Upgrade or Replace?

[hagakure_s81]

Hi! First time post here, thanks for taking the time to help out if you can.

As per the title, need a bit of advice on whether I should be looking to upgrade some components, or replace the lot. The system runs pretty well for me, but I was dissapointed to find that what I have now installed for RAM, seems to be the max i'll ever be able to put on this motherboard. I'm thinking, the main stumbling block for the system will currently be the graphics card, but I have some concerns:

• 
  I'm not sure how far I can upgrade with the existing motherboard. Should I consider replacing the motherboard?
  And if I upgrade any of that, will I need to replace the power supply?
  What else should I upgrade?

Or am I better of waiting a bit and replacing with a system using the newest chips etc.?

Another question is;
I recently replaced the RAM in the system. From what I could tell, I was getting the max ram my motherboard would allow. But after installing, I suspect perhaps the motherboard wouldn't be making full use of this ram unless I overclocked my system. Is this correct?

I've not exactly got a budget in mind. If I replace the system I would probably wait a bit longer, and get something around the $1200-1400 mark. If I upgrade I would do it as required.
I never like to buy something really budget, nor buying something at the extreme performance end that will be 1/4 the price 3 months later, but rather something that is a good balance of performance for value.
One of the things I want to be able to do is play Star Citizen (hopefully 1 day) in a decent graphical quality.

This is the system I currently have;

• 
  CPU : AMD Phenom II x6 1055T Hexacore 2.8GHz
  MOTHERBOARD : ASUSTeK M4N68T-M
  RAM: 2x 4Gb Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 512Mb x 64 (p/n BLT4G3D1608ET3lX0) [LINK]
  GPU: ATI Radeon HD 5770
  POWER SUPPLY: AcBel ATX12V E2 Power 510 - Model PC7007 [LINK] Output 450W Max 510
  STORAGE: 1x Crucial SSD 500Gb - Model CT512MX100SS + 1x WD 2.0Tb HDD - Model WD20EARS-00MVW80
  OS: Windows 10 64bit

I think that should cover the mains... anything else?

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Finally, and perhaps this should be reserved for a different topic post later, but should I overclock? What do I need, and how to do it? Drawbacks these days are not as much as they used to be?

Sorry for the rambling post 😉

- Steven

 

[cin19]

If you have the limit budget, you should first to upgrade the GPU + PSU. Like gtx960/970 or r9 380/390. Keep in mind do buy the better brand PSU. At least tier 1 or 2, here is the PSU tier list: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

Then you can upgrade the CPU+MB+ up to 16GB RAM later. Like the new 6th gen i5. And you can move the GPU + PSU into the new intel PC, also reuse the SSD+ HDD.

The Star Citizen system requirements http://gamesystemrequirements.com/game/star-citizen
Best CPUs http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-hierarchy,4312.html
Best GPUs http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html

The CPU 1055T is still good one as long as you can OC it, that is your 2nd question. And buy a good air cpu cooler like CRYORIG H7 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4UF2DZ6565 So you can reuse it for the new intel PC too.

Here is the overclock guide, http://www.overclock.net/t/884103/1055t-overclocking-guide but your MB is not the good one I don't how high frequency you can go.

 

[hagakure_s81]

Thank you for the great info.

Yes I was disappointed with the motherboard as when the person built it for me I had asked him to put something in that would let me upgrade in the future :/ Never-the-mind, you live and you learn.

So with the GPU, even those modern cards can be run on the current MB without problems?

For the PSU; thanks for the list, will go thru and see which of those are available in my country. Do you think 650W would be enough, considering your advice on changing MB and CPU later as well?

You recommend to get a Intel CPU in future, so my follow up question is, will the different brand GPU's, so for example the GTX970 and the R9 390, work just as well with either system, Intel or AMD? Or is Radeon more suited to work with AMD chips?

 

[Santas little helper]

It doesnt make a difference what brand is your cpu to what is your gpu but if you upgrade your cpu you have to look you have correct socket type because now you cant put any intel cpus to your pc without buying new motherboard

 

[hagakure_s81]

Noted. Thanks