Upgrade

[sjcf1]

Hi,

Friends got a computer. E1400 @3.2 ghz stock heatsink, 3gb memory and a 4730 graphics card. He wants to improve the framerate on bad company, would he see a benifit by upgrading the processor to a higher spec one, or a new graphics card, and if so, what should be go for?

The budget is £200-300, depends what he can save up after his car insurance.

Thanks In advance

 

[sjcf1]

Found out that he's got a MSI MS-7528, and 3gb RAM in 2x1GB 667mhz and 1x1gb 667Mhz, and 400w PSU, also he's got a collection of older hard drives and a 1tb F3 in there aswell.

I was thinking a 460, any chance a higher end processor could be fitted to it, thi9nk that would give him more performance.?

 

[sjcf1]

Is that the G31M3-F?

If so, then it will support much faster CPUs such as certain 65nm and 45nm Core 2 Quad CPUs. IMHO, the best option for upgrade is to keep the current board and RAM and drop in a Q6600 G0 steppping (~£80 second-hand) and receive a big performance boost. Make sure it is the G0 stepping, as the older B3 stepping does not work with that board.

You might also want to check whether the current RAM is running in Single or Dual Channel mode using CPU-Z (memory tab).

As for a GPU upgrade - it all depends on the PSU. Is that 400W a generic (ie no-name) unit or does it have a brand and a model number?

Yes the RAM's running in dual channel mode. Its a 400W cooler Master PSU. I think he'll go for the Q6600 and couple that with a 460, or a 5850 if they come down in price. Might even persuade him to get a better cooler to go with it.

 

[sjcf1]

Yes, I think he'll be doing that anyway, until he passes his test and finds out the insurance. Do you recon the 5000 series graphics cards will come down in price much.