What to upgrade

[Erkkyy]

Had this computer built 3 years ago don't know what to upgrade

Currently whats in it

i7 quad core 2.97 ghz
4gb ddr3 ram
Atx asus p7p55d
Gtx460 1gb pci-e
Win 7 64 bit home

I'm currently thinking to upgrade to 8gb since i read thats all i will ever need for gaming. I use the game to just play on a regular basics of mmorpgs an random fps games. Sometimes photoshop an protools, an of course normal use.

I also thinking of a ssd drive 120gb or higher, as far as i read i can manually install simply, and then use the bios to install window 7 an then update an install the drivers an update them also reboot plug in old harddrive use bios to make sure ssd boots first then the old hard drive, also then i can access my files from the old one but applications (some)may need to be reinstalled. An to use something called trim for ssd

Anyone whats your opinion? I have no budget i'd lile to upgrade it now, an not have to again for a fee years haha.

 

[Chairman Ray]

Getting the SSD would be a good choice. You don't need to upgrade your RAM now. People suggest 8gb for new builds simply because it's cheap and future-proof. Right now, 4gb is totally fine, so I would hold off that upgrade. Just to make sure, you can open up task manager, and monitor your memory usage for an entire day, and see whether you need more than 4gb or not.

 

[flexxar]

This is the order that I would upgrade:

1. Add more ram
2. Install a ssd to boot from and install applications to
3. Add another graphics card if your system can handle (power supply and motherboard slots)
4. If you don't already have, buy at least a 26in monitor.
5. If you don't already have, buy some nice speakers.

 

[Onus]

I agree that a SSD will provide a notable improvement to your overall user experience.
If you've bought some newer games and noted you had to turn graphics settings way down, then you've probably realized that your GTX460 may now be a little weak. I'd suggest a HD7850 or GTX660 would be a nice upgrade; even a GTX650Ti is probably worthwhile. You will not need to upgrade your PSU.

 

[zolton33]

* gigs of ram is fine a new gpu would really help out as well and you may want to put in a better power supply while you are at it. An ssd would be helpful as well. But if i were going through all that i would just do a new build.

 

[Erkkyy]

Is booting win7 installation through bios good thing to do an install/update drivers/ reinstalls app
I'm using bose speakers an 24 inch 😛

8gbs is on sale for 40 bucks an 16gb for 70 so i was gonna buy the 16 an since its 4 sticks of 4gb maybe put them all in or just the two.

Does it matter on that video card for gtx 660, like im using my local shop to buy, an they have so many different 550's an 660's lol using otvtech.com

What gpu would you recommend, i'd sell my pc an build a new rig but no one in my area would buy it, an i have nonuse for two haha, its fine with me.

 

[swifty_morgan]

if you decide to get an SSD go for a 240-256. They always seem to fill up quicker than you think, and don't forget, because it says 120, it may only allow "YOU" 90gb to use. the rest is reserved for itself.

 

[Erkkyy]

if you decide to get an SSD go for a 240-256. They always seem to fill up quicker than you think, and don't forget, because it says 120, it may only allow "YOU" 90gb to use. the rest is reserved for itself.

Do you just souly just use the ssd? I was thinkin using the old hard drive to store everything, an the important stuff on the ssd we'll main stuff

 

[dextermat]

+1 ssd: improve slightly performance and loading speed for gaming a bit
+1 go to 8 gb as

1) it's cheap 2) will help you in the future 3) depends on what game your playing but newer games will probably use more memory
Just be sure you get same brand timing voltage so you don'T run into trouble.

You gpu is ok but then it depends what games and resolution your are playing, +1 gtx 660 or more

 

[Erkkyy]

+1 ssd: improve slightly performance and loading speed for gaming a bit
+1 go to 8 gb as

1) it's cheap 2) will help you in the future 3) depends on what game your playing but newer games will probably use more memory
Just be sure you get same brand timing voltage so you don'T run into trouble.

You gpu is ok but then it depends what games and resolution your are playing, +1 gtx 660 or more

I'm playing tera online. An on an off guild wars 2 but mainly tera
I can't remember my resolution but either 1280 x10 whatever or 16xx- xxxx
Lol not much of help to ya right there

 

[TenPc]

Power Supply unit if less than 600 watts, consider about 750 watts.

 

[Erkkyy]

Power Supply unit if less than 600 watts, consider about 750 watts.

