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Looking at a potential system upgrade or completely new system, help me decide?

DhalphirDhalphir don't you open that trapdooryou're a fool if you dareRegistered User regular
edited March 2011 in Help / Advice Forum
I was going to put this in the tech tavern, but it IS a request for help so I think it belongs here.

I'm looking at a potential system upgrade of a couple key components, to improve overall performance.

My current system specs are -

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3ghz
2gb RAM
768mb Geforce GTX 460

The graphics card was formerly an 8800 GTX, but it died and I replaced it with the 460 a few months ago.

I mainly play Starcraft 2, Source games, but up and coming I'm looking at Deus Ex Human Revolution and Mass Effect 3 as games I want to play. I also like to stream gameplay live which is CPU intensive.

Is there any clear bottlenecks to my system...ie would just a processor upgrade give me big returns? Or at this point would I be better waiting 6-8 months or so and just buying a whole new system.

Dhalphir on

Posts

  • Kate of LokysKate of Lokys Registered User regular
    edited March 2011
    Unfortunately, technology has gone through a couple of generations since your system was current, which means that you won't be able to just upgrade one part of it. You're using a 775 processor on a 775 motherboard, which means you have DDR2 RAM. If you were to upgrade your processor to, say, an i5 (a solid budget choice at the moment) or an i7, you would need a new motherboard, and all of the i5/i7 motherboards only have DDR3 RAM slots.

    So, basically, you're going to need to buy a motherboard, processor, and RAM at the same time. On the plus side, you should be able to keep using your current hard drive, optical drive(s), video card, case, and possibly power supply as well.

    Kate of Lokys on
  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited March 2011
    First things first, go to 4gigs of RAM.

    Esh on
  • Kate of LokysKate of Lokys Registered User regular
    edited March 2011
    I don't think spending money on RAM that will be incompatible with any future upgrades is good advice when the OP's processor is already three years old, and not getting any younger. Yes, a 2GB stick of DDR2 can be had for $30-40, but that's still money invested in a complete technological dead end, for minimal temporary improvement in performance.

    OP, if you wait a few months and save up $400-500, you'll be able to upgrade your processor, motherboard, and RAM all at the same time, and the ever-increasing power and ever-decreasing price of components means you'll end up getting a lot more bang for your buck.

    Kate of Lokys on
  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited March 2011
    Kate of Lokys wrote: »
    I don't think spending money on RAM that will be incompatible with any future upgrades is good advice when the OP's processor is already three years old, and not getting any younger. Yes, a 2GB stick of DDR2 can be had for $30-40, but that's still money invested in a complete technological dead end, for minimal temporary improvement in performance.

    OP, if you wait a few months and save up $400-500, you'll be able to upgrade your processor, motherboard, and RAM all at the same time, and the ever-increasing power and ever-decreasing price of components means you'll end up getting a lot more bang for your buck.

    Doubling up your RAM isn't a "minimal increase". Besides we don't even know what he wants to spend. An extra $30 is nothing in the long run if he's willing to wait like he said to just buy a new system. It's a nice stopgap to improve performance until then.

    Esh on
  • RaekreuRaekreu Registered User regular
    edited March 2011
    Kate of Lokys wrote: »
    OP, if you wait a few months and save up $400-500, you'll be able to upgrade your processor, motherboard, and RAM all at the same time, and the ever-increasing power and ever-decreasing price of components means you'll end up getting a lot more bang for your buck.

    I've tried to gimp systems along before and it just plain doesn't work. Even going for the cheap, "economy" models of whatever the current generation is will net pretty serious performance gains. Especially given how Intel works these days - they've been all sorts of gangbusters for the past 5 years or so it seems like.

    Raekreu on
  • DhalphirDhalphir don't you open that trapdoor you're a fool if you dareRegistered User regular
    edited March 2011
    Ok so consensus generally seems to be to wait until I just want to get a new system, but transfer the graphics card when I do.

    Dhalphir on
  • BlindZenDriverBlindZenDriver Registered User regular
    edited March 2011
    Dhalphir wrote: »
    Ok so consensus generally seems to be to wait until I just want to get a new system, but transfer the graphics card when I do.

    My take is getting the extra ram but other than that I agree. Also depending on what screen resolution and graphics settings you use your CPU may not even be much of a bottle neck.

    BlindZenDriver on
    Bones heal, glory is forever.
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