[Nobben #44]

So I'm gonna get some new ram, a better GPU and probably a better CPU.
But I have no idea what kind of stuff I can strap onto my motherboard.

I'm running an Asus P5Q SE2 motherboard
Intel Core 2 Quad CPU (Q9550 @2.83GHz)
Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT GPU
And 4GB of Ram(What kind I have no idea)

What can I get and what should I get? Right now price doesn't matter, I just want to know what I can upgrade to, and which steps I should take first.(Ram, GPU or CPU)

Thanks guys!

This post has been edited by Nobben #44: 16 July 2012 - 10:19 AM

[spqr-king]

Ram is going to be your easiest upgrade your motherboard takes DDR2 ram which is abundant and cheap as far as your requests go. Your processor will be a bit harder considering the pin corresponds with the processors you can use and as far as I can find you have a fairly decent one... If you go here under the CPU support list you will find ones that fit. As for your graphics card that should be pretty straight forward as well. Google is your friend lol What about a SSD? If price is not a problem they will make your computer quite a bit snappier?

[Nobben #44]

So I can fit any GPU on my motherboard?
I'm looking at ones that uses PCI Express at the moment, and I'm guessing that's the attachement type. (Gotta google that shit)

Also, I know how to install ram and change GPU cards so none of those are an issue. But If my CPU is still good enough I'm not gonne bother changing that one out.

Edit: I can fit any PCI Express 2.0 card on my Motherboard.
So I'm thinking a Geforce GTX 670 or 680 and get 4 GB more of ram.
That would give me a faster computer for gaming right?

Edit2: Can't get the GTX 670 or 680 as they are PCI Ex 3.0.
Oh well.

This post has been edited by Nobben #44: 16 July 2012 - 11:31 AM

[IwannaWAFFLE]

Nobben #44, on 16 July 2012 - 11:15 AM, said:

So I can fit any GPU on my motherboard?
I'm looking at ones that uses PCI Express at the moment, and I'm guessing that's the attachement type. (Gotta google that shit)

Also, I know how to install ram and change GPU cards so none of those are an issue. But If my CPU is still good enough I'm not gonne bother changing that one out.

Edit: I can fit any PCI Express 2.0 card on my Motherboard.
So I'm thinking a Geforce GTX 670 or 680 and get 4 GB more of ram.
That would give me a faster computer for gaming right?

Edit2: Can't get the GTX 670 or 680 as they are PCI Ex 3.0.
Oh well.

You do know a 3.0 card will work in a 2.0 slot... the only difference is bandwidth.. and your motherboard wont really take advantage of the 3.0 badwidth...

i would suggest, getting a new CPu and mobo and ram.. aim for ddr3 ram, its now cheaper then ddr2 for some reason.. and obv its faster.
you could keep your current GPU until you have the cash for a nicer one..

how much you looking to spend overall?

[Nobben #44]

Prices and such are so screwed up comparing from Norway to America so I can't answer that question.

So I can run the Express 3.0 card with no complications other than I can't use the extra bandwith that 3.0 has over 2.0?
And it sayds my motherboard can only take DDR2 ram at soem certain speeds. So what I'm wondering is that will I really need 8GB more RAM? Then I will be at a total of 12GB.
Or wil 4GB extra do more than enough?

This post has been edited by Nobben #44: 16 July 2012 - 11:59 AM

[spqr-king]

Well CPUs can get über pricy so I would do that last. That being said a new graphics card and processed will speed your gaming up much more then ram chips but ram will be your cheapest upgrade. Also it depends on the pin set as far as upgradeing your CPU.

[The Bacon Man]

Nobben #44, on 16 July 2012 - 11:58 AM, said:

Prices and such are so screwed up comparing from Norway to America so I can't answer that question.

So I can run the Express 3.0 card with no complications other than I can't use the extra bandwith that 3.0 has over 2.0?
And it sayds my motherboard can only take DDR2 ram at soem certain speeds. So what I'm wondering is that will I really need 8GB more RAM? Then I will be at a total of 12GB.
Or wil 4GB extra do more than enough?

