Gpu +Cpu upgrade

uksoldierboy

uksoldierboy

uksoldierboy

Soldato
Joined
6 Aug 2009
Posts
4,504
Location
Wales
Hi guys, i'm new here, nice to meet u all.

used to well into my rigs but i've been away from it all for a while. best gpu at the time was the x800xt so everything is new to me now.
Anyway,first my current specs.
(the pc was bought by my girlfriend but she gave it to me as a pressy)

pentium core duo e5200 o/c 3.0ghz
foxconn g31mx socket 775
unknown memory 3gb
Nvidia 8400gs o/c core 500mhz mem 500mhz
unknown psu
o/s vista 32bit

I'm going be upgrading the cpu and graphics card this week as the 8400gs is utter crap, not sure if the cpu is any good(anyone?)
i want to be able to play games like crysis/ arma2 and all other new titles maxxed out if possible, i've set aside a max of £250 to do this.
I've looked at a few reviews and the ati 4890 seems to be the card to go for,would this card work with my motherboard?. as for the cpu i have no idea, so any info/suggestions for both choices would be really helpful.
thanks guys.
david.
 
i'd keep the processor, 3ghz isn't bad (any chance of it going higher), what sort of cooler does it have ?

maybe go for a gfx card, 4gb of memory (or another 2gb to match up with 2 of your current 3gb), new psu and a cooler for the cpu.


XFX ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £92.99 (£80.86)

Coolermaster Real Power 520w Modular Power Supply £67.99 (£59.12)

Scythe Mugen 2 CPU Cooler (Socket 478/754/939/940/AM2/LGA775/LGA1366) £36.98 (£32.16)

Corsair XMS2 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C5 TwinX Dual Channel (TWIN2X4096-6400C5C £33.99 (£29.56)

Sub Total : £201.70
Shipping : £9.50
VAT : £31.68
Total : £242.88
 
Last edited:
motherboard should be fine to take a 4890 although worth checking your PSU as this card will need more power than the 8400 gs and will need the relevant 6/8 pin PCIe power leads which your current PSU might not have.With regard to upgrading your CPU really only worth it if going for an E8400 or a Q6700 which will currently set you back £110.43 and £121.73 respectively. You will have more issues getting a good clock out of the quad on your motherboard and may have to factor in a new CPU cooler aswell, which may add another £30 - £45 to the mix (dont forget to check that a new cooler will actually fit in your case physically). Basically to get a worthwhile CPU upgrade and a new GPU (4890 or similiar) you will need to A) up your budget B) see if you can sell your old CPU to help? or C) get a cheaper or 2nd hand GPU (4850? maybe).
 
Thanks mp260767.
i did think that the cpu was pretty good, iv'e got it to 3.1 but was unstable after about 20 mins, all i've dun tho is jus raise the fsb tho, no volts increase, the cooler is just standard that came with the rig.
is there much difference between the 4870 and the 4890? what about 512mb compared to 1gig onboard ram?
thanks again.
 
uksoldierboy said:
Thanks mp260767.
i did think that the cpu was pretty good, iv'e got it to 3.1 but was unstable after about 20 mins, all i've dun tho is jus raise the fsb tho, no volts increase, the cooler is just standard that came with the rig.
is there much difference between the 4870 and the 4890? what about 512mb compared to 1gig onboard ram?
thanks again.
Click to expand...

Memory on card is mainly a factor in what resolution you can run well at on your monitor in most games before things really slow down...... what res do you run at?
 
to go mid way, or you think you might go to a bigger mionitor, if you can get £270 you could change the 4870 512 to a gtx 260 896mb.
 
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