Upgrade current PC or buy a new one?

S

serialthrilla

New Member
Hello all,

This is my first time posing in this forum, and I must concede that my knowledge about computers is pretty much non-existent. My current dilemma is whether or not I should buy a new computer for gaming or just buy new parts for my current one. Here are the specs of my current computer (bought it at Costco a year or two ago):

Windows 7 operating system
intel core i7-2600s processor @ 2.80ghz (8 CPUs)
8.00 GB of RAM
video card is AMD Radeon HD 6570

I have a budget of about ~800 dollars, and I don't need to worry about a monitor/keyboard/mouse etc. I thought about building a computer myself, but I wouldn't know where to even start. Anyway, would it be better to upgrade my current rig or just buy a new desktop PC?

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated :good:

*UPDATE*

Found the Motherboard: h8-1012c

http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/si...ac.admitted=1389133415158.876444892.492883150
 
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Before i give my opinion what is your of hard drive, power supply, case, and can your windows key be used more than once? These are import factors in upgrading. If these aren't good then I would just buy a new PC.
 
speedx77x said:
Before i give my opinion what is your of hard drive, power supply, case, and can your windows key be used more than once? These are import factors in upgrading. If these aren't good then I would just buy a new PC.
Click to expand...


You only need a Windows key with a new motherboard, and being OP has a 2600 the board and CPU don't need upgrading unless it's very crappy motherboard, which it could be.

OP, we need your full specs, the stuff speed mentioned and everything else. Maybe the model of your PC? And what are your current phierphiarls and monitor?
 
At this stage I'd say get a nice graphics card and save the money for a rainy day. That 6570 is seriously bottlenecking your i7 2600 (which by the way, is more than powerful enough for gaming).

But of course I have no idea what PSU you've got, what case you've got, what kind of storage you have, what motherboard you have etc. ;)
 
One of the biggest upgrades would be a graphics card, although I'm not sure long it can be and would it fit in the case. Does anyone know?
 
By the looks of it, a normal GPU won't even close to fit. You could get a ITX 760 by MSI and a CX500M, or build a new computer and keep many if the HP parts, which is what I would do.

newegg.com
Corsair 300R-$80 (USD everything)
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ($130)
Use your old i7 2600
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus (your HP cooler is probably crap) ($30)
Try for a R9 280X, 770 (770 is the best of these), 670, or 680 ($300 to $400)
Corsair CX600M ($70)
Use your old HDD
Use your old RAM
Windows 8.1 64 Bit ($100)

Should make a pretty decent system ;)
 
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speedx77x said:
One of the biggest upgrades would be a graphics card, although I'm not sure long it can be and would it fit in the case. Does anyone know?
Click to expand...

Thank you for your helpful comments speedx77x :)

So you think it would be better for me to just upgrade the graphics card as opposed to purchasing a new computer?
 
PCunicorn said:
By the looks of it, a normal GPU won't even close to fit. You could get a ITX 760 by MSI and a CX500M, or build a new computer and keep many if the HP parts, which is what I would do.

newegg.com
Corsair 300R-$80 (USD everything)
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ($130)
Use your old i7 2600
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus (your HP cooler is probably crap) ($30)
Try for a R9 280X, 770 (770 is the best of these), 670, or 680 ($300 to $400)
Corsair CX600M ($70)
Use your old HDD
Use your old RAM
Windows 8.1 64 Bit ($100)

Should make a pretty decent system ;)
Click to expand...


Better to build a new one and use many of your old parts IMHO
 
PCunicorn said:
By the looks of it, a normal GPU won't even close to fit. You could get a ITX 760 by MSI and a CX500M, or build a new computer and keep many if the HP parts, which is what I would do.

newegg.com
Corsair 300R-$80 (USD everything)
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ($130)
Use your old i7 2600
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus (your HP cooler is probably crap) ($30)
Try for a R9 280X, 770 (770 is the best of these), 670, or 680 ($300 to $400)
Corsair CX600M ($70)
Use your old HDD
Use your old RAM
Windows 8.1 64 Bit ($100)

Should make a pretty decent system ;)
Click to expand...

This is very sound advice, thank you. My only concern is I don't really know how to "put together" the parts so to speak. Is it very difficult to assemble the parts?
 
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That 3 part series from newegg is really good. Watched it before doing my build. Felt a lot better about the process afterwards. It was easy and fun.
 
PCunicorn said:
You only need a Windows key with a new motherboard?
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No. You dont. Your windows key can be used as much as you like, AS LONG AS it is only installed on one machine at a time. I legally used my XP key like 40 times 1 call to Microsoft and they will allow it.

Unless of course it is an OEM key. Then it is limited to the hardware installed. But if its a retail key its open season.
 
Sorry, OEM keys. Your right. But being this is a OEM PC, it uses a OEM key and disk. Just like every other PC from HP, Dell, Samsung, etc. Unless OP bought a new retail OS for his HP, which I highly doubt being it probably shipped with 7 and most people dont spend $200 on a retail OS when 7 still works fine.
 
PCunicorn said:
Sorry, OEM keys. Your right. But being this is a OEM PC, it uses a OEM key and disk. Just like every other PC from HP, Dell, Samsung, etc. Unless OP bought a new retail OS for his HP, which I highly doubt being it probably shipped with 7 and most people dont spend $200 on a retail OS when 7 still works fine.
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Yea. In that case Im sure his current platform will suffice. Its an i7, so it cant be horribly slow.

Although that motherboard is pretty horrid...
 
Okedokey said:
Just get a new case, PSU and GPU and transplant it all. No need for anything else.
Click to expand...

I dont know about newer computers, but factory made computers a few years ago alot of them used special motherboards that wont mount in traditional aftermarket cases. Some even had special PSUs that you could not just swap out because of how it connected to their special motherboards. Was all a pain in the ass really.
 
G80FTW said:
I dont know about newer computers, but factory made computers a few years ago alot of them used special motherboards that wont mount in traditional aftermarket cases. Some even had special PSUs that you could not just swap out because of how it connected to their special motherboards. Was all a pain in the ass really.
Click to expand...

Yeah you need to be aware of this. Sometimes OEM boards won't fit into aftermarket cases.

Best bet is to grab a Z68 or Z77 motherboard along with a GPU, PSU and case and re-build it using your existing parts, like PCunicorn suggested.
 
May be true, but until we know what mobo that is you're asking him to waste 2 or 3 hundred dollars on something he doesn't need by the time he gets a new motherboard and windows OS.

Right now, the mobo probably fits, and if it does, there is no reason whatsoever to replace it.
 
Just grab new PSU & GPU & new case/ may be additional case fan. SSD will help boot time if you want.

Don't see the point spending on new mobo & OS
 
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