 nerdburgPremium
join:2009-08-20
Schuylkill Haven, PA
kudos:1 | Upgraded System - Need your Advice I'm a cable guy, not a computer guy, so please take pity on me and point me in the right direction.
Just replaced the mobo and cpu in m HP. Really nothing left of the HP other than the DVD drive, case and case fan.
My current set up:
Win7 Ultra 64bit
ASUS M3A78-EM mobo (»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···13131324)
4GB DDR2 800MHz Crucial
AMD Phenom II x4 940 Black Edition 3.0 GHz
GeForce 9600 GSO (»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···-Product)
I play a few games, I do some video and graphics...
My questions:
Is the RAM OK? I didn't notice that the mobo did not support DDR3. Would it benefit me to upgrade to DDR2 1066MHz RAM? Go to 6 or 8 GB RAM? If I want to play around with OCing, should I get high performance RAM?
My graphics card seems just OK. I'd like to replace it, but I'm a bit confused about video cards. Can you point me in the right direction? I'm thinking in the $200+range.
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[Insert Comcast employee disclaimer here.] |
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 elios
join:2005-11-15
Springfield, MO
1 edit | i would not buy a top end AMD you can get an i5 for nearly the same price if not less and DDR3 has come down a loto = or less then that of DDR2 prices
just tossed this in 400 bucks shipped
i5 4GB DDR3 1600 and a GA-P55M-UD2
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···19115215
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···20145265
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···13128405 |
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| reply to nerdburg
quote:
Is the RAM OK? I didn't notice that the mobo did not support DDR3. Would it benefit me to upgrade to DDR2 1066MHz RAM?
Yes the ram is ok. No, I wouldn't buy 1066. No, there wouldn't be any significant benefit.
I know you mention overclocking. One of the advantages of having a black edition cpu is that the multiplier is unlocked and you can change it without having to fiddle with other settings that change your memory speeds and so on. At any rate, I wouldn't spend additional money on the off chance that you might want to play around with overclocking.
quote:
Go to 6 or 8 GB RAM?
I doubt that you need more than 4 GB. It doesn't sound like this is a dedicated video editing machine or anything that would require huge amounts of ram. 4GB is already more than most people need.
quote:
My graphics card seems just OK. I'd like to replace it, but I'm a bit confused about video cards. Can you point me in the right direction? I'm thinking in the $200+range.
What game are you not satisfied with? What size monitor (so we know the target resolution)
If you replaced the power supply what brand/model? If you haven't replaced it then we need to know the model of the hp machine because you probably are going to need to replace the supply if you move to a higher end graphics card. |
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nerdburgPremium
join:2009-08-20
Schuylkill Haven, PA
kudos:1 | Power supply has been replaced with a 750W Corsair (not sure what model)
Dual Acer 23 inch monitors. Currently at 1680x1050
I'm happy with most gameplay, although it seems to still suck with Crysis. Even something like Command and Conquer Tiberium at full settings will lag considerably. I just play the games at medium or low settings. Of course, becuase I'm a nerd, I'd like everything to work faster/better.
Mostly, I notice lag in Photoshop when I'm rendering large images or filters. It's annoying, but not the end of the world.
I really don't need any of this stuff - the machine met most of my needs right out of the box (except for Vista and a Video card). I'm mostly trying to educate myself a bit..right now I know just enough to be dangerous. 
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[Insert Comcast employee disclaimer here.] |
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Reviews:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | You could look into a 9800GT video card. Which should preform little better compare to the 9600 GSO.
About one week ago now. I bought a Radeon HD 4670 1GB version. Overall the video card is working nice for me. I'm able to play RE5 with max settings with 4x AA. Just today played Fallout3 with everything at max.
Course I only play at 1280x1024 res. Since that's the highest my monitor can go. For being a old touch screen 17in monitor. |
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| reply to nerdburg
There are a range of issues there.
A new graphics card isn't going to help with photoshop.
What size files are we talking about being open simultaneously?
In the bios the cpu is being recognized correctly and running at the proper speed, the memory seems to be running at proper speed and the temps look reasonable?
I'm surprised at the command and conquer issue.
That, as well as the photoshop issue might be better addressed by some modest overclocking.
Crysis is hard on everything, especially the graphics card. A graphics upgrade would be more appropriate here. The $200+ option would be the 5850. Unfortunately availability is tight and prices have been rising as a result so it's not a good time to be buying one.
A 4870 might also be usable if that is really more than you wanted to spend. We could discuss this more if you want to upgrade just for crysis.
I suppose it is possible it would help command and conquer too, though I don't see why a 9600gso would be inadequate. It won't help photoshop. |
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