Help with upgrading computer

[draconisilver]

Hello!

I'm very inexperienced with upgrading computers, and could really use help upgrading it! I'm on a 200$ budget, and am not sure what the best way to spend it would be. I don't know what parts upgrading would be best, or what parts they need to be upgraded into, so I could use a hand with recommendations on what to upgrade into as well.

Specs:
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3
Processor: AMD Phenom II X2 555
Installed Ram: 4GB(not sure what type or make, unfortunately...)
Video Card: ATI Radeon 5770 1.0GB
Power Supply: 380W (not sure if needs upgrading as well)

Thanks!

 

[Adroid]

Tough call here. Honestly, it's time for a overhaul to get much of a performance increase. It's not worth upgrading the graphics card with that CPU.

You need new RAM, Motherboard, CPU, and PSU... And could upgrade the GPU later separately.

I recommend you save your 200$ untill you have 300$-400$ and do it right. Any form of bandaid you could put on that PC is not going to make you happy in the long run.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news ;x

 

[thx1138v2]

You didn't give enough info to get a definitive reply. If you are running a 32-bit OS more memory won't help you because it won't be used by a 32-bit OS.

If, and only if, you are running a 64-bit OS the memory upgrade to 8 Gb would be the best bet. Just take the memory sticks that are in the machine now with you when you go to the computer store and get more of the same if there are empty slots in the mobo or if you are out of slots get 2 new ones at double the size.

The mobo is fairly recent and you wouldn't really gain anything but future upgradability of other components if you uigraded only the mobo.

Depending on what you use the machine for it could possibly benefit from a X4 processor or newer processor but that's going to be limited by your budget.

Or if you want to improve graphics you might look at a new graphics card but you won't find much that's hot for $200 these days and you'll more than likely need to upgrade you power supply if you do that.

The power supply might need upgrading if you upgrade anything other than the RAM so that would put a budget crimp in upgrading the other components.

The bottom line is you won't be able to upgrade much with only $200 so save it, add to it later, and do the upgrades later. That will also give you some time to research the options and set a budget for what you need rather than letting the budget dictate the upgrade.

 

[draconisilver]

Tough call here. Honestly, it's time for a overhaul to get much of a performance increase. It's not worth upgrading the graphics card with that CPU.

You need new RAM, Motherboard, CPU, and PSU... And could upgrade the GPU later separately.

I recommend you save your 200$ untill you have 300$-400$ and do it right. Any form of bandaid you could put on that PC is not going to make you happy in the long run.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news ;x

You didn't give enough info to get a definitive reply. If you are running a 32-bit OS more memory won't help you because it won't be used by a 32-bit OS.

If, and only if, you are running a 64-bit OS the memory upgrade to 8 Gb would be the best bet. Just take the memory sticks that are in the machine now with you when you go to the computer store and get more of the same if there are empty slots in the mobo or if you are out of slots get 2 new ones at double the size.

The mobo is fairly recent and you wouldn't really gain anything but future upgradability of other components if you uigraded only the mobo.

Depending on what you use the machine for it could possibly benefit from a X4 processor or newer processor but that's going to be limited by your budget.

Or if you want to improve graphics you might look at a new graphics card but you won't find much that's hot for $200 these days and you'll more than likely need to upgrade you power supply if you do that.

The power supply might need upgrading if you upgrade anything other than the RAM so that would put a budget crimp in upgrading the other components.

The bottom line is you won't be able to upgrade much with only $200 so save it, add to it later, and do the upgrades later. That will also give you some time to research the options and set a budget for what you need rather than letting the budget dictate the upgrade.

Thanks! Though how would I go about upgrading the processor? Is there a set of numbers similar to the ram I should make sure match? Assuming I had double the budget what recommendation would you have for an upgrade? I do have a 64 bit OS, so I may still go to 8GB of ram.

 

[Adroid]

I wouldn't expect much of a performance increase going to more RAM. You are better off waiting until you have the money and buying 8GB of DDR3 1600 with a motherboard that supports it natively.

Upgrading the processor might provide minimal performance increase, but again I just don't think it would be worth your money. You could pick up a really fast barebones system (not including graphics card) for around 350$. I think it's worth waiting for!