Cheapest decent upgrade?

[Noobpc]

I have an old Dell Dimension 2400. The thing is obsolete, but i don't want to throw it away. I use it as a web browser and Minecraft gamer. It can't do much because of its current specs:

Stock mobo
2.53ghz pentium 4
2gb ddr ram
Nvidia 8400GS 512mb

I suffer low fps with minecraft on my current setup (10-20), and if there is something i can do that doesn't involve buying stuff, i'd be glad to hear it.

I just want a computer that will handle minecraft with higher fps (50+). That's all i need. No need for anything intense. I dont mind going from snail to turtle speed. Would it be cheaper for me to buy a prebuilt system or replace my mobo in order to get better parts?

If i'm not mistaken, my case only supports mini ATX mobos.

Thanks

 

[jjs0891]

you'd have to your processor as well as your video card to run minecraft at 50+ FPS.

 

[Noobpc]

I dont understand wht you are tryihg to tell me, sorry.

Are you saying my current specs are sufficient? Because i am having difficlty maintaining a high fps.

 

[jjs0891]

no you need to upgrade everything in order to run minecraft at 50+ FPS was what i was saying. Sorry i made a typo.

 

[Praxeology]

Ya I agree, the upgrade is ripping out those parts and replacing them with new ones. There is no upgrade for that build.

- Prax

 

[Noobpc]

Ok, that makes sense.

Now, my question is: is it cheaper to rip out parts and replace with better ones (reuse the same case), or is it cheaper to just buy a prebuilt pc that can run minecraft effectively.

With either solution, can i have more details please?

 

[Praxeology]

Ok, that makes sense.

Now, my question is: is it cheaper to rip out parts and replace with better ones (reuse the same case), or is it cheaper to just buy a prebuilt pc that can run minecraft effectively.

With either solution, can i have more details please?

It is cheaper to build your computer compared to buying them. On top of that, the parts in pre-build computers are absolutely atrocious. So to fully answer, it is cheapest to rip the guts out of your current configuration and fill it anew when compared to buying a pre-build. It is cheaper to completely build a new computer case an all compared to buying a prebuild pc, but more expensive that recylcing your current case. I would opt for rebuilding the computer in which case you need to find a budget mark and go from there.

 

[Noobpc]

Jjs: ok i understand now

Praxeology: thanks a lot for your help. Since the cheapest way would be to rip out the parts and re-use my case, can you give me any suggestions as to what parts to get? I think my GPU is fine, but i definately need a better cpu/and new mobo. I'd prefer to go as low as possible on the prices. Any suggestions?

Both of you, thanks so much.

 

[Praxeology]

Jjs: i didnt know you could run minecraft 50+ fps on my current rig and setup. If that's the case, that'll be great. How woud i go about doing that? I alrady downloaded optifine to help boost fps, but it doesn't work.

Praxeology: thanks a lot for your help. Since the cheapest way would be to rip out the parts and re-use my case, can you give me any suggestions as to what parts to get? I think my GPU is fine, but i definately need a better cpu/and new mobo. I'd prefer to go as low as possible on the prices. Any suggestions?

Both of you, thanks so much.

I don't play minecraft so am not sure on what would be needed to get you the desired performance increase. However, if you have say 500 bucks to spend, you could set up a strong rig if you buy a 4670K (240$) Cheap 1150 board (100$Max, cheaper the better) and 8 GB of DDR3 Ram(60$ Max) that is 240+100+60=400$ assuming you reuse your case/psu/hdd. If you can afford 4-500 bucks, let me know and I'll get a newegg part list up.

 

[Noobpc]

Yeah, that is quite a bit outside my desired price range. Is the anything that can be thrown together for less than 200?

Here are minecraft's system requirements

Minimum Requirements:
CPU : Intel P4/NetBurst Architecture or its AMD Equivalent (AMD K7)
RAM : 2GB
GPU : Intel GMA 950 or AMD Equivalent with OpenGL 1.2 Support
HDD : At least 90MB for Game Core and Sound Files
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 or up is required to be able to run the game.
 
Recommended Requirements:
CPU : Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 (K8) 2.6 GHz
RAM : 4GB
GPU : GeForce 6xxx or ATI Radeon 9xxx and up with OpenGL 2 Support (Excluding Integrated Chipsets)
HDD : 150MB

I was thinking something like:
AMD 6400k 3.9ghz dual core cpu
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.aspx?sku=617811

It's like a cpu with an integrated graphics card from radeon (i think)

And i would buy 4GB of ddr3 ram to go with it.

That total comes out pretty low, but from your perspective, is that worth it? Remember i am not going for a high tech pc at all. I just need something that is a little bit better than my current dinosaur.

 

[Praxeology]

Yeah, that is quite a bit outside my desired price range. Is the anything that can be thrown together for less than 200?

Here are minecraft's system requirements

Minimum Requirements:
CPU : Intel P4/NetBurst Architecture or its AMD Equivalent (AMD K7)
RAM : 2GB
GPU : Intel GMA 950 or AMD Equivalent with OpenGL 1.2 Support
HDD : At least 90MB for Game Core and Sound Files
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 or up is required to be able to run the game.
 
Recommended Requirements:
CPU : Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 (K8) 2.6 GHz
RAM : 4GB
GPU : GeForce 6xxx or ATI Radeon 9xxx and up with OpenGL 2 Support (Excluding Integrated Chipsets)
HDD : 150MB

I was thinking something like:
AMD 6400k 3.9ghz dual core cpu
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.aspx?sku=617811

It's like a cpu with an integrated graphics card from radeon (i think)

And i would buy 4GB of ddr3 ram to go with it.

That total comes out pretty low, but from your perspective, is that worth it? Remember i am not going for a high tech pc at all. I just need something that is a little bit better than my current dinosaur.

That's the thing I don't have a reference to base worth off of. Is it better? Yes. But will it significantly bump your fps up in minecraft? That's the unknown variable and the source of the unknown reference. I would imagine the fps increase should be substantial but couldn't say for sure.

- Prax

 

[Noobpc]

I understand noone knows everything, but judging from my current specs, the new rig would be MUCH better right?

I have a hard time selecting CPUs because i dont know how to compare them side by side. I know GPUs can be compared on this site:
http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php

But I never understood how X cpu is better than Y. Is it only based on how many gigahertz the cpu can run?

 

[Praxeology]

I understand noone knows everything, but judging from my current specs, the new rig would be MUCH better right?

I have a hard time selecting CPUs because i dont know how to compare them side by side. I know GPUs can be compared on this site:
http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php

But I never understood how X cpu is better than Y. Is it only based on how many gigahertz the cpu can run?

Yes this upgrade would be much better than your current configuration. The only unknown is how much will translate to FPS increase in minecraft. CPU performance is based largely on ghz but moreso on architectural design. How efficiently the CPU can process stuff is tired to architectural design. Sandy isn't quite as good as ivy, where ivy is not as good as haswell. That's my poor understanding of that. To conclude this thread I say get it, there will definitely be a performance increase that is substantial, but how much of an FPS increase in mine craft remains to be seen

 

[Noobpc]

I'd just like to say thanks to both of you, especially prax for helping me continuously.

 

[Praxeology]

I'd just like to say thanks to both of you, especially prax for helping me continuously.

I think I can speak for the collective when I say not a problem. This is what the internet's all about.

- Prax