Upgrade Advice Needed!

[danielmoore2276]

Hi Guys (and Girls)

At the moment I'm using a Geforce GT610 1GB Graphics Card. I have 3.5GB of ram,

AMD Athlon (tm) 64 x 2 Dual Core Processor 4400+ 2.30 GHz.

Board: ECS Nettle2 1.0
Bus Clock: 201 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 5.27 06/10/2008

My computer can take up-to 8GB of ram, which is good, and easily sorted due to websites being able to scan and showing products that will work.

I have provided basic information about my computer above, and im looking to buy a graphics card, but im unsure if im limited to a PCI Express 2.0.

I dont want to take a gamble buying a Graphics card that wont work, but im only looking to spend around £40-50 tops and if anyone who can assist in helping me choose one that would be great.

Now some may ask, what sort of games do you like to play, well i mainly like Simulation Games, E.G Railworks 3, Cities in Motion 2, i use Can i Run it, and for Railworks 3 my computer exceeds the system requirements yet very laggy, so its on Low Graphic Settings, which sometimes still lags or crashes, sometimes both.

Thanks in Advanced.

 

[theonerm2]

You need to replace that computer... Honestly.. It's barely worth upgrading. Let's see what we can do here... You can keep the case, hard drives, and DVD drive.

Here's what you can do...

Put all this into your case and you're good to go.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3olnd
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3olnd/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3olnd/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD A6-5400K 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A55M-VG3+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($42.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill AEGIS 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $171.97
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-08 15:41 EDT-0400)

Operating system not included. It's your choice to pick the one you want.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

The whole computer is very outdated , not worth upgrading , save for a new build , stop back we will help you with your components.

 

[danielmoore2276]

I know its old, I bought it brand new back in 2009, But surly with carefully selected components this computer could perform better, that's all I'm asking, I know it will never run modern games like Battlefield 4.

And I am planning to buy a Gaming System in the summer, Just thought it's worth a try asking. Thanks

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Put the money into your new system , don't throw it away on outdated components.

 

[danielmoore2276]

You need to replace that computer... Honestly.. It's barely worth upgrading. Let's see what we can do here... You can keep the case, hard drives, and DVD drive.

Here's what you can do...

Put all this into your case and you're good to go.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3olnd
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3olnd/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3olnd/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD A6-5400K 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A55M-VG3+ Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($42.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill AEGIS 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Micro Center)
Total: $171.97
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-08 15:41 EDT-0400)

Operating system not included. It's your choice to pick the one you want.

This is atually a good suggestion, and nicely priced, what about a graphics card? or is the one i'm using at the moment is good enough?

Thanks, Really helped.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Don't buy those components above , the power supply his cheap and has poor capacitors , and you want 2 matching ram modules so that it runs in dual channel mode.

 

[danielmoore2276]

Don't buy those components above , the power supply his cheap and has poor capacitors , and you want 2 matching ram modules so that it runs in dual channel mode.

What would you add to the above list?

 

[theonerm2]

I know its old, I bought it brand new back in 2009, But surly with carefully selected components this computer could perform better, that's all I'm asking, I know it will never run modern games like Battlefield 4.

And I am planning to buy a Gaming System in the summer, Just thought it's worth a try asking. Thanks

Well yeah it can do better with upgrades. The best thing you can do is to buy parts that will work with a new system... Like a new graphics card for example or a new power supply. Don't buy any RAM or a new CPU for that system. It's very hard to recommend anything in your price range. You need to double your budget.

 

[danielmoore2276]

I know its old, I bought it brand new back in 2009, But surly with carefully selected components this computer could perform better, that's all I'm asking, I know it will never run modern games like Battlefield 4.

And I am planning to buy a Gaming System in the summer, Just thought it's worth a try asking. Thanks

Well yeah it can do better with upgrades. The best thing you can do is to buy parts that will work with a new system... Like a new graphics card for example or a new power supply. Don't buy any RAM or a new CPU for that system. It's very hard to recommend anything in your price range. You need to double your budget.

