Upgrade or buy new?

Game_Zealot

Game_Zealot

Game_Zealot

Associate
Joined
11 Aug 2010
Posts
9
Hi,

I'm using the following antiquated gaming system for basically 2 games.
(EVE on-line, and Starcraft 2)

Running an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual 3.2 GHz processor
with 4GB DDR2 on Windows XP machine (only 3.22 being utilized I know)
Using an Nvidia Geforce 8600 gt

I'm not happy with the sytem performance.

The GFX might be going since there are red flashes appearing every so often when playing EVE (Motherboard or GFX - I'm not sure) - I never notice it anywhere else.

I was thinking of just getting a new GFX card + therefore a new PSU possibly as well and seeing if this helped my performance significantly.

What do people recommend?

Get new GFX card + PSU if needed, and also upgrade to windows 7 so I'm using all the RAM?

Any recommendations (max £120 on GFX card, max £50 on new PSU if I need it - not sure what I have, some cheap PSU)

Or just buy a new system. (This is best I know)

Oh, the motherboard is a M2N-E SLI

I don't have a large budget, so although I'd rather just go buy a new system, I want to know if I can improve performance with a few key upgrades.

Prob got max £300 for upgrades (GFX, CPU, PSU) - Just looking for ideas

Thanks.

:)
 
What case do you have?

I think a GFX+PSU upgrade first, then do a CPU/RAM/MOtherboard later.

The CPU supoort for your existing board is poor and doesn't have any of the AMD currently on sale listed.

The issue then is the drives you currently have, are any of them IDE?


This is going to be a good GFX/PSU upgrade,


Your basketProduct Name Qty Price Line Total
MSI ATI Radeon HD 6850 Cyclone Power Edition 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £119.99
(£99.99) £119.99
(£99.99)
Lepa W-Series 500W '80 Plus' Power Supply - with FREE LEPA Hard Drive Enclosure £47.99
(£39.99) £47.99
(£39.99)
Sub Total : £139.98
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £9.50
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £29.90
Total : £179.38
 
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If it was me I would invest in a decent new PSU, then begin a gradual upgrade. If you've got a decent base to work from you'll find it a better way to spend your hard earned cash. You've been here a while so if you got you posts up (legitimate and not spamming) you would get access to the members market. Search the FAQ for more info.

It might help your budget stretch further.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Gives me something to think about.

Didn't know about the members shop etc. I'll be sure to check out the FAQ :)

The case is a "blade" case - not sure you know the 1. It's quite big and roomy, so, probably fine for upgrading.

Don't want to link a competitors site, pretty sure you either know the case or can find it pretty quickly.

The drive is this: maxtor STM3250310AS - Sata :) Bonus \o/

So, no problem using ATI or an NVIDIA GFX on that mobo? I have no preference.
 
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I have settled on the MSI ATI Radeon HD 6850 Cyclone Power Edition 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card that was recommended above, and am now just trying to get the right PSU.

I'm now trying to settle on a reliable quality modular PSU around the £50 mark.

Between this:

Cooler Master Silent Pro Modular 500W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply [RS500-AMBAD3-UK] http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-167-CM&tool=5

and this:

Lepa W-Series 500W '80 Plus' Power Supply - with FREE LEPA Hard Drive Enclosure
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-003-LA&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

Which is better?

Or is there another better option around that price?

Thanks :)
 
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