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Should I upgrade or buy new?
Blarghy
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, it appears that my trusty PC is starting to scrape against the bottom of the barrel when it comes to system requirements for new games. I've included some dxdiag info below, in case it helps, but I definitely know that the video card needs an upgrade - it is the current minimum for DA:I and GTAV, and is below the minimum for the Witcher 3. Though, I'm not sure about the CPU, as I'm having trouble finding solid comparisons on it and, in any event, the system as a whole handled DA:I and GTAV with no problems whatsoever.
So, if anyone has any recommendations on what they think I should do, I'm very open to hear them. I'd rather upgrade, if plausible, to play Witcher 3 (and whatever else might come down the pike in the next few years), but if that's not cost-effective, I'm also willing to buy new. So, suggestions?
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: DELL Inc.
System Model: XPS 730X
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 6134MB RAM
Page File: 3365MB used, 8902MB available
Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9441)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Display Memory: 4095 MB
Dedicated Memory: 2029 MB
Shared Memory: 2066 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
So, if anyone has any recommendations on what they think I should do, I'm very open to hear them. I'd rather upgrade, if plausible, to play Witcher 3 (and whatever else might come down the pike in the next few years), but if that's not cost-effective, I'm also willing to buy new. So, suggestions?
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: DELL Inc.
System Model: XPS 730X
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 6134MB RAM
Page File: 3365MB used, 8902MB available
Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9441)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Display Memory: 4095 MB
Dedicated Memory: 2029 MB
Shared Memory: 2066 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
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Posts
Also, make sure that your PSU is high-wattage enough and has the right connectors for a modern video card.
If you will need to get a new PSU and a new case, and you aren't cash strapped, it might be less hassle to build a new PC.
Also, the Radeon 300 series of cards will make at least a soft launch at E3 next month. Even if you don't go for a new Radeon, it should lower prices for existing 200 series cards and hopefully spur some price competition with NVidia too.
the good news is that your processor/mobo should probably be good to do what you want for at least another year or two and memory's pretty cheap; if you can find a good deal on a 200 series radeon or comparable nvidia you should be good to go
that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
You will be much better served by upgrading your video card to something like a GTX970, installing an SSD for a primary drive, and upgrading to a nice big 24-27 inch 1080p monitor.
I suggest the video card and SSD as essential, the monitor would just be a nice extra to help take advantage of the workhorse of a new video card. Honestly, forget about RAM, just remember to run games from a clean desktop (close Photoshop and the 38 tabs you have open in Chrome before you fire up Far Cry 4).
We are getting very close to seeing a new generation of graphics cards from AMD and it looks like they could have something very interesting coming, so I would recommend waiting just a bit longer(most likely details will come out sometime in June). There is a good article on Anandtech describing the new memory tech that AMD is bringing, it looks like they will bring a jump in bandwidth while using less power and space.
Also coming is Windows 10 which looks to be a free upgrade for those with Win7/8 and with Windows 10 bringing DirectX12 that is a another reason to hold out just a wee bit longer, simply to see which GPU's work well with the new.
It is also rumored that Intel is gonna bring a new CPU generation soon, but exactly when is hard to say. The GPU thing AMD is bringing is totally official with them teasing with "leaks" and so on.
Something you may also consider when upgrading. The 4k monitors have arrived and while the smaller ones comes with the need to make programs scale in order to not be too small, there is a different way which is also surprisingly affordable. Philips makes a 40" 4K computer monitor(monitor not a TV) and with that size the pixels are the same size as on a 27" 2560x1440 monitor so no need for scaling. I bought one like two months ago and I love it.
Indeed, never assume that just because your motherboard has two spare RAM slots that it can actually take 2 more sticks of RAM.
Yes, I am still bitter.
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
Is this still a thing anymore?
If it were 2002 I'd say it, but I haven't seen a motherboard outside of the xenon server boards that bitches about RAM configurations in at least 10 years.
It is now 5 years later and the next CDProjekt game I'm staring down is Cyberpunk. I still have the same system as in the OP, with the exception of updating the video card for W3:
Card name: AMD Radeon R9 200 Series
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x6810)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_6810&SUBSYS_E271174B&REV_00
Display Memory: 4095 MB
Dedicated Memory: 3072 MB
Shared Memory: 1023 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
I'm thinking its time to get a new system, but can I still wring some more life out of it?
Performance is still GPU and RAM driven, although SSD harddrives is a factor for improving loadtimes.
-Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden
Basically the way it works is, the GPU does most of the work, and the CPU is what contributes to stuttering and frame drops, until the GPU runs out of work. If you're running games at 1080p (looks like you're running lower than that), you're going to likely be CPU bottlenecked hardcore if you decide to upgrade your video card.
How much are you looking to spend? I'd look at a 5600xt or 1660 Super for the lowest end worth buying (buy whichever is cheaper, should be ~$300), and any of the Ryzen 3 series are great; even the R3 3100 ($115) is very respectable, and will drive the previously mentioned GPUs without issue. I'd definitely look for at least a 1080p monitor, as games today are mostly made for that resolution/aspect ratio.
Definitely also look at the used market. You can get something like a GTX 1070 for pretty cheap, and it's still and awesome card; lots of Ryzen 2 and 3 series hitting the second hand market as well. Nothing wrong with cheap intel CPUs, but they end up having more expensive motherboards.
I'd have a hard time justifying a 5600xt or 1660 Super unless you find one for sub-200$. The 6800 and 3000 series bump in performance (even the low end matches high-end Titan and Quadro cards) will, even if game development isn't as performance driven as it was, make an impression on how much performance high-profile games will expect you to have.
Right now they're a lot of value for money, but you'll probably find those cards obsolete the next time a game like Cyberpunk drops.
-Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden
If the idea is to play cp77 when it comes out, waiting for a 3060 that probably won't have stock until June, and also likely will still be $400+, isn't really an option. If he's got $700 to spend then hell yeah, get a 3080 if you can. Realistically, I'm betting that an RX570 will probably be more than playable (stable 60fps) at 1080p, seeing as this is a xbone title.
As far as what's a good deal to buy right now, you're pretty much only looking at the used market IMO. I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that partner 3000 aren't going to stick to current prices and are likely to shoot $80-150 past MSRP. If you can get a 3080 for $700, jump on it. Otherwise the AMD cards look pretty boss, and most likely aren't going to jump (as much) in price... but that's still $650. There's pretty much nothing below $650 worth buying right now, IMO, but if you have to buy, I'd go with the 1660s or 5600xt; whichever is cheaper.
GPU prices are insane. I bought two RX 570s for $115 each a few years ago; they're back to $200. I got my RX 5700 for $300 in 2019, and now they're $400+. I would actually consider just buying a PS5 at this particular moment in time, if you're not looking at the high-end of GPUs.
I'm not afraid to drop some money on a system, especially if it'll last me another 10 years with the occassional upgrade.
Isn't this basically the same system for hundreds less?
https://slickdeals.net/f/14509211-abs-challenger-master-gaming-pc-intel-i5-10400f-geforce-gtx-1660-super-rtx-2060-16gb-ddr4-512gb-ssd-for-799-99-more-fs?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1
If you end up going with your dell choice, you should add on an ssd immediately.
Out of those mix&match options I would:
a. Invest in a dual HD with SSD (probably 256GB to give space for windows-bloat + a game where the loading times are pissing you off)+a 1 or 2 TB HD for general storage.
b. Downgrade the Graphics card to a 1660 Super. A 5700 gives you about 25% more performance than a 1660 Super, but given that the 6800 and 3000 series gives +100%-150% power (depending on the card) compared to the 5700 it's not worth spending 200$ extra on a 5700. It's one of the best cards of a soon to be obsolete generation. Not worth spending 200$ more on it when it will be absolutely the first thing you'll need to replace. Regardless of which option you pick out of those you'll probably need to replace it in less than 3 years if you want to play high-profile games. The only card that isn't really up to snuff out of those cards is the 1650, which is barely adequate for current games and probably won't give you the performance you want for Cyberpunk 2077.
c. The processor seems fine to me, but I'm not very good at processors. Processors haven't been the key issue since the pentium wars, and it looks like a processor that gives a lot of performance for its price.
-Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden
The Dell site is in canadian dollaridoos. So the actual price difference is maybe 50$ USD.
-Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden
Any red flags on that one?
Cpu (ryzen 5 3600) ram (16gb ddr4 3600) and the 1tb ssd (nvme m.2 is gonna be nice and fast) are all good and should last you a while.
The gpu is the lower end of the last gen amd cards and replacing it with a 3060 (or 3070 now) or something when they become available would make that a real strong system.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/QrfnGq
The 5700xt, with the latest drivers, is within spitting distance of the 2080 super. The 3060ti is also supposed to be about as powerful as a 2080 super, and also at $400 US. You're missing out on ray tracing, but even with the new cards, ray tracing is pretty much still jank.
Yeah, better to buy last gen than the zen3 or Nvidia 3000 or and 6000. Due to no availability the prices are several 100 dollars above MSRP.