Could you guys point out on whitch powersupple to get an video card on this site : otvtech.com that'd be really helpful

My power supply currently is 650w : scythe : chouriki-2

 

[Onus]

A PSU able to run a GTX460 will have no difficulty with a GTX660 or HD7850; that is why I did not mention it.

 

[Erkkyy]

A PSU able to run a GTX460 will have no difficulty with a GTX660 or HD7850; that is why I did not mention it.

My settings on tera online are just one tick before max, i don't lag or glitch unless the game itself is having issues sometimes theirs a cut scene theirs 1-4 second delay

 

[Erkkyy]

So far the parts i think i should get are

PSU : 850W : Quad 12V 80+ : AXP-850K14XE : Xion 100$
Video Card : PCI-E : NVIDIA : GTX 660 OC : 2GB : GV-N660OC-2GD : Gigabyte 260$
Hard Drives & Solid State 2.5" Solid State SSD : 120GB : OCZ : 2.5" 95$
Or 250gb ssd for 200$
And 8gb of ram 40$


So roughly 500-550$

 

[Onus]

If you are playing mostly older, undemanding games, then you may have no need to upgrade the graphics card. The SSD will likely make the biggest difference in your overall experience.

 

[Onus]

Xion sells [near] junk PSUs. Stick to one made by Seasonic, FSP, Enermax/LEPA, or Super Flower. You'd only need 500W-550W.
As for the SSD, I do not trust OCZ (with the possible exception of the Vertex 4). OCZ+Sandforce has been a particularly unreliable combination. I'd recommend a Samsung 840 Pro or Crucial M4.

 

[Erkkyy]

Alright my power supply alrdy is 650w so i'll just stick with it, wait for awhile till i upgrade my video card then, an just go for the sdd either samsungs 840: 120gb for 100 or 250gb for 200,
An jusy upgrade my ram to 8 since its ok sale anyways,
We'll the 16gb ram are on salr too (4 sticks of 4gb each)
Is it fine it i just grab te 16gb an throw it in, even though my pc will prob only ever usr 4-6 gbs lol

 

[DRosencraft]

Would say go for an SSD upgrade if you want general performance increase (faster boot/save times and the like). I would ask the speed of your ram, as 4GB of DDR3 1600 should be fine unless you're running low on memory while using Photoshop or something. Your GPU is about two generations old now, so you won't really lose anything upgrading there.

 

[Erkkyy]

Would say go for an SSD upgrade if you want general performance increase (faster boot/save times and the like). I would ask the speed of your ram, as 4GB of DDR3 1600 should be fine unless you're running low on memory while using Photoshop or something. Your GPU is about two generations old now, so you won't really lose anything upgrading there.

Alright, i'm thinkin of upgrading the gpu next year, is mobo fine? If i ever upgrade my mobo i can simply just unhook everything from the old an place it on the new one right?

 

[Onus]

If you replace your motherboard, Microsoft may make you buy a new Windows license, but you may be able to call them, explain the replacement, and they'll allow you to reactivate.

 

[Erkkyy]

Alright thats good to know, hm are amd cpu any good? Am i able to just replace my i7 with an amd? Just like that

I found this only sale :
AMD FD8350FRHKBOX FX-8350 Eight-Core 4GHz AM3+ Processor - AM3+, Eight-Core, 4GHz, 16MB, 125W,

 

[Onus]

No, an AMD CPU may not be used on a mobo designed for Intel CPUs, and vice versa.

 

[Erkkyy]

No, an AMD CPU may not be used on a mobo designed for Intel CPUs, and vice versa.

Haha alright, thought something might be wrong with my idea, we'll then any intel cpu out on the market should fit on my mobo then

 

[maxalge]

No, an AMD CPU may not be used on a mobo designed for Intel CPUs, and vice versa.

Haha alright, thought something might be wrong with my idea, we'll then any intel cpu out on the market should fit on my mobo then

No, you are limited to LGA 1156 processors.

Not that you would want to change it, all you would need is to buy an aftermarket cpu cooler and overclock it.

Those i7's are still very powerful.

Upgrade to 8gb ram definately, try to get at least ddr3 1600 cas 9, ( rated at 1.5v or LESS).

SSD is a great upgrade if you have the money, BUT I would advise you to get at least a 23" 1080p monitor AND upgrade your video card before you got one.



650w is plenty for your system, what brand is it?