What to upgrade if anything?

Norbert666

Norbert666

Norbert666

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So I recently "upgraded" my XP3200 PC with a cheap, 2nd hand one off members market. It's a mssive increase but by no means cutting edge!

Very happy with it, but it's made me get back into PC gaming: something I've not done for about 6 years or more.

Currently playing through Oblivion again and have Counter Strike and L4D (first one) also installed (that's how out of date I am!). Obviously there are far newer games out there.

What is the single, most cost-effective thing, if anything, I could upgrade to get the biggest performance increase (for modern gaming)?

Spec is:

Asus M3A78-T AM2+ Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ AM2+ CPU Unlocked to a Quad Core Phonom II X4
4GB DDR2 Ram
Corsair TX650 PSU
Gainward Rampage700 HD4870 X2 2048MB GS GLH

Thanks
 
Considering you've got the X2 5000 unlocked to a Phenom X4 and a 4870 X2 it's a pretty well balanced rig.

Guess I'd have to ask 2 questions, what's your budget for the upgrade and what's the chip currently clocked to?
 
No budget, I'm just seeing if there's one thing that can be done to make a justifiable improvement. e.g if a stick of RAM for £20 will give me massive improvement where a £300 graphics card will give only small improvement. That kind of thing.

The CPU nor GPU are overclocked.
 
Personally wouldn't upgrade anything, other than maybe adding a decent aftermarket cooler and overclocking the CPU a little. 4870x2 is still a very good card, should be able to play most games (including new releases) at high settings at 1920x1080. Although if your looking to get DX11 support then maybe the new GTX 560Ti at £200?
 
Looks like a well balanced system. Nothing sticks out. the HD 4870 x2 2GB shifts, the phenom x4 is very decent. depending what 'cheap' means, it looks like you got a good bargain.

You could upgrade to a £200 card (HD 6950 / GTX 560), and upgrade later the processor with SandyBridge / Bulldozer. But imo, you're looking good already. Latest DX11 will be quicker, less heat, less power, less noise. But that would matter for the latest high-tech cutting-edge games (latest Crytek), for the games you play, and regular games (BF:BC2, Fallout, Mass Effect 2, that sort of things), You won't even notice a difference.

However I'd put the money aside and upgrade when it becomes necessary, you have a decent gaming system. The other good thing also is that you have a good PSU.

EDIT : I suppose some overclocking, a after-cooler market for £30. But I don't think that's even required in your case. If it's not broken, don't fix it.
 
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OK, all sounds quite sensible. Thanks.

The CPU is 2.3 I think, yes. It does have an aftermarket cooler on it, albeit an old one. BUT, I hung up my overclocking gloves a long time ago when it started getting out of hand with phase change and water combined. Now I'm old and doddery, I need quick and easy fixes these days!

EDIT - realistically, how much could this CPU overclock to with VERY minimal effort? (back in the olden days you could get a XP2500 to silly speeds just by switching the multiplier a few notches)

Also, will it's potential overclock be limited seeing that it's actually been unlocked from Dual to Quad core?
 
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