Question about a computer upgrade

[grcjds]

Hello, I have a Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 3.16 GHz, 2x2GB DDR2 800 MHz of Ram, my motherboard is P5QL PRO , my PSU has 500 Watts, my graphic card is Radeon HD 4650 1GB DDR2 and my operating system is 32 bits.

I am wondering if it is reasonable just to upgrade my ram to 8 GB (adding 2x2GB DDR2 800 MHz to my two motherboards's remaining slots) and buying the Radeon HD 7770 1GB GDDR5 and acquiring a 64 bits operating system.

 

[SirGCal]

To be honest; I wouldn't bother.

Basically, if you really want to upgrade, you might as well do a core upgrade. Doing all that for just a 7 series Radeon on a very old, albiet good, buss with slow memory just isn't very impressive. However if this is just a windows box that doesn't play games, Windows 64-bits and such will do better with 8G of memory instead of 4. 32-bit versions of windows won't use it at all, 4G is already the limit. But individual programs won't matter as most of them are all written for 32-bit with a 3.2G limit. But I really wouldn't do all of this to just stick on a 64-bit OS. I would at least save u p for a core upgrade and build a more solid 64-bit setup from the get-go, at least for gaming. Just my opinion.

 

[JuX]

Yes, 64-bit OS has some advantages over the 32-bit one. the RAM adding is a good and a cheap upgrade to your system and will allow it to work much faster. And if you want HD 7770 buy this model: http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1159&lid=1&pid=1745&leg=0

 

[daswilhelm]

buy the gpu, but dont waste money on ram and an o/s, save that money for a new build. the 7770 fits your system well.

 

[JuX]

Well yeah the 64-bit OS isn't a must. But it really depends on the RAM, if he wants to play some newer games, it's a good idea to buy it since it's cheap.

 

[coozie7]

If this is to improve gaming performance I'd just drop a HD7770 into the current system and start saving for a new build or a core (CPU/MB/RAM/OS) upgrade later.
Adding memory and updating to a 64 bit OS will be of little help.
The CPU is on the lower end of most current games requirements, and paired with a HD7770 it'll play them, but you'll need to use medium/low settings in the more demanding titles to get truly smooth play.

 

[grcjds]

To be honest; I wouldn't bother.

Basically, if you really want to upgrade, you might as well do a core upgrade. Doing all that for just a 7 series Radeon on a very old, albiet good, buss with slow memory just isn't very impressive. However if this is just a windows box that doesn't play games, Windows 64-bits and such will do better with 8G of memory instead of 4. 32-bit versions of windows won't use it at all, 4G is already the limit. But individual programs won't matter as most of them are all written for 32-bit with a 3.2G limit. But I really wouldn't do all of this to just stick on a 64-bit OS. I would at least save u p for a core upgrade and build a more solid 64-bit setup from the get-go, at least for gaming. Just my opinion.

 

[grcjds]

Ok, so what core upgrade would you recommend?