155 Motherboard (£99.20)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-ga-p67a-ud3-b3-intel-p67-s-1155-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-raid-sata-pcie-20-%28x16%29-atx
1430406-b.jpg


CPU: Intel CPU Core i5 Unlocked 2500K Sandy Bridge Quad Core Processor (£167.98)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel-core-i5-2500k-unlocked-s1155-sandy-bridge-quad-core-33ghz-gpu-850mhz-6mb-cache-95w-retail
1383299-a.jpg


GPU: MSI HD 6870 HAWK AMD Radeon Graphics Card with Twin Frozr III fan - 1GB (£150.82)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-msi-hd-6870-oc-hawk-with-twinfrozer-iii-4200mhz-gddr5-gpu-930mhz-1120-stream-processors-dvi-hdmi
1430508-c.jpg


PSU: Antec True Power New 650W Modular Power Supply PSU 80Plus Bronze SLi (£69.18)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/650w-psu-antec-truepower-new-modular-82eff-80-plus-bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx
1065162-a.jpg


RAM: Corsair Memory Vengeance Red 8GB DDR3 1866 Mhz CAS 9 XMP Dual Channel Desktop (£56.16)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-%282x4gb%29-corsair-ddr3-vengeance-racing-red-pc3-14900-%281866%29-non-ecc-cas-9-10-9-27-xmp-15v
1548011-a.jpg


SSD: Crucial RealSSD M4 64GB - Solid State Drive - CT064M4SSD2 (£77.57)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/64gb-crucial-realssd-m4-25-ssd-sata-iii-6gb-s-mlc-flash-read-507mb-s-write-290mb-s-new-version
1480346-a.jpg

HDD: Samsung 1Tb Spinpoint F3 Hard Drive - HDD (£44.38)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1tb-samsung-hd103sj-spinpoint-f3-sata-3gb-s-7200rpm-32mb-cache-89ms-ncq
1072299-a.jpg


DVD: DVD PLAYER - SATA 22x DVD Writer SAMSUNG SH-S222AB/BEBE (£13.86)
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/samsung-writemaster-sh-s222ab-bebe-22x-dvdr-12x-dvdr-dvdplusrw-x8-rw-x6-sata-black-oem
1494637-a.jpg


TOTAL COST: £776.95
 
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Looks like a pretty good build but you gotta watch ram with those silly fins on the top they don't do anything except take up room in your case and sometimes limit you to what other components you want to add because they might not fit over top of the big bulky ram sticks.
 
Justinator said:
Looks like a pretty good build but you gotta watch ram with those silly fins on the top they don't do anything except take up room in your case and sometimes limit you to what other components you want to add because they might not fit over top of the big bulky ram sticks.
Click to expand...

On Scan.co.uk they are the cheapest for 8GB RAM, ones without the fins were £75+.
 
only ram issue us with heatsinks, which with that much budget you could go for like a antec or corsair watercooler, which take little room at that spot, more elsewhere, but also don't forget your os disk, win7 oem 64 bit or the win-vista if it works if you'd like, and also i would spring for a slightly higher end mobo with a z68 chipset, has a few extra features. and also look at lian li cases, higher quality and as time goes they grow on you, i didn't like them a month ago but i started to like the looks and now almost prefer them over the haf's
 
 
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Minimum System Requirements
* OS: Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7
* CPU: Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz or Althon X2 2.0 GHz
* RAM: 3 GB
* HDD: 15 GB
* Graphics: 512 MB card
* Sound Card: DirectX 9 Compatible
* DirectX: Version 9.0c

Recommended System Requirements
* OS: Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7
* CPU: Core 2 Quad 3 GHz
* RAM: 3 GB
* HDD: 15 GB free disk space
* Graphics: 512 MB Graphics Memory
* Sound Card: DirectX 9 Compatible
* DirectX: Version 9.0c

If you have sufficient funds to get up to Recommended Level, I'd go with
1- Quad Core Processor
2- Upgrade to WIN7
3- 4gb DDR3 RAM
4- 1gb MB Graphic Memory Graphics card. (maybe ATIRadeon HD 6750)
 
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