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Computer Upgrade Plan
milehigh
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I'm starting to budget to replace my current machine. I think the hard drive is starting to go, and I'm wanting to get current so I can play recent games. I have a laptop to use if it goes completely, however I'm wondering if the following logic makes sense. I want to do just one reformat/reinstall over the course of this upgrade if possible:
Stage 1: Mobo, processor, hard drive
Reformat/reinstall Windows/software
Stage 2: New RAM
Stage 3: New Video card
Is this realistic or should I really be doing another reformat after stage 3 as well? I'm used to buying everything at once but with the hard drive going out things are a bit more urgent. Thanks for any advice.
Stage 1: Mobo, processor, hard drive
Reformat/reinstall Windows/software
Stage 2: New RAM
Stage 3: New Video card
Is this realistic or should I really be doing another reformat after stage 3 as well? I'm used to buying everything at once but with the hard drive going out things are a bit more urgent. Thanks for any advice.
milehigh on
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And if you're going to reformat at the end of all this, why do it at the beginning too?
Granted, I'm not exactly up on the latest and greatest PC tech, but it seems like your plan should be fine.
If you have an AGP card you'll have to buy a new one right away as well.
Basically you're replacing old tech with new tech, if they're generations apart then there's no way to bridge the gap in bits and pieces, depending on what you go with, you'll need a power supply too.
If you upgrade every year or so, you can do it in bits and pieces.
I think you should tell us what you currently have and what you plan on spending. You wont need a new mobo/cpu to get a new hard-drive, IDE is still around on new boards (though fewer in number, unless you look hard) so your drive is about the only thing on that list that doesn't have to happen all at once.
Now:
Get a new drive, maybe power supply.
Later:
Save up monies to a target, I'd say 500$ is a good "goal" though you may need more or less.
cpu, mobo, ram is anywhere from 300$-350$, leaving you 150$-200$ for a video card and those are dropping in price fast.
edit: If you aim well behind the curve you could spend substantially less than 500$, but it's a good number to start with for price vs performance value.
If the hard drive wasn't starting to go I'd just wait another month and get the whole system at once, my laptop just isn't an adequate replacement for what I need though, so I'll do what I can piecing this together. Definitely looking forward to being able to play some of the good looking games this generation.
To extend this discussion, I'm thinking the following for the biggest components:
Asus Sabertooth LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel i5 750 2.6Ghz (may go with the 760 2.8 since it's not much more expensive)
Geforce GTX 460
in the $250-$300 price range I seem to be seeing that the Geforce GTX 470 is a solid performer, are there any other cards I should be considering in that range? I used to be all about reading reviews and comparing benchmarks, overclocking performance, etc, reallly just don't have the time to delve into that these days. If this'll make for a solid setup I'll go with it, but I'm open to feedback. Thanks again all!
Save 90$-100$ and get a GTX 460, I haven't run across anything I couldn't top out settings on with mine, really the era of it being a huge deal to have a 300$+ video card is over, the hardware outpaced the software by so very much.
Obviously lower end parts will be even cheaper.
You really don't have to format and reinstall windows when you change ram or the video card. That's just a waste of time. For the video card just run driver sweeper and driver cleaner and maybe clear out any files in your assembly folder associated with your old GPU.