Core 2 quad gaming budget build

[kayn15]

Greetings! I currently have a computer with these specs:
Processor: Core 2 Duo, e7300 @2.66
Motherboard: Asus P5Q-SE
Ram: 4gb DDR2 @800 Mhz
Videocard: Gigabyte GT 220
Generic 450W PSU
Monitor: 17 inch Dell with 1280x1024 max resolution

My question is this: Is it worth it to upgrade the processor to a Q9400 or Q6600 and the ram to 8gb, adding a GTX 750 TI as videocard? Will the processor slow down the videocard on this resolution? Will i be able to play new games (at least on low) that will come in the next 2-3 years maximum? If so is it worth going for the TI version of the videocard or should I get the 750 2gb? For now, I wish to be able to play Witcher 3, Dragon age Inquisition and the upcoming Fallout 4. Thank you in advance!

 

[Sleetz]

How do you like this for an upgrade?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 2.66Ghz Quad-Core Processor ($131.44 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus P5QL/EPU ATX LGA775 Motherboard
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($100.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($73.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $306.41
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-10-10 12:39 EDT-0400

Edit: Your motherboard has two RAM slots and you have one filled and there is none I found compatible under $100 that is just 1x4GB stick, so I will let you select that.

 

[jaguarskx]

The GTX 750 Ti is above the minimum specs, but a Q9400, Q6600 is below the minimum specs. It should allow you to at least play game with medium settings especially since you have a relatively low resolution monitor.

However, I think an Intel C2Q should be sufficient to run the game especially if you motherboard allows you to overclock the CPU. I retired my Q9450 last year which is currently sitting in my HTPC. Since the GTX 750 Ti is not an overly powerful GPU, I don't think the old C2Q CPU will bottleneck it much.

 

[zjuventus14]

The only situation where you might hit a CPU bottleneck with the build suggested by Sleetz is in CPU-intensive games such as GTA V. I recommend his build.

 

[adolobe]

yes upgrade your cpu to a Core2Quad, get the fastest one your board support off ebay, they are sub $50 these days. if you can also add 4gb or more ram. Get a GTX 750ti with a minimum of 2gb ram. The 2gb 750 with overclock will match a stock 750ti but you never now how far you can push an overclock.

I have an MSI 750 non ti that overclocked well matched with a core2quad that I picked up for $55 after rebate. So if you go with a no TI board to save money just buy from a good vender to better your chanced of overclocking.

With your monitor you can pretty much play anything with medium high settings with a core2quad and 750/750ti

I can confirm that a core2quad will play Witcher 3 high setting at 720p with a core2quad and 750, same with GTA V. Your talking cpu usage from 60-95% in both games during different scenes, but the gpu stays maxed at 99% on my test rig. Both games hover around 40-60fps at 720p, you can even bump it up to 1080p but you drop about 20fps on high setting and this is more to do with the gpu then the cpu.

Dragon Age also works great even 1080P high.

I can record some videos if your interested

 

[kayn15]

I've read somewhere that the lower I go with the resolution, the harder the strain gets put on the processor, I ask if the 1280x1024 draws more power from the videocard or the processor? And I am not quite caught up with the news about gaming: Is it predicted that in the next 2 years there will come games that will force gamers to upgrade to next gen specs (like in 2007-08 when the first crysis came out) or will they be requiring just a little more than the current games like Dying Light, Watch Dogs, Witcher 3, Assassin's creed Unity do?

 

[Sleetz]

Your monitor resolution would not draw much more power. But if you went up resolutions for example to 1280x720 or 1920x1080 that would take a much greater toll on your cpu/gpu as there is much more for both of them to process. So because you have a lower resolution your new specs that I listed above should perform better than what you have significantly.

 

[kayn15]

I see, thank you!

 

[jaguarskx]

You can purchase a used Q9450 through Amazon for $50 + $5 shipping. But not sure where it is being shipped from. There is a refurbished one selling for $64 and is shipped from California. You will also need to buy a CPU cooler since the one for your Core 2 Duo is probably not good enough for a quad core CPU. Your current motherboard will support the Q9450, but you might have to update the BIOS.