You can use a PCI-E 3.0 in a 1.0 slot. A 3.0 in a 2.0 slot is going to slow down your FPS by about 1 fps.

Figure out what ram you have, get 4GB more of the same speed and model. Also don't get 1 4GB stick if you have 2 2GB sticks. 4GB is enough, but 8GB is a good type of overkill. 2GB is too low now a days, and 4GB is fine. If you have 8GB, programs will use more than 4GB. So it is faster.

I'd recommend the new motherboard/cpu/ram as well. Give me a link to the website you will order from, and your budget. (Assuming you are ordering from some place in Norway).

[The Bacon Man]

spqr-king, on 16 July 2012 - 01:07 PM, said:

Well CPUs can get über pricy so I would do that last. That being said a new graphics card and processed will speed your gaming up much more then ram chips but ram will be your cheapest upgrade. Also it depends on the pin set as far as upgradeing your CPU.

CPU use in games depends on the game.

Old PC:
Pentium D 805
2GB DDR2
9400 GT
2 Slow HDD's
Crappy Intel mobo
Generic brand 300w psu
WinXP 32-Bit
E-Machines case

New PC:
Phenom II X4 965
8GB DDR3 1333
9400GT
Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3GB/s
ASRock 970 Extreme3
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600w
Win7 Pro 64-Bit
Thermaltake Black Edition v2

Old PC in CoD4: 30fps
New PC in CoD4: 32fps

When I get my AMD 7850 it will be better, but games are still unplayable.

[Nobben #44]

I rarly ever use all of my CPU power on my comp so I actually doubt I need to upgrade it.
So I'm gonna get 4GB of RAM then probably something like a Gainward GeForce GTX 680 4GB PhysX CUDA for a GPU so I think that will be enough for now.
I'm still not sure if I'm gonna get the 4GB or 2GB version of that card though.

And by the way, anything but Nvidia GPU's is a no go. Every computer I've had a Radeon in have had tons og these idiotic driver problems. So I'm keeping it sage by using what I have been using for the longest time and has worked the best for me.

This post has been edited by Nobben #44: 16 July 2012 - 01:46 PM

[The Bacon Man]

Nobben #44, on 16 July 2012 - 01:45 PM, said:

I rarly ever use all of my CPU power on my comp so I actually doubt I need to upgrade it.
So I'm gonna get 4GB of RAM then probably something like a Gainward GeForce GTX 680 4GB PhysX CUDA for a GPU so I think that will be enough for now.
I'm still not sure if I'm gonna get the 4GB or 2GB version of that card though.

And by the way, anything but Nvidia GPU's is a no go. Every computer I've had a Radeon in have had tons og these idiotic driver problems. So I'm keeping it sage by using what I have been using for the longest time and has worked the best for me.

Your CPU will bottleneck the card a lot. I'd consider an i5. Also, overclock the shit out of your current CPU. The 2GB will be fine, might as well go 4GB if your already getting the best single chip card out right now.

I have heard great things about the 7850. I will consider your advice, thanks.

[Nobben #44]

The GTX 680 is the best single chipped card? Holy shit.
And that's the one I'm thinking about getting, if I'm gonna go 2GB I might take the 670 instead.

And of course the 560 is dirt cheap so I might pick that one.

When it comes to processors, the i7's aren't that expensive. The six core one was suprisingly cheap. But I doubt my motherboard will take it though.

This post has been edited by Nobben #44: 16 July 2012 - 02:19 PM

[The Bacon Man]

Nobben #44, on 16 July 2012 - 02:18 PM, said:

The GTX 680 is the best single chipped card? Holy shit.
And that's the one I'm thinking about getting, if I'm gonna go 2GB I might take the 670 instead.

And of course the 560 is dirt cheap so I might pick that one.

[TacticlTwinkie]

If you want a new cpu, you will need a new motherboard, as the cpu socket is different. Your current one uses LGA 775. The new intel core i-whatever chips use LGA 1155, requiring a new board.

[Nobben #44]

That's what I thought.

