Time to upgrade or not worth it?

Falkano

Falkano

Falkano

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Joined
25 Aug 2011
Posts
7
Hi guys, new here and looking for some advice!

I was wondering if it is “time!” to upgrade/build a new pc again.

Right now this is my current spec

Intel core 2 quad GO Q6600 2.4 GHz (not over-clocked)
P5N32-E-sli
PC2-6400 DDR2-800 DIMM RAM Memory Module – 3GB PNY
Caviar Green Internal 3.5" SATA Hard Drive - 1TB
Radeon HD 5850 xtreme (got it from here!)
Antec 900 Gaming Tower Case
Jeantech 600w atx psu
Artic cooling freezer 7
Philips dvd writer drive
And an acer x203h monitor

Now I got most of that in 2009 I think (except the gfx card and hard drive) and it cost a lot! Probably around £600 or so.

Now the main thing I use my pc for is playing games like most of you. Don’t really do any video editing or anything like that. I just want to be able to play the games that come out. Right now it isn’t too bad, can play Crysis etc. But times are a changing! The two games on the horizon which I am thinking about are Battlefield 3 and Guild Wars 2.

So do you think my rig could handle those games or should I think about upgrading? If so to what? Or should I just get a new monitor?

Truth be told I don’t know much about pc’s and specs. I just Google it and see what others say. I have been able to build the systems over the years by doing that and thankfully now can just about do it on my own. I have never over-clocked before, wouldn’t have a clue how to. Should I maybe look at doing that rather then spending loads of cash on an upgrade?

If I had a budget I would put it at around £400, maybe pushing to £500.

Any help, advice/opinions would be really appreciated!
Cheers!
 
Cheers for the reply!

I don't think it does support crossfire
This is it here
http://uk.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_775/P5NE_SLI/#specifications

As i said the main reason i am thinking of upgrading is so that i can play Battlefield 3 when that comes out to a good enough level. If my pc will struggle with that then i imagine most games in the future might too?

The other thing i have been thinking about is the monitor. The max it can go is 1600 x 900. Where as the card can go to 1920x1080. Maybe if i was to change something it should be that then?
 
Cheers guys really appreciate the advice!

I will have a look into the overclocking then and see how that goes. If it blows up then i have to get a new one!

I like the look of the 4.50ghz bundle, its in the price range.

My other question is what about the hard drive? Whenever i do benchmark tests they always seem to indicate the HDD is the low point scorer of the system. Should i be changing that too while im at it?
 
Last edited:
evilpenguin said:
2500k and a better cooler would be a good pitch, crank it to over 4ghz. i would say to look at 8gb ram but on ddr2 it would be expensive, so you might be looking at a whole new mobo/ram/chip combo
Click to expand...

That is what i am thinking.

Eventually DDR2 will get left behind so eventually i am going to have to upgrade anyway. Might as'well do it now so as the newer games come out i am ready for them for a couple of years!
 
Just thought i'd give a little update!

In the end i decided on going for
CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.60GHz Sandybridge CPU
- Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-V PRO Intel Z68
- RAM: Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual kit Channel.
- Cooler: Corsair A50 CPU Cooler
- Artic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
Which was about £450.

Hopefully that should be alright for Battlefield 3!
 
Yeah i am looking at the PSU next. Just going to have to wait a bit until the next pay day now!!

Will probably go for the Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 750W one that was linked above.
Then maybe do the Crossfire thing that was mentioned.

That is the problem with upgrading though, you always end up doing more then you first thought you would! :)
 
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