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-BX80569Q945-Q9450-Desktop-Processor/dp/B00116VIEE
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00116VIEE/ref=dp_olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8&condition=refurbished


You should buy a stick of 4GB RAM to bring your total up to 8GB.

You will also need to upgrade your power supply. Seasonic PSUs are generally excellent, but they can be rather expensive. A decent alternative is the following Corsair CX600m 600w PSU that is currently selling for $45 (ends 10/12). It is manufactured by CWT who has a good reputation and their PSUs are better than average. Seasonic is more ore less in a class of their own.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139048

 

[kayn15]

Your monitor resolution would not draw much more power. But if you went up resolutions for example to 1280x720 or 1920x1080 that would take a much greater toll on your cpu/gpu as there is much more for both of them to process. So because you have a lower resolution your new specs that I listed above should perform better than what you have significantly.

I will keep the motherboard. my P5Q-se does have 4 slots of ddr2 https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5Q_SE/
and is able to overclock, although I will not go too high (probably @ 3.2), get a core 2 quad processor 4 more g of ram and a gtx 750/ 750 ti. I will also get this PSU http://www.marsgaming.eu/en/products/mp500.html ( 85% efficiency, 10 protections, more than enough wattage). Thank you all for your fast replies!

 

[kayn15]

You can purchase a used Q9450 through Amazon for $50 + $5 shipping. But not sure where it is being shipped from. There is a refurbished one selling for $64 and is shipped from California. You will also need to buy a CPU cooler since the one for your Core 2 Duo is probably not good enough for a quad core CPU. Your current motherboard will support the Q9450, but you might have to update the BIOS.

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-BX80569Q945-Q9450-Desktop-Processor/dp/B00116VIEE
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00116VIEE/ref=dp_olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8&condition=refurbished


You should buy a stick of 4GB RAM to bring your total up to 8GB.

You will also need to upgrade your power supply. Seasonic PSUs are generally excellent, but they can be rather expensive. A decent alternative is the following Corsair CX600m 600w PSU that is currently selling for $45 (ends 10/12). It is manufactured by CWT who has a good reputation and their PSUs are better than average. Seasonic is more ore less in a class of their own.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139048

My cooler is stock, but the quality version of it, with copper insertion. It keeps my current processor at 20-30 degrees Celsius. I've already upgraded the bios to the latest version. I will buy the cpu (q9400) and ram from my hometown so they can test it when I am present. The psu will be new. Only need for amazon or ebay or other sites will be for the videocard, which i hope I'll not get ripped off and given an old gpu with new cooler and fake firmware ( I've seen and was appalled by that practice for I nearly bought one)

 

[adolobe]

your current psu is probably fine 450w is more than enough for a q9400 and 750ti. Just because its generic doesn't mean its horrible. Who made it is what's important here. Not the fact its generic. For example Dell psu are commonly made by Delta they are labeled generic but honestly they are fairly high quality typically tier 2 or tier 3.

Us one of the ATX psu calculators on the internet. Put in all your info it will tell you about what your will use. Most likely you will be under 275watts with 9400 and 750ti so a 400w-500w will be fine
http://www.coolermaster.outervision.com/index.jsp

Not familiar with the MP500 brand here in the usa.

If your pc a store bought or a self built. If store bought what model is it and what model is the psu?

Also to answer your previous question. Setting a current generation game to low setting will max the cpu setting the game to high or ultra will max the gpu. Resolution plays a part as well but not as much as quality lvl. This is why you typically see benchmarks run games in high setting on gpu review and low setting son cpu reviews.

Your stock cooler will be fine for no overclock. if you overclock get a cheap but high quality Evo 212 or equivalent

 

[kayn15]

I have decided to change the psu. it doesn't even have a name, just says switching power supply and it's very loud. My new question to you, if anyone still reads this post is: does a q6600 OCed to 3.0 or 3.2Ghz have a similar performance to a q9400 or 9300 oced to the same frequency? I found a q6600 dirt cheap, half the price they ask for a q9400.