It's been my RAM and GPU who's been keeping my performance down anyway though.

[Blade of grass]

Ok, where to start.

One. You cant just buy new RAM and add it to the existing stuff. It will work, but you have such a high rate of having problems with different revisions and such, that its better to just buy a whole new 8GB kit.

Two. What on earth are you doing on your computer that you think you need a GTX 680? No one needs a card like that. NO ONE

Three. What PSU do you have? The 680 uses 100-150 watts at idle and 300-350 Watts full load

http://www.legitrevi...rticle/1891/12/

http://www.tomshardw...rk,3161-18.html

http://www.guru3d.co...tx-680-review/9


Fourth. Getting a 680 and using a core 2 will probably bottleneck the card.

Finally (I think). Your case, probably wont fit the card.

So, my suggestion? New computer.

This post has been edited by Blade of grass: 16 July 2012 - 03:22 PM

[Nobben #44]

My case is huge, it has like 200 fans in it too.
If the 680 is so much overkill as it sounds like I might as well go for a 670.
Can anyone tell me if there is any need for a 4GB CPU? or will a 2GB be way more than I'll ever need.

Blade, recording gameplay while playing requires some serious computer powers. I can have 50-60fps in BF3(Not anywhere near the highest settings) then I turn on fraps and get 25.
And why would I buy a new computer when all I need is a card and some more RAM?

This post has been edited by Nobben #44: 16 July 2012 - 03:42 PM

[Blade of grass]

Nobben #44, on 16 July 2012 - 03:33 PM, said:

My case is huge, it has like 200 fans in it too.
If the 680 is so much overkill as it sounds like I might as well go for a 670.
Can anyone tell me if there is any need for a 4GB CPU? or will a 2GB be way more than I'll ever need.

Blade, recording gameplay while playing requires some serious computer powers. I can have 50-60fps in BF3(Not anywhere near the highest settings) then I turn on fraps and get 25.
And why would I buy a new computer when all I need is a card and some more RAM?

Oh, ok, so what you are thinking is GPU limits, is mainly CPU limits.
And the 4GB card is so overkill.

Build a new computer because you need a new CPU and Motherboard. Plus DDR3 Ram is cheaper and faster, plus you might also need a new PSU (what is the wattage?)

This post has been edited by Blade of grass: 16 July 2012 - 03:54 PM

[IwannaWAFFLE]

I was actually going to suggest just getting the 670, since you can OC it a bit and acheive better then stock 680 performance.. Nvidia screwed up a bit, the cards are very similar, buyt one is just more beast for benchmarks.. get a nice 670, and basically a whole new setup..


i think you may want to go for an i5 2500k and overclock that a bit easily
For ram, try like 8 gigs of ddr3 1600, its a god medium for a more performance build (1333 is more for budget i think)

Maybe a different case, unless you already have that one you listed (thermaltake one)

[Blade of grass]

IwannaWAFFLE, on 16 July 2012 - 03:56 PM, said:

I was actually going to suggest just getting the 670, since you can OC it a bit and acheive better then stock 680 performance.. Nvidia screwed up a bit, the cards are very similar, buyt one is just more beast for benchmarks.. get a nice 670, and basically a whole new setup..


i think you may want to go for an i5 2500k and overclock that a bit easily
For ram, try like 8 gigs of ddr3 1600, its a god medium for a more performance build (1333 is more for budget i think)

Maybe a different case, unless you already have that one you listed (thermaltake one)

I agree, unless your luck enough to find 1866 on sale for the price of 1333 or 1600 ( http://www.ncix.com/...04&promoid=1207 )

[Nobben #44]

Why do I need a new motherboard and CPU when I have too little RAM, and need a better GPU? That kind of doesn't make sense. Besides, I can't afford a new computer.

So what I am looking at right now is:
Gainward GeForce GTX 670 2GB PhysX CUDA or ASUS GeForce GTX 560Ti 2GB PhysX CUDA
Corsair Value DDR2 SO-DIMM PC6400 8GB RAM kit.

This post has been edited by Nobben #44: 16 July 2012 - 03:59 PM