time to upgrade i guess...

D

D3x!

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Hi All,

So when i was younger i used to keep up with all the latest in PC tech and upgraded often but i havent in a few years and have lost touch with what is the latest and greatest etc.

my current PC is now say 2.5 years old and i cant play some games as i am getting back into gaming a little.

this is what i currently have:

19" Acer LCD (this is fairly older as was with my previous system, one of the square type, not the wide ones)
(this was a prebuilt system when i gave up on my modded one, it is an LG system)
Core 2 6600 @ 2.4Ghz
2046MB Ram

i added a cheapish graphics card, a POV GT220 from esquire

standard case and cant see rating on PSU cause i am lazy to take it out now

so any suggestions on what would be an affordable upgrade and where to source from, note i am able to purchase direct from Sahara, Pinnacle, Asbis etc but considering it is holidays i am willing to go else where if the pricing is not so different.

Basically i want to be able to play the latest games at decent enough levels and be preparded to play upcoming releases for at least a year.

i know i will need a new m/b, cpu and ram but will my graphics card need upgrading? also i understand i may need a larger PSU for the new system.

Any tips or pointing me in the direction of specials will be good and appreciated.

Also anyone care explaining to me the new i3, i5 and i7, before it was simple :p


thanks :)
 
Archer said:
Max budget?
Click to expand...

i didnt want to put a budget cause i already know i will spend too much and feel carp :p

to be honest i dont really know what i need so had a brief look today and i reckon a i3 with a m/b and 4gb ram will set me back around R2.8k then i will prob want a decent case and bigger psu and that is if i dont have to change the graphics card.

i would say tops budget prob 4-5k but i will be honest and say i would like to come off easier than that for now
 
Hmmmmm...
Are you keeping the old screen? Would mean you probably do not need to upgrade the GPU. Heck, you might just maybe actually be able to game with just the built in GPU of a i3/i5. You know your screen resolution? Of course with a new screen all that goes out the window :p
 
th130_xps8300-i72600-1620_1.jpg

Dell XPS 8300 PC: Intel Core i7-2600 (3.40GHz) Processor

Dell XPS 8300 PC: Intel Core i7-2600 (3.40GHz) Processor, 16GB (4x4096) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel, 2TB Dual Hard Drive Raid 0 "Stripe" (2x1TB - 7200RPM), 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5670 Graphics Card, 6X Blu-Ray ROM Combo (Blu-Ray Read Only, DVD, CD Read & Write) Drive, South Africa Dell Wireless 1501 (802.11g/n) Mini Card, Multi-Media Wireless Keyboard and Mouse, Windows 7 Professional (64bit). No Monitor included
R13,915.00
Click to expand...

How bout this one?
 
Archer said:
Hmmmmm...
Are you keeping the old screen? Would mean you probably do not need to upgrade the GPU. Heck, you might just maybe actually be able to game with just the built in GPU of a i3/i5. You know your screen resolution? Of course with a new screen all that goes out the window :p
Click to expand...

i would like a 24 or 26" but that can wait for now

are you talking about my windows resolution?

1280 x 1024
 
Hmmm...
Then how about
Get a i5 2400 (or 2500k if budget allows)
For the 2400 you can get the cheapest mobo you want really, with the 2500k you'd want a P67. You can get Z68 as well but they tend to be a little more expensive
Throw in 4GB RAM and done. Should be in the R4k region

Then you save and save and save, so that when you get a new monitor, you buy a new GPU along with it (HD7xxx series will serve you well) and maybe a PSU then as well. The GT220 will def not run nicely at 1920x1080 resolutions of most 23" screens
 
Archer what is the difference between a i5 2500 and an i5 2500k? there is only a R100 price difference between the 2 but on this pricelist i am looking at there doesnt seem to be a difference.

also what is the basic difference between i3, i5, i7

is one like dual core, quad core and ?
 
Simplified:
i3 = dual core, sometimes with HT (hyperthreading)
i5 = quad core, no HT
i7 = quad with HT

If it has a 'k' it means it can be overclocked easily. Without the 'k' you are looking at 5% OC at most
To help confuse you on the motherboard front
H61 = no OC, IGP enabled
P67 = OC, no IGP
Z68 = OC + IGP

For games, the i5 is where its at, hence 2400, or 2500k (I see no point getting the 2500 non k, just get a 2400 then)
 
Then you're likely looking at a H61 with a i5 2400
And thats all the advice you'll get from me until tomorrow :D The rest of the gang will chime in with their 2c shortly I'm sure
 
ok sweet that doesnt look too badly priced then, about a R400 difference between a supplier and say prophecy for example.

for ram, what is better, one solid 4GB or 2 x 2GB? and what brand should i look at, currently just priced in regualr kingston

the board i am looking at then is the intel Bear point? or slightly smaller with less usb and 5.1 instead of 7.1 sound is the Clems cove
 
I still have my Q6600, 6GB RAM, ATI 4870 and it runs almost anything still, might have to upgrade in a few years but until then it works. I would say go for the i5 and get a decent ATI card 6xxx region. All depends on budget.
 
Even my gf's pc, which is a phenom 2 555 and a 4850, is still able to play most games at medium to high settings at full hd. Gaming on old tech is doable with most of todays games.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
 
mike156 said:
Even my gf's pc, which is a phenom 2 555 and a 4850, is still able to play most games at medium to high settings at full hd. Gaming on old tech is doable with most of todays games.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

For example I am trying to play black ops (yes I know a new one is out) but the game keeps freezing and I have to ctrl, alt + delete and end the process and CPU usage is full.

Also can't up any detail on games as then it stutters and hangs occasionally

If you can suggest a minor upgrade that will make the pc playable go for it, otherwise I am going to have to upgrade.
 
Unfortunately a minor upgrade here and there add up quickly... Having a brand and rating of your psu will help.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
 
mike156 said:
Unfortunately a minor upgrade here and there add up quickly... Having a brand and rating of your psu will help.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Will take it out when I get back from gym and take a look
 
D3x! said:
Basically i want to be able to play the latest games at decent enough levels and be preparded to play upcoming releases for at least a year.

i know i will need a new m/b, cpu and ram but will my graphics card need upgrading?
Click to expand...

I would say yes. I have a old 9600GT which is almost 2x as powerful (on paper) compared to your GT220 and it struggles like hell on newer games which are even not that new and I have to run them at mid to low settings to get decent fps.
 
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