Well, Looking at that suggestion in buying a new motherboard etc, all of that above will cost around £90, so its an extra £40 to my budget which im willing to do, however if some say it wont work or have doubts, then im seriously open to ideas.

 

[danielmoore2276]

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3mZKK

What about this?

4GB of Ram.
AMD A4-4000 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor.
MSI A55M-E33 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard
Kingston Value 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory
XFX 450W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply

Integrated Graphics Radeon HD 7480D, whats this graphics card like? Any good for the games i like to play or maybe buying a additional one.

I did buy a Geforce GT610 1GB about 5 months ago, and having compared this graphics card to the Radeon, it came back saying the Geforce was better.

 

[theonerm2]

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3mZKK

What about this?

4GB of Ram.
AMD A4-4000 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor.
MSI A55M-E33 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard
Kingston Value 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory
XFX 450W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply

Integrated Graphics Radeon HD 7480D, whats this graphics card like? Any good for the games i like to play or maybe buying a additional one.

I did buy a Geforce GT610 1GB about 5 months ago, and having compared this graphics card to the Radeon, it came back saying the Geforce was better.

The GT 610 is a bit better than the 7480D. So I suggest this....

PCPartPicker part list: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3oo9M
Price breakdown by merchant: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3oo9M/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3oo9M/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Celeron G1620 2.7GHz Dual-Core Processor (£27.98 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: MSI B75MA-P33 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£36.68 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Kingston Value 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory (£24.00 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX 450W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£20.00 @ Maplin Electronics)
Total: £108.66
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-08 22:08 BST+0100)

It will give you good upgrade options and do better than the other build you showed me.

 

[danielmoore2276]

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3mZKK

What about this?

4GB of Ram.
AMD A4-4000 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor.
MSI A55M-E33 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard
Kingston Value 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory
XFX 450W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply

Integrated Graphics Radeon HD 7480D, whats this graphics card like? Any good for the games i like to play or maybe buying a additional one.

I did buy a Geforce GT610 1GB about 5 months ago, and having compared this graphics card to the Radeon, it came back saying the Geforce was better.

The GT 610 is a bit better than the 7480D. So I suggest this....

PCPartPicker part list: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3oo9M
Price breakdown by merchant: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3oo9M/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3oo9M/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Celeron G1620 2.7GHz Dual-Core Processor (£27.98 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: MSI B75MA-P33 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£36.68 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Kingston Value 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory (£24.00 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX 450W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£20.00 @ Maplin Electronics)
Total: £108.66
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-04-08 22:08 BST+0100)

It will give you good upgrade options and do better than the other build you showed me.

Will i need a CPU Cooling fan? and is there anythink else i need to buy, in terms of cables for the power supply? or do i use my old ones?

 

[danielmoore2276]

I can spend £130. So a good CPU and Graphics card along with 4GB will be good. Im quite good at computers, though on the knowledge on builds thats where my weaknesses are.

 

[danielmoore2276]

Just wanted to say thanks to those who helped me in choosing compenments for my first build, I did end up spending a little more to get the most from the build and this is what i bought,

Corsair 4GB DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel (2 x 2GB)

Ace 500W BR Black PSU

Gigabyte F2A55M-DS2 Motherboard (rev. 1.0) A Series/Athlon Socket FM2 AMD A55 Micro-ATX Gigabit LAN

AMD Athlon II X4 Core 4 (740) 3.2GHz Processor 4MB Cache (Quad Core)

AvP Viper Mini Tower Black 2 x 12cm Fans USB 3.0

GT 610 DDR3 1GB 0db Graphics Card.

all this came to just under £160, and i feel confident it's gonna be alot better then the system i have now.

Also, do you need to use a anti-static wrist band when building a computer? as read mixed messages on the internet.