$300 Gaming PC Upgrade Suggestions

[Chicharun]

Hi everybody. I just wanna consult you guys on what you would recommend to upgrade on my current PC.

Specifications:
CPU: Intel Core i3 4130
Mobo: MSI H81M-P33V2
RAM: 4GBx1 Kingston Hyper X Blu
GPU: GTX 750ti 2GB
HDD: WD Blue 1TB
PSU: Corsair VS450

So that's basically it. I know it's pretty mediocre, I just wanted to test out how "PC Gaming" works, and after the 5 months with this I am kind of In love. The games I play are CSGO, League, and a few TripleA Titles.

And keep in mind that I live in the Philippines, which basically means prices for components generally cost more.

 

[SkillerPenguin]

Are you just going to use it for gaming, nothing else like video rendering?

Will you ever be using Wi-Fi, or just ethernet?

Do you already have thermal paste?

 

[Chicharun]

Are you just going to use it for gaming, nothing else like video rendering?

Will you ever be using Wi-Fi, or just ethernet?

Do you already have thermal paste?

I only use it for gaming, entertainment, etc.
Oh and yeah I use Ethernet for my machine

 

[SkillerPenguin]

Are you just going to use it for gaming, nothing else like video rendering?

Will you ever be using Wi-Fi, or just ethernet?

Do you already have thermal paste?

I only use it for gaming, entertainment, etc.

Will you ever be using Wi-Fi, or just ethernet?

Do you already have thermal paste?

I would also personally recommend at least 6GB RAM with all of today's games.

 

[de5_Roy]

you can:

upgrade the cpu to a xeon e3 1220 v3 (cheaper than i7, has hyperthreading) or an i5 4690K.
replace the single stick with a compatible (check your mobo's memory support list for compatible kits) 2x 4GB g.skill ripjaws/ares kit.
add an SSD of 120-256 GB capacity.
upgrade the psu to a better one. evga supernova, xfx 550 ts, seasonic G/S12G/ x series.

any or all of the above.

 

[JQB45]

I would upgrade the RAM to a matched pair of DDR3 1600 2x4GB for a total of 8GB of RAM. That should still leave you enough to get a better PSU, and keep the old one as a spare.

A tier 1 or tier 2 PSU from this list is recommended: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

I'd also get a higher wattage PSU for future video card upgrades.

 

[Chicharun]

you can:

upgrade the cpu to a xeon e3 1220 v3 (cheaper than i7, has hyperthreading) or an i5 4690K.
replace the single stick with a compatible (check your mobo's memory support list for compatible kits) 2x 4GB g.skill ripjaws/ares kit.
add an SSD of 120-256 GB capacity.
upgrade the psu to a better one. evga supernova, xfx 550 ts, seasonic G/S12G/ x series.

any or all of the above.

I would upgrade the RAM to a matched pair of DDR3 1600 2x4GB for a total of 8GB of RAM. That should still leave you enough to get a better PSU, and keep the old one as a spare.

A tier 1 or tier 2 PSU from this list is recommended: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

I'd also get a higher wattage PSU for future video card upgrades.

Care to elaborate how a Xeon would be a good choice. I'm curious. Because I normally see Xeons on workstations

 

[Chicharun]

I would upgrade the RAM to a matched pair of DDR3 1600 2x4GB for a total of 8GB of RAM. That should still leave you enough to get a better PSU, and keep the old one as a spare.

A tier 1 or tier 2 PSU from this list is recommended: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

I'd also get a higher wattage PSU for future video card upgrades.

Okay I'll take the RAM Upgrade as one suggestion, that would leave 260 dollars left. What else would you recommend

 

[JQB45]

That XEON will give you hyperthreading usually only found on more expensive i7 CPU's for an i5 like price. It has more uses then just gaming but is an excellent choice gaming as well.

 

[Chicharun]

That XEON will give you hyperthreading usually only found on more expensive i7 CPU's for an i5 like price. It has more uses then just gaming but is an excellent choice gaming as well.

Please suggest a specific model in my price point so that I can research the prices in my area

 

[JQB45]

Please suggest a specific model in my price point so that I can research the prices in my area

Intel XEON E3-1231 V3

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646e31231v3

 

[Chicharun]

Please suggest a specific model in my price point so that I can research the prices in my area

Intel XEON E3-1231 V3

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646e31231v3

Holy Fucking Shit, okay these things prices are high in the sky currently in my country. I think I made up my mind and going with:

The Ram Upgrade, The PSU Upgrade, and a SSD Okay thanks guys .

 

[de5_Roy]

Care to elaborate how a Xeon would be a good choice. I'm curious. Because I normally see Xeons on workstations

these are lga 1150 compatible xeons i.e. with a bios update, these can run on your pc. the prices are usually cheaper than i7 cpus. these have 4 cores as well as hyperthreading to process up to 8 threads. your current cpu has 2 cores but through HT it can execute 4 hreads. the xeon has twice as much raw processing power. these are workstation cpus btw but they can also run on cunsumer pcs with a bios update. if your motherboard doesn't have the bios for running it (or the i5 4690k) the cpu won't run reliably in your pc.

 

[de5_Roy]

unfortunately, it seems that xeons are more expensive in philippines. so here are the cpus you may like:
Intel Core i5-4590 Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.70 GHz)
http://www.wiredsystems.com/shopping/intel-core-i5-4590-processor-6m-cache-up-to-3-70-ghz.html
Intel Core i5-4690 Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.90 GHz)
http://www.wiredsystems.com/shopping/intel-core-i5-4690-processor-6m-cache-up-to-3-90-ghz.html
Intel Core i5-4690K Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.90 GHz)
http://www.wiredsystems.com/shopping/intel-core-i5-4690k-processor-6m-cache-up-to-3-90-ghz.html
Intel Core i7-4790 Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.00 GHz)
http://www.wiredsystems.com/shopping/intel-core-i7-4790-processor-8m-cache-up-to-4-00-ghz.html
the 4790 may be way out of budget but it is strangely cheaper than the e3 1220 v3. in u.s. the 4790 is more expensive.

edit:
link to your motherboard's cpu and memory support list:
http://www.msi.com/support/mb/H81M-P33-V2.html#support-cpu