Help With Upgrading!

blackhowling · 16 Jun 2013 at 19:24

Hi everybody
Im thinking of Upgrading my old computer but im unsure what would be best, a brand new motherboard and cpu or just gpu. Im not bothered if its Intel or AMD upgardes.
Heres my current setup:

CPU: (Sckt775)Intel® CoreT 2 Duo E8400 CPU @ 3.0GHz 1333FSB 6MB L2

MOTHERBOARD: (E8x00 & QX9x00 Series Support) Asus P5N-D nForce 750i SLI Chipset LGA775 FSB1333 DDR2 Mainboard

MEMORY: 8GB PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory (Corsair XMS2 w/Heat Spreader

POWERSUPPLY: 850 Watts Power Supplies (CoolerMaster Real Power PRO 850W Modular PSU SLI Ready)

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTS 250 Core Edition

Any help would be awesome
Thanks Tom

howayman · 16 Jun 2013 at 19:32

As a gamer I always say GPU, CPU then mobo

depends what you want to use it for

Would also point out that getting a new cpu nearly always means getting a new mobo at the same time

blackhowling · 16 Jun 2013 at 19:37

Well i use it for gaming but its getting on a bit now, i looking to spend about £300 to £400 on getting to decent level for the newest games out

Tom

howayman · 16 Jun 2013 at 19:53

I would start with a hd 7950 or 70. Then get the other bits when you save a bit more.

The RAM is a problem because you are going to have to replace that too when you get a cpu and mobo. So I would put the gpu in that set up then save.

If you want to go all in now then downgrade the gpu to the 7850. The performance isn't as good but its a canny all round card and I think overclockers have it for around 110.

With the 7850 you can easily do a complete upgrade with your spend. Depends which road you want to go down

howayman · 16 Jun 2013 at 20:06

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BG-100-AK&groupid=595&catid=689
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-418-IN
or http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BG-071-IN&groupid=595&catid=686 if you are to over budget
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-147-GL
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BG-307-GI&groupid=595&catid=683

with the i5 it brings you at £442
with the I3 it is way under budget.

If you do video editing as well the I5 is the minimum you should be looking at. In real terms the I7 should bear a closer look.
But it all starts exceeding the budget.

Actually scratch the initial board choice. This is a better deal. Though the board isn't as good http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-002-GI

Going the amd route will dramatically reduce costs but gaming has been shown to suffer. Whether its noticeable to a normal bloke though is debateable.

howayman · 16 Jun 2013 at 20:29

As an afterthought, you should check out bundle deals. For instance you can usually get the I7 47770k, z87 pro and 8gb ram for around £480. That would build quite a nifty system.

Theres also I5 deals of that nature that would take you under budget. I just rather like the mobo I suggested, but it all depends what you are going to use it for.
For instance I recently bought a H61 for a cheap build. However it isn't cheap because it doesn't cover what I need it for. I now have to buy a fan controller whereas if I had just bought a better board in the first place I wouldn't have actually saved money.

blackhowling · 16 Jun 2013 at 20:58

Thanks for your help so far but after thinking about it i might go down the rout of buying a new graphics card then saving for the rest.
Is there a nvidia graphics card that you could suggest as well as an amd?

Thanks Tom