CPU, GPU, or RAM

[YoonLee]

I was wondering whether most games rely on the processor, graphics card (most likely answer), or RAM

 

[fudoka711]

The quick answer is that games rely more on the graphics card. If you have a tight budget and can only perform one upgrade, upgrading your graphics card is usually the best option. Are you looking to upgrade one of those three items in your computer?

 

[Entomber]

it's a tossup. Some games rely more heavily on CPU while others rely more heavily on GPU.

Games don't tend to rely on RAM speed, they just have a minimum amount required. If your GPU has insufficient VRAM, and the game has bad memory management issues, then your RAM speed also becomes important once your VRAM is all used up.

 

[YoonLee]

it's a tossup. Some games rely more heavily on CPU while others rely more heavily on GPU.

Games don't tend to rely on RAM speed, they just have a minimum amount required. If your GPU has insufficient VRAM, and the game has bad memory management issues, then your RAM speed also becomes important once your VRAM is all used up.

The PC i have only has 3 GB of RAM. Would i need more?

 

[YoonLee]

The quick answer is that games rely more on the graphics card. If you have a tight budget and can only perform one upgrade, upgrading your graphics card is usually the best option. Are you looking to upgrade one of those three items in your computer?

Yes, im looking to upgrade one of those for overall performance, but gaming is a pretty big factor in my decision making

 

[Entomber]

better if you provide a budget and expected performance. If you're looking to upgrade only, provide current specs.

 

[fudoka711]

What's your budget and what are your current system specs? And what are you planning to play?

 

[YoonLee]

What's your budget and what are your current system specs? And what are you planning to play?

http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Pavilion-Slimline-s5600-Desktop-PC-series/4269980/model/4300362/document/c02479775/

Just games in general. (New games, old games, etc.)

 

[Entomber]

like what type of games? name some that you are interested in playing.

 

[fudoka711]

http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Pavilion-Slimline-s5600-Desktop-PC-series/4269980/model/4300362/document/c02479775/

Just games in general. (New games, old games, etc.)

TLDR: First buy a new psu. Second buy a new gpu. Third buy a new cpu and thermal paste.

All right, with that slimline computer, your options are a bit limited. First, you'll need to buy a new power supply. My family has an hp slimline computer and I was only able to do minimal upgrades within a reasonable budget. You will need to buy a TFX form factor psu. Measure where your current psu is to make sure it fits a TFX form factor (or see if your current one is labeled as such). My family's slimline is from the same generation of HP slimlines (it looks exactly the same) so I'm pretty sure that's the right psu form factor.

Here is a 300W one made by Seasonic from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151090
There is also a 350W Seasonic version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151114
Here's an HP replacement version that's 400W (but its not that great - I would go with the seasonic): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6J12K10869

Then you should get a gtx 750ti for your gpu. I wouldn't recommend anything more powerful because you won't have a psu that's powerful enough. Make sure you take measurements of the inside of your case where your gpu is going to go. You need to buy one that's small enough.

For your cpu, you might need to buy one off of eBay. It's hard to find AM3 socket cpu's nowadays for sale as new. You're probably looking at buying an AMD Phenom II X4 900 series.

Here's an AMD Phenom II X4 955 on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-Phenom-II-X4-955-BE-3-2GHz-AM3-6MB-Quad-Core-HDZ955FBK4DGM-CPU-Processor-US-/271773258624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f46f2d380

If that's too much, then you can try going for an AMD Athlon II X4 600 series, perferably the AMD Athlon II X4 640.

Your current fan/heatsink should probably work for now, but you'll still need to buy some thermal paste. You will need to make sure to dust/clean your heatsink and fan often enough to make sure dust doesn't build up. Those slimline computers don't have good ventilation so dust can be a big problem down the road.

Cost of new psu: $34-$68
Cost of new gpu: $130
Cost of new cpu: $40-$80
Cost of thermal paste: $5-10

 

[Roopjeet Singh]

mmorpg games will use more cpu power than gpu and games like tera rising easy example and games like dying light need heavy duty gpu uses less cpu ... ram is equally used by both the type of games