Suggestions for upgrading my PC

KwisatzHaderachKwisatzHaderach Join Date: 2012-02-06 Member: 143872Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Supporter
edited December 2012 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">On a tight budget</div>Hohoho folks,

I received a little financial injection this christmas and have now some money to spent. And what do I do, when I got money to spent? Looking for something that needs to be upgraded on my PC.

Here's my present setup:

- AMD PhenomII X4 940@3.4 GHz
- Asrock 770 Crossifire Mobo
- 4 GB DDR2 RAM 800, (4x1GB, so there are no more slots)
- AMD Radeon HD 6950@6970 (Shaders unlocked, OC'ed, stock voltage)
- Tagan U-21 530W Powersupply
- 120GB SSD, 2x250GB HDD
- Samsung SyncMaster BW226 (1680x1050)
- Xonar DG
- Peripherie is all well, don't need anything in this sector

I have got 200€ plus what I get out of my old hardware that I'm selling via eBay. So, let's say, roughly 300€. I usually get used hardware myself, though not always when I can find a good deal.

Usually I find it the most fun to upgrade Graphics, since it yields to most obvious performance boosts with the smallest hassle. Also I want to migrate to Nvidia because of their driver-side AA modes.

But considering that my CPU, mobo and Ram are getting older and older and I can't even upgrade ram anymore, because DDR2 is incredibly expensive at this point, I've been thinking about swapping those parts. Maybe against a 3570K? Will it make a huge difference?

What about my monitor? I'm still playing on 1680x1050. It is kinda nice as it gives you some headspace in graphics card performance, but a little more room on the screen might be nice too?

Any other suggestions? Opinions? Should I just restrain my consumerism and wait it out a few more years?

Discussion is much appreciated! Happy holidays everyone,
SantaHaderach
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Comments

  • AlphaWolfAlphaWolf Join Date: 2003-01-11 Member: 12175Members
    edited December 2012
    Why the Xonar if you have a 6970? It provides all of the audio you need, and some.

    EDIT: Well I guess if you're using analog speakers...sorry, I've been digital for so long.
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  • JowJow Join Date: 2011-06-23 Member: 106032Members
    Buy a BenQ XL2420T if you're going to buy a new monitor, 120Hz, 3D, very low response time, 24 inch and good colour.

    Obviously you probably won't need the 120Hz for NS2 yet, but future proofing is always good.
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  • supsusupsu Join Date: 2012-04-24 Member: 151023Members, Squad Five Blue
    edited December 2012
    Everything. Go to casino, put 200$ for red for two times and buy a new comp mate. And don't freaking <!--coloro:orange--><span style="color:orange"><!--/coloro--><sup>*snip*<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></sup> out.

    <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poAQDdeKZu0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poAQDdeKZu0</a>

    Peace.

    <!--coloro:orange--><span style="color:orange"><!--/coloro--><sup>Dodging the filter is <b>not</b> allowed. You have been warned. - Angelusz<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></sup>
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  • DavilDavil Florida, USA Join Date: 2012-08-14 Member: 155602Members, Constellation
    Save up and drop the AMD hardware for intel and Nvidia
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  • SquishpokePOOPFACESquishpokePOOPFACE -21,248 posts (ignore below) Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 165262Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited December 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2052952:date=Dec 29 2012, 11:19 AM:name=Jow)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jow @ Dec 29 2012, 11:19 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2052952"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Buy a BenQ XL2420T if you're going to buy a new monitor, 120Hz, 3D, very low response time, 24 inch and good colour.

    Obviously you probably won't need the 120Hz for NS2 yet, but future proofing is always good.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I have this monitor, and it's very nice. You need a pretty good rig though, in order to have 1920x1080 resolution at 120Hz. And even then you won't get the benefit of 120Hz if you aren't running 120FPS, so the whole 120Hz thing will only shine through if you are playing less graphically intensive games like Counterstrike or UT.

    That said, upgrade your computer before your monitor. No point in getting a monitor like this one if you need an upgrade beforehand. Plus, the XL2420T is a bit too expensive for its own good now that I think of it.
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  • AlphaWolfAlphaWolf Join Date: 2003-01-11 Member: 12175Members
    edited December 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2052964:date=Dec 29 2012, 02:53 PM:name=Davil)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Davil @ Dec 29 2012, 02:53 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2052964"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Save up and drop the AMD hardware for intel and Nvidia<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Problem I have with nvidia is the Perf/TDP is really bad on nearly everything they offer. Sure you can get better cooling, but that doesn't stop the heat from being produced to begin with - cooling just spreads it out better. Electricity bill is hit twice - higher power consumption from the card, and the need for cranking up the AC to keep your room cool in the summer. (I live in Phoenix where triple digits are common.)

