Need Gaming PC Upgrade Advice!

S

Snipets

New Member
Hello again, Computer Forum. I've finally got some extra income headed my way and with a budget of about $500 I'm looking for your opinions of what will make this PC great for gaming.

My specs are as follows:

Operating System
MS Windows 7 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
Kentsfield 65nm Technology
RAM
6.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 533MHz (8-9-9-25) (Two 2GB and two 1GB sticks.)
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5E3 Deluxe (LGA775)
Graphics
NS-L322Q-10A (1920x1080@60Hz)
ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 (ATI)
CrossFire Disabled


Hard Drives
488GB Western Digital WDC WD5000AAJS-22TKA0 ATA Device (SATA)
977GB Western Digital WDC WD10EACS-00D6B1 ATA Device (SATA)
977GB Western Digital WDC WD10EACS-00D6B1 ATA Device (SATA)
977GB Western Digital WDC WD10EACS-00D6B0 ATA Device (SATA)
977GB Western Digital WDC WD10EACS-00ZJB0 ATA Device (SATA)

Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10L ATA Device
Audio
SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio

Power Supply: 1000W



I have the hard drives set up in a raid so I have 4TB of space for video project elements and everything else goes on a 500GB drive. All in all, I want to add or replace anything I can that will make this a better gaming PC. I know I want a new mobo and CPU for sure, but I have no idea what will work well together.

Any advice or links to products would be greatly appreciated! :D
 
@Johnny he is using 1066 RAM right now, since it cuts it in half for the technical specification. The fastest RAM his board can handle WITHOUT an overclock is 1333, which I would guess there would be no real performance increase going from 1066 to 1333. But if he were to upgrade his RAM, he could get 2 sets of matching 4GB which would see some increase.

I'd say leave the CPU and MoBo. Even though they are older, a core 2 quad still holds its own in games. I would maybe looking into overclocking if it can.

I would upgrade the graphics card before anything else. In the $200-300 range, a 6950 or a 560ti would be the way to go, $300-400 would get you a 6970 or 570, or you can go all out and get a 580 for $400-500.

Why does it say crossfire is disabled? Do you have 2 4870s?
 
mb. cpu, ram, & Windows if you need it. sell those parts.
Then if the card isn't enough, sell that too and upgrade.
 
claptonman said:
Why does it say crossfire is disabled? Do you have 2 4870s?
Click to expand...

I have a 4870 x2. It's one body but has two 4870's inside of it. The Crossfire is only if I were to buy another 4870 x2 and, in effect, have four 4870's.


Will all of this work with my current RAM and give me a noticeable performance boost? I'm not worried about getting windows on the new mobo because I called Microsoft and they said it'd be no problem. At $650 I'm going over my budget by $150, so if you guys know anything that is comparable for less, link plox! XD

Mobo

CPU

Graphics
 
Last edited:
linkin said:
$500 upgrade for CPU/MB/RAM and maybe an SSD if the budget stretches:

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115073

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157240

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428 x2

Total: $459.96

Threw in two RAM kits as more RAM is always better for video rendering and video editing stuff. You shouldn't run out with 16GB, but you will need a 64-bit OS. Plus it's $30 per kit. RAM is cheap.
Click to expand...

Thanks a bunch for this list. I'm hoping my graphics card will not bottleneck the system if I go with all this stuff. My only question is what makes that Mobo worth almost $200 where others are around $100? Sorry if it seems like a dumb question, but I'm very inexperienced. XD
 
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