Upgrading my old low-budget pc

[Philip Babilonia]

Hi guys!

It's been some years now since I bought my first low-budget built pc desktop for gaming for about 300$. And now, I've been thinking of upgrading it x2 of the price I bought (specifically in the GPU and CPU). Here's my current specs:

OS: Windows 7 64-bit
CPU: AMD Athlon XII Dual-core 3.2 Ghz
GPU: Nvidia GeForce 9500GT
DirectX: 11
RAM: 8 GB

I've looked through my nearest PC Store and from what I've looked at, I'm looking forward to buy a GPU (Nvidia GeForce GTX 750) and CPU (AMD A8 6600 Quad-core 3.9ghz) this Christmas. I want to ask if this is okay and I'm going to use it mostly for gaming esp. latest upcoming games like AC:Unity, and etc.

Other parts inside the computer case is quite generic e.g. Power Supply, Fan, DVD Writer, etc. And I don't know if I should upgrade any of these. This is why I came here to ask for an opinion/suggestion that a co-gamer will know.

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I don't know if I put it in the right category so please do change if I've put it wrong.

 

[ingtar33]

do you know what motherboard you have?

if you know the specific cpu that should be enough to know if you have ddr3 or ddr2 ram.

 

[Kevovaz]

First, I recommend upgrading your PSU from whatever generic brand you have, you don't want it bonking your components, I recommend an XFX 550W 80+. Second, you'll need to upgrade your motherboard in order to change your CPU to one of that socket. Third, I recommend for the same price, an FX-6300 CPU, as an APU is unnecessary if you have a dedicated graphics card. A solid motherboard option would be the Gigabyte GA-970, but if you're tight on money, you can go with a more basic MSI-760GMA. Your graphics card selection should go perfectly with this build. But what type of memory is your machine running? DDR2, or DDR3?

 

[ingtar33]

btw: are you planning to overclock?

 

[ingtar33]

~assuming you don't plan to overclock, and you HAVE ddr3 ram, this will do the job for you

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($121.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($76.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.81 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 290 4GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($275.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $609.26
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-25 23:40 EDT-0400

 

[Philip Babilonia]

First, I recommend upgrading your PSU from whatever generic brand you have, you don't want it bonking your components, I recommend an XFX 550W 80+. Second, you'll need to upgrade your motherboard in order to change your CPU to one of that socket. Third, I recommend for the same price, an FX-6300 CPU, as an APU is unnecessary if you have a dedicated graphics card. A solid motherboard option would be the Gigabyte GA-970, but if you're tight on money, you can go with a more basic MSI-760GMA. Your graphics card selection should go perfectly with this build. But what type of memory is your machine running? DDR2, or DDR3?

Hi!

I'm not quite sure about the memory but as far as I remember it is a DDR2. So, in that case, I also have to change my motherboard too? Sorry, quite new here I don't exactly understand all of what you're saying.

Edit: Btw, I have remember that they said that when I am asking about CPU when I search one in the past, they said that it is bundled so is that the one you're saying I should also replacing if I want to upgrade my cpu too? Thanks.

 

[Philip Babilonia]

~assuming you don't plan to overclock, and you HAVE ddr3 ram, this will do the job for you

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($121.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($76.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.81 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 290 4GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($275.49 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $609.26
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-25 23:40 EDT-0400

Hi! Is it possible not to inclue the Storage since mine is quite okay still? And I just noticed that the one I'm looking to buy is DDR5 and I have to change my motherboard too, right? Problem is, I'm not sure if I can get the exact brand since I don't buy online and only limited brand and stocks are on the place where I visited (it is a mall, btw)

 

[Kevovaz]

If you're memory type is DDR2, you will need to also buy new DDR3 RAM to be able to use other new components, such as the CPU, your DDR2 RAM is pretty much outdated and is not supported by any CPUs or motherboards being manufactured. You'd basically need to make an entirely new system. If you cannot afford that option, and still think you need an urgent upgrade, you could try to get a CPU which is compatible with your current motherboard. Such as a Phenom II x4 965. If you are fine with buying one used I suppose.

The short answer, hold out and save some more dough for a new system build. But if you definitely HAVE to upgrade, get a CPU compatible with you current motherboard, if you know the model number, I can recommend one.

 

[ingtar33]

Hi! Is it possible not to inclue the Storage since mine is quite okay still? And I just noticed that the one I'm looking to buy is DDR5 and I have to change my motherboard too, right? Problem is, I'm not sure if I can get the exact brand since I don't buy online and only limited brand and stocks are on the place where I visited (it is a mall, btw)

I included an SSD because that will give you the single biggest boost in user performance experience you'll find in the jump from your old pc to this one. (seriously, it really is pretty much required eq as far as i'm concerned)

there is no such thing as ddr5.

there is ddr3, ddr4 and what you probably are thinking of "gddr5" which is most certainly not something you can upgrade to. gddr5 is strictly for graphic cards, not system memory. ddr4 is WAY outside your budget, which leaves you with ddr3.

if you already have ddr3, there is no reason to upgrade your ram.

 

[Philip Babilonia]

If you're memory type is DDR2, you will need to also buy new DDR3 RAM to be able to use other new components, such as the CPU, your DDR2 RAM is pretty much outdated and is not supported by any CPUs or motherboards being manufactured. You'd basically need to make an entirely new system. If you cannot afford that option, and still think you need an urgent upgrade, you could try to get a CPU which is compatible with your current motherboard. Such as a Phenom II x4 965. If you are fine with buying one used I suppose.

The short answer, hold out and save some more dough for a new system build. But if you definitely HAVE to upgrade, get a CPU compatible with you current motherboard, if you know the model number, I can recommend one.

I see.. So I am only restricted to either DDR2 or DDR3? No other option to go into DDR5 (for CPU, I mean) than buying a new one. I am on vacation right now and I cannot look what model my desktop has, so I have to apologize. And sorry for the repeated question but, how about completely overhauling the motherboard and getting a new and better one?

 

[Philip Babilonia]

Hi! Is it possible not to inclue the Storage since mine is quite okay still? And I just noticed that the one I'm looking to buy is DDR5 and I have to change my motherboard too, right? Problem is, I'm not sure if I can get the exact brand since I don't buy online and only limited brand and stocks are on the place where I visited (it is a mall, btw)

I included an SSD because that will give you the single biggest boost in user performance experience you'll find in the jump from your old pc to this one. (seriously, it really is pretty much required eq as far as i'm concerned)

there is no such thing as ddr5.

there is ddr3, ddr4 and what you probably are thinking of "gddr5" which is most certainly not something you can upgrade to. gddr5 is strictly for graphic cards, not system memory. ddr4 is WAY outside your budget, which leaves you with ddr3.

if you already have ddr3, there is no reason to upgrade your ram.

You're completely right. That was gdrr5 and for video cards and I mistakenly thought that it was the same as the ddr2 or 3 you are referring to. So it is ddr3 for me then? And is my video card choice completely fine and the only messed up part are the rest?