    I don't discriminate against brands. x86 is x86, just go for perf/price. (Actually intel made a really bad blunder recently - their chips enable hypervisor escapes at the hardware level - which is a tremendously bad thing as all security measures are useless without kernel intervention. There was also the sandy bridge recall which cost them a billion dollars.) My most recent build happened to land intel and ati (got a sale on both.)
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  • SixtyWattManSixtyWattMan Join Date: 2004-09-05 Member: 31404Members
    CPU.
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  • CommunistWithAGunCommunistWithAGun Local Propaganda Guy Join Date: 2003-04-30 Member: 15953Members
    >AMD anything

    Not even once
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  • derWalterderWalter Join Date: 2008-10-29 Member: 65323Members
    for ns2? always go for the most cpu power available!
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  • VeNeMVeNeM Join Date: 2002-07-13 Member: 928Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2052964:date=Dec 29 2012, 01:53 PM:name=Davil)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Davil @ Dec 29 2012, 01:53 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2052964"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Save up and drop the AMD hardware for intel and Nvidia<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    sadly i am now going intel. my builds have always had amd..

    i7 3770k
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  • AldarisAldaris Join Date: 2002-03-25 Member: 351Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=2052967:date=Dec 29 2012, 07:01 PM:name=Squishpoke)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Squishpoke @ Dec 29 2012, 07:01 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2052967"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->. And even then you won't get the benefit of 120Hz if you aren't running 120FPS, so the whole 120Hz thing will only shine through if you are playing less graphically intensive games like Counterstrike or UT.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Incorrect. A 120hz momitor with a game running at 60fps will look smoother than a 60hz at 60fps. You will always get the benefit of 120hz as fps lower than 120.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    LCDs don't flicker at lower refresh rates, the picture just doesn't update as often. What is the advantage of a picture that updates twice as often when there's nothing to update?
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  • TykjenTykjen Join Date: 2003-01-21 Member: 12552Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=2053745:date=Dec 31 2012, 05:57 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Dec 31 2012, 05:57 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2053745"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->LCDs don't flicker at lower refresh rates, the picture just doesn't update as often. What is the advantage of a picture that updates twice as often when there's nothing to update?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Indeed. But if I ever get a 120hz monitor, there's no doubt I will play with vertical sync all the time.
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  • sherpasherpa stopcommandermode Join Date: 2006-11-04 Member: 58338Members
    edited December 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2053745:date=Dec 31 2012, 04:57 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Dec 31 2012, 04:57 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2053745"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->LCDs don't flicker at lower refresh rates, the picture just doesn't update as often. What is the advantage of a picture that updates twice as often when there's nothing to update?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I *think* (though I'm far from certain) that a monitor that updates at 120Hz has twice the chance to update the screen at the "proper" time, meaning less chance of tearing, compared to 60Hz- without the need for mouse-in-syrup vsync.

    At least, I don't notice tearing on my Samsung 2233.
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  • KwisatzHaderachKwisatzHaderach Join Date: 2012-02-06 Member: 143872Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Supporter
    Alright guys, i went for the CPU + Mobo + Ram. I got an i5-2500K, an Asrock z77 pro3 and 8GB Corsair Vengeance 1600. Not top notch, but man!...
    After OC'ing the 2500K to 4.2 (and there's still alot of air for more) this game runs now maxed out at a rock-solid 60-90 fps, no dips, no stutters. And by that i mean it also FEELS like that!!! I just can't describe how much more fluent the game, the whole experience is.
    As a skulk I can now precicely time my bites and don't have to guess where I might be in between those two torn up frames as it used to be. Also, just moving around as a Skulk or Lerk with celerity is so much fun now, no subtle stuttering, no, no! Buttersmooth gliding... Can't wait to play Fade with this setup!

    Seems I made the right investement, a difference like night and day. Monitor will be the next thing to upgrade but I'm totally thrilled yet satisfied with my purchase. Thanks for the advice!
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