Should I Upgrade?

[b-dock]

Hey guys I'm new here. I stumbled across this site while trying to figure out if I should buy a new Gaming PC.

My current setup (not overclocked due to case and stock cooling systems):-

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ (2.4Ghz)
MSI K9n Sli Platinum motherboard (AM2 Socket)
Palit GeForce 7900gs 512 mb (ok but can't handle the strain sometimes)
4 GB Kingston (800 MHz) Ram (DDR 2)
An old P5-166 gateway case with missing side panel.

I'm definitely buying a new case and better graphics card to run a dual graphics card system but I don't know what my best option is. I either buy a new system (CPU, Motherboard, Graphics Card and 4gb DDR 3 ram) or keep/buy new CPU and new cooling systems and overclock. No past experience with overclocking but I'm a very quick learner.

I've got 800 USD to spend and I'm looking for a significant performance upgrade. What do you recommend I do?

 

[Springy182]

Check if you have AM2+, if so you can handle a Phenom II chip which would drive costs down, I wouldnt even try to find another GF7 series GPU, get a GTX 260 or Radeon 4870, they're both 150-200 depending on your vendor, new case would be in order and your RAM is fine

Cases are mostly personal preference provided they have decent (2-3 120MM fans preferably) airflow, good brands are NZXT, Antec, Thermaltake and Coolermaster, some generic cases have decent airflow but not as many

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394
150$, XFX is a good brand and offer "Double lifetime warranty" (If you sell your card the buyer would also receive lifetime warranty) and is the cheapest 4870 on Newegg, and is dual slot so it'll expel heat out the back instead of it staying in your case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103675
225$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674
255$ on sale for 215$

Really depends on how much processor you want, AM3 is backwards compatible with AM2+ and will support AM3 motherboards if you choose to buy a newer motherboard (If you wanted DDR3 once it comes down in price more for example)

If you want to overclock it, buy an aftermarket cooler, quad core CPUs generate a fair amount of heat, you dont want your first venture with overclocking to end in an explosion (Figuratively of course)

 

[ScOuT]

This is what I would do if I were you.

Case: Antec 300 for $70 (it is more than basic Antec 300 but you will not have to add fans)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

PSU: Antec 750w modular with Blue LED fan for $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371022

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 for $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

RAM: 4GB G Skill DDR3 1333 MHz for $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 810 2.6GHz for $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103650

CPU Cooler: Not really sure what would fit on that board Maybe somebody else can help with that

Graphics: Gigabyte GTX 260 Core 216 OC Edition for $150 after rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125267

Hard Drive: Western Digital Black 640GB for $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

CD/DVD: Samsung SATA drive for $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

This will be a pretty solid build...the total as it sits here is about $710. That leaves a little extra for shipping and a CPU cooler. You can also get a cheap sound card. I have a sound card that is like $30 and it sounds great with a $50 set of Logitech speakers. Maybe that will be something to look at when you save a little money in a month or two

The color scheme is blue If you couldn't tell

 

[PatPheFox]

This is what I would do if I were you.

Case: Antec 300 for $70 (it is more than basic Antec 300 but you will not have to add fans)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

PSU: Antec 750w modular with Blue LED fan for $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371022

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 for $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

RAM: 4GB G Skill DDR3 1333 MHz for $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 810 2.6GHz for $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103650

CPU Cooler: Not really sure what would fit on that board Maybe somebody else can help with that

Graphics: Gigabyte GTX 260 Core 216 OC Edition for $150 after rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125267

Hard Drive: Western Digital Black 640GB for $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

CD/DVD: Samsung SATA drive for $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

This will be a pretty solid build...the total as it sits here is about $710. That leaves a little extra for shipping and a CPU cooler. You can also get a cheap sound card. I have a sound card that is like $30 and it sounds great with a $50 set of Logitech speakers. Maybe that will be something to look at when you save a little money in a month or two

The color scheme is blue If you couldn't tell

went through here looking where to change, and i gotta say i like it

 

[ScOuT]

went through here looking where to change, and i gotta say i like it

It;s a pretty good build for a little over $700. It will run stuff just fine

He might want to put a little more into the motherboard That was one of the issues I saw.

Also look for combo deals on Newegg. Search all the part numbers and see what happens...you never know what you might find

 

[PatPheFox]

It;s a pretty good build for a little over $700. It will run stuff just fine

He might want to put a little more into the motherboard That was one of the issues I saw.

Also look for combo deals on Newegg. Search all the part numbers and see what happens...you never know what you might find

or you could subscribe for the newsletter (great deals) wait a week or two and check the shell shockers

 

[b-dock]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I liked scout's build except that I was thinking of buying the 955 but wasn't sure I should stick with AMD. I've read a ton of articles since my original post. I finally feel fully caught up. Apparently AMD are soon going to release their 800 chipset series. Supposed to be a massive improvement on the 700 series. I've decided to wait til then. Hopefully by then I'll have a little more money to spend on a better GPU and the DDR3 Ram.

Hopefully prices of ddr3 would have dropped a little by then.

Again thanks for the help guys.

 

[PatPheFox]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I liked scout's build except that I was thinking of buying the 955 but wasn't sure I should stick with AMD. I've read a ton of articles since my original post. I finally feel fully caught up. Apparently AMD are soon going to release their 800 chipset series. Supposed to be a massive improvement on the 700 series. I've decided to wait til then. Hopefully by then I'll have a little more money to spend on a better GPU and the DDR3 Ram.

Hopefully prices of ddr3 would have dropped a little by then.

Again thanks for the help guys.

isnt that a while, but ya at the moment ddr3 boards are more and ddr3 is a little expensive

 

[b-dock]

isnt that a while, but ya at the moment ddr3 boards are more and ddr3 is a little expensive

From what I've been reading the 800 chipset is supposed to come out sometime this year. I don't mind waiting a few months because I order it'll be an international shipment.

Computer hardware sucks where I'm from. Sure I can get my hands on a quad core dell computer but I'd be paying way too much for it. I'd rather put my baby together like I did with my current computer.