Building on Current System - What next?

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Merry192

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Sep 15, 2011
5
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18,510
Approximate Purchase Date: this week (the closer the better

Budget Range: $200

System Usage from Most to Least Important:Gaming

Parts Not Required: (e.g.: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, or any other TomsHardware trusted website.

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution:1920x1200

Additional Comments: This is my current set up including all the parts. I'm looking for recommendations on what to upgrade from here. I've had this computer for about 3 years now, and I feel that it's starting to lag behind on some of the games. I want to prepare for games like Diablo 3, Battlefield 3 where I can play at decent settings. I'm a gamer by heart, and want performance at a good price!

So basically what I'm asking is; what components should I upgrade next to get the most performance per part replaced? What's holding me back right now? What should be bumped up to the next level? I know this is extremely open ended, and I apologize!

CASE 1 x RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEBP 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case

POWER SUPPLY

1 x COOLER MASTER Silent Pro Gold Series RS800-80GAD3-US 800W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

MOTHERBOARD
1 x ASUS P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard

GRAPHICS CARD
1 x ASUS EAH4890/HTDI/1GD5 Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

RAM
1 x Patriot Extreme Performance 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PDC32G1333ELK

HARD DRIVE
1 x SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD322HJ 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE
1 x LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model GH22LP20 LightScribe Support - OEM


CPU
1 x Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80569Q9550

CPU FAN
1 x XIGMATEK Intel Core i7 compatible Dark Knight-S1283V REV.W with ACK-I5361 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler I7 i5 775 1155 and AMD compatible

MONITOR
1 x SCEPTRE X24WG-1080P Black 24" 2ms Widescreen LCD Monitor

OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

So what do you guys think? What needs to be upgraded first to get the most bang for the buck out of this system? Thanks!
 
Solution
Zenthar
For gaming, I don't think 16GB is even close to being necessary, 8GB is probably already overkill for most (then again, for the price, who cares 😛). Either add a 4th 2GB module to get dual-channel or simply replace your 3 modules by 2x4GB and be done with it.

Unless someone tells me the 4890 performs badly in XFire, I think for 100$ you will get the most bang for your buck.
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Personally, I don't see anything worth upgrading at this time. This is a still a solid system in my opinion and should be able to handle most any (if not all) games with decent frame rates.

If you feel your system is starting to lag, the first thing I would recommend is a good internal cleaning (compressed air and maybe a toothbrush for fan blades). I'd also consider a fresh install of Windows.

-Wolf sends
 
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Since your monitor is at 1920x1080, you probably want a better graphics card like the Radeon HD 6850 for about 150 bucks (depending on which one you get from whichever company, Gigabyte is best but most expensive at $180). The Radeon HD 6850 http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=Radeon+HD+6850 vs Radeon HD 4890 http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu.php?gpu=ASUS+EAH4890 . The 6850 scored almost 30% better and has the best performance/price ratio according to this website so I would get that if I was planning to play BF3 1080p high settings for a great price. Cheers.
 
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you can afford a 6870 , and you can nearly afford a 6950

but your first performance increase might be to sort out why you think you have 3 x2 gig sticks of RAM and you expect it to be in dual channel . It cant be .
Each channel needs the same amount and preferably type of RAM

Taking one stick OUT is likely to improve your computers performance 6 - 7 % since the 3 sticks must be running in single channel
 
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Mmmm, why not just XFire another 4890? Your PSU can probably handle it and your MB supports it. My only concern would be to know if the 1GB VRAM would cause, but probably not (or else any other 1GB card would choke anyway).
 
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I lol'd at you're comment "and it's cheaper"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&Description=6950%201gb&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&Description=560%20ti&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

The 560 Ti is cheaper. And if we take the Gigabyte model (GIGABYTE GV-N560OC-1GI ) we will see, it's better than the 6950 (1 and 2gb for cheaper)
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/gigabyte_gtx560_oc/11.htm
 
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Also, for the sake of just getting this to be a new point.

Outlander don't mislead prices by using after rebate prices. The 6950 1GB (The cheapest) Is $240 BEFORE rebates. The 6950 2GB is $260 BEFORE rebates. The 560 Ti is $230 BEFORE rebates. Now I'm talking about the cheapest models. But the Gigabyte model I referred to in my post above is $235 BEFORE rebates.
 
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You may choose to direct people to products any way you like , but your implication Im misleading people by trying to get them the best deal , even if that deal includes a rebate is offensive .

But then so is falsely representing benchmarks of highly overclocked non standard models of the 560ti compared with standard clocked 6950 , and then using that to claim some superiority for the nVidia card .

You seem to be on a roll . Keep up the good work
 
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Haha alright, if you want to play fan boy. I will clarify my meaning.

The STOCK 560 Ti isn't as good as the STOCK 6950 1gb or 2GB model.

HOWEVER retail models of the 560 Ti are much better than the retail models of the 6950 1gb and 2gb. The 6950 retail models are rarely overclocked to that performance like the 560 Ti retail models are. Most of the 6950's don't even get OC'd that much from the manufacturers. Which makes the 560 Ti RETAIL models a better deal since they are cheaper and offer better performance.

Are you satisfied?
 
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Whooaaaa guys!

I very much appreciate the enthusiasm to help me! But you're all getting me confused!

I am willing to spend $250 but it'll have to be at the end of the month after I've paid the bills.

I'm also going to get 16GB of PC12800 RAM when I see the next sale based on the recommendations of the toms hardware articles. The RAM is so cheap right now anyways with sales regularly being less than $100. This is based on your recommendation of the single channel stuff (Thanks Outlander!)

@ Zenthar Xfire the 4890? These cards should be very cheap right now I would think - but I don't understand your concern about the 1GB VRAM. Can you explain? If the price for these cards is about $100 or so, and the performance increase is pretty good, I'd happily do this. I've never had a single problem with my 4890.

My long term goal is to completely revamp the whole system, including new motherboard and CPU. So I want parts that I can transfer to the new motherboard (IE high quality RAM, GPU(s) etc)

Thanks again everyone, I VERY much appreciate the assistance!
 
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The 1GB VRAM, I think, would only become a problem if you were using very high resolution like 2560x1600 or multiple monitors, especially when you enable AA and AF (one of the two can increase VRAM usage quite a lot, I just don't remember which). But for your resolution, you should be OK.
 
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Hey,

I can get the card for about $100 on eBay. Think dual 4890 and use the extra $100 to bump the machine up to 16GB of RAM would be optimal? This'll put my machine at dual channel instead of the single channel it is now.

Whatca think?
 
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For gaming, I don't think 16GB is even close to being necessary, 8GB is probably already overkill for most (then again, for the price, who cares 😛). Either add a 4th 2GB module to get dual-channel or simply replace your 3 modules by 2x4GB and be done with it.

Unless someone tells me the 4890 performs badly in XFire, I think for 100$ you will get the most bang for your buck.
 
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Solution
Hey Zen,

One last question; would the SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4890 2GB DDR5 card Crossfire well with my 1GB 4890?

Found a decent deal on the 2GB card, and wouldn't mind paying an extra $20 for the 2GB if it'd function better.
 
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If you crossfire them, only 1GB of the 2GB will be used, when using 2 video cards, it always goes down to the lowest deniminator: lowest RAM, slowest speed, ...

I wouldn't worry too much about the 2GB unless you want to play on those big 2560x1600 monitors or play with 2 monitors.
 
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