Thread: Suggestions for Small (i.e. Budget) Upgrade

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

Both of your links are for the same XFX PSU. Which, by the way, got a very good review here:
XFX PRO 650 W Power Supply Review | Hardware Secrets

You cannot utilize DDR3 RAM on your setup; that would require a new motherboard.

What is your OS? Unless it's a 64 bit OS, you will not be able to utilize over 4 GB of RAM, so you would not benefit from additional RAM, anyway.

Odd, don't know why I linked to the same PSU. The Antec PSU I meant to link to is this one. Given that review for the XFX 650W PSU (along with other reviews), though, that may be what I need to go with anyway.

I re-edited my post once I remembered that my motherboard only supports DDR2. As for my OS, you're right that I'm currently running on a 32 bit OS. I had originally only planned on only upgrading to 4GB anyway, so that works. Though, if I wanted to upgrade to a 64 bit OS, would there be any minimum requirements I still need to meet? Regardless, I'd get a new motherboard before trying to afford upgrading to 8GB of DDR2.

Back to the video card: Since everyone is saying I should go with the Radeon HD 5770 1GB, I think that'll be the one I go with. Recommendation for which brand(s) to go with?

Either of those PSU's should do fine. The XFX is manufactured by Seasonic, and the Antec by Delta Electronics, and both are reported to be quality manufacturers.

I would advise you to save up for a totally new build rather than try to significantly upgrade your system with new OS, motherboard, etc. (other than the GPU, that is). You'll likely see marginal improvements with the older technology, and it's not all that expensive to get a good gaming rig that will adequately run the newer games for $1000 or even less. Check some of the recent threads here to see what folks have been able to cobble together on a budget.


Here's a budget 5770: Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100283-3L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

The Radeon HD 6770 is supposed to be virtually the same as the 5770, so here's a possiibility that will come in under $100 after MIR: Newegg.com - PowerColor AX6770 1GBD5-H Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

I don't have any personal experience with either manufacturer, so I can't speak to quality or customer support. Maybe others will chime in.

Be sure to check the dimensions in your case and be sure any new GPU will fit. GPU's have been growing larger (especially longer) over time.

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

I would advise you to save up for a totally new build rather than try to significantly upgrade your system with new OS, motherboard, etc. (other than the GPU, that is). You'll likely see marginal improvements with the older technology, and it's not all that expensive to get a good gaming rig that will adequately run the newer games for $1000 or even less. Check some of the recent threads here to see what folks have been able to cobble together on a budget.

My preference would be to build a totally new rig but, like I said, this is a budget upgrade. It's budget because these are going to be Christmas presents. Long story short: My dad and his wife told my wife and I that they want to spend up to $500 on us, per person, for Christmas presents (my dad's wife loves to buy presents, especially for family members). As such, I need to stay within that range, and I'd also like to get some new external computer items as well so I don't want to dedicate too much of it to internal items.

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

Be sure to check the dimensions in your case and be sure any new GPU will fit. GPU's have been growing larger (especially longer) over time.

Yeah, I need to check that out considering I don't have a very big case and the 8600 GT is (apparently) a pretty petite card. From what information I can find, the 5770 is probably about 2" longer, <1" thicker, and about 0.5cm wider.

Also, I've read that 5770 will use two expansion slots. Will that be a problem with my motherboard?

I THINK, based on photos of your MB, that you'll be OK as long as there's nothing in the PCI x 1 slot. You should look at your setup to be sure there's nothing immediately adjacent to your current GPU.

I'll probably have to take and post a picture of my setup. I don't recall there being anything occupying the PCI x1 slot when I was looking at it yesterday.

Alrighty. Pictures of the setup:

It looks like you have the available room as far as slots are concerned. I suspect you also have room as far as the GPU length, but be sure to measure to be certain.

My apologies for switching up the original intention of this thread.

After talking to Max he suggested that I go a different route. He said it would be better to go with a new motherboard, a new processor (specifically an i5 2500), and an upgrade to 8GB of RAM. Given the size of my case, I'd like to stick with a micro ATX motherboard (current mobo is a micro ATX) so that I don't have to buy a new case.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Would I be able to get a new mobo, a new cpu, and additional memory and still be able to get a new GPU within the $500 range?

First, are you sure you want to stick with micro-ATX? That case looks like it will accept an ATX motherboard; do you know which case it is?

Second, do you think you will ever want to overclock this new setup? If so, the choice of motherboard and CPU may be different.

Third, are you figuring the cost of a new operating system in that $500?

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

First, are you sure you want to stick with micro-ATX? That case looks like it will accept an ATX motherboard; do you know which case it is?

I wanted going to stick with a micro ATX mobo since I can be sure that it will fit with no issues given that I already have a micro ATX mobo. Given how seldom I upgrade, I'm not terribly worried about the lesser amount of slots on a micro ATX as compared to a standard ATX as I'll probably never need to use all the slots on a standard ATX. Should I decide I need to, I'd probably buy a new case as well - and then convince someone from TPG who lives in Houston to help me assemble everything with payment being beer or something.

As for the case, since this rig was put together and given to me as a present, I have no idea what case it is. I tried searching online to see if I could find it to no avail. I'd say it's about as big, maybe a little smaller, than an Onyx Micro ATX Mid Tower (e.g. this one). Don't really know my cases, though. All I know is that the case on this rig was the most budget item according to the friend that gave it to me.

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

Second, do you think you will ever want to overclock this new setup? If so, the choice of motherboard and CPU may be different.

Being the noob that I am, I have no idea what overclocking is, what it accomplishes, or how to do it. I saw the term used often when I was looking around to try and figure out what I wanted to do for this upgrade, but I still have no idea what it is.

Originally Posted by Viktor_Olin

Third, are you figuring the cost of a new operating system in that $500?

I'll have to figure that own out on my own. I'm not figuring in the cost of it into the $500. Is the 8GB memory upgrade the only reason I would need to get a new O.S.? If so, I might just upgrade to 4GB for the time being. An upgrade to 4GB, plus the 1GB on-board should I go with the 5770, should be enough for what I need anyway.

Here's what I'm thinking if I go with a micro ATX mobo and the 4GB memory upgrade:

1. Motherboard - ASUS P5G41T-M LX LGA 775 Intel G41 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
2. CPU - Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I52500
3. Memory - Crucial 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model CT51264BA1339
4. GPU - SAPPHIRE 100283-3L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
5. PSU - XFX Core Edition PRO650W (P1-650S-NLB9) 650W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

The complete total would be just under $450 with rebates and shipping. If I just stick with my current GPU it would be just under $300. An 8GB memory upgrade would be an additional $20 (link).

Thoughts?