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About to start breathing new life into an old rig of mine (definition of a budget rig). Current specs:
CPU: Intel Pentium D (2.8GHz)
RAM: 3GB DDR2 533MHz (IIRC...I'll have to look at the package to remember the PC specs)
HDD: 1x 160GB
GPU: ATi Radeon X300SE
Now, before I continue further, I'm not a heavy PC gamer, so I don't need an iX series processor, DDR3 or a massive graphics card, which is why I'm upgrading this rig. I only really play two games on a PC and that's Minecraft and EVE-Online.
Plans:
eBay hunt for a faster Pentium D or Pentium D EE (preferably 3.4GHz or higher), push the ram up to 4+GB DDR2, upgrade the PSU to a 400+W unit, update the graphics card. Current list, minus the processor:
I will eventually swap the boot drive to an SSD, but that's for down the line.
There are three main reasons why I don't want to build a new rig:
1) Money...busy working on a car (needs an engine and other parts)
2) Time...if I'm not working...I'm at school...if I'm doing neither...I have side projects that I'm dealing with.
3) Need...don't need an uber rig...this machine has gotten the job done for awhile until I got my laptop.
Seeing what I have listed above, and taking into consideration my 3 reasons, would those be worthwhile upgrades?
The reason why I'm upgrading is because my laptop can't handle the load of a game + screen capture. Has no problems doing one or the other, but it has a fit when both run.
EDIT...I will also be upgrading the cooling for the processor.
Nothing to see here...move along.
Last edited by GateCrusher420; October 15th, 2012 at 05:58 PM.
It looks like you intend to spend about $300, most of it on older components. You will probably get a much better deal if you buy everything used. If you don't have a lot of time buying a desktop from ebay may be a good solution.
Another option would be to buy the AMD10 cpu with integrated graphics. You'll need to buy a new motherboard and fast RAM in that case though. The CPU is relatively slow, but probably still better than most of the old Intel CPUs that fit on your motherboard.
Dropping any more money into that setup is just a huge waste of money.
I'd honestly rip out as much as possible and go for an APU setup. It might go slightly over-budget but it would be worlds faster.
Dropping any more money into that setup is just a huge waste of money.
I'd honestly rip out as much as possible and go for an APU setup. It might go slightly over-budget but it would be worlds faster.
Not to sound dense, but could you explain a bit?
My dad might be willing to let my cannibalize the other desktop in the house for it's GFX card and monitor. 'tis a 8600GS IIRC. Yes it's dated, but it's better than my little x300. :P Plus, the monitor is much nicer than what I have.
Nothing to see here...move along.
Last edited by GateCrusher420; October 19th, 2012 at 03:08 PM.
Over the last few years Intel and AMD have moved on-board graphics from the motherboard to the processor. Some applications can take advantage of GPUs to run much faster than they would on a regular processor. For some tasks like video processing, a modest GPU can do the work better than a CPU while using less power.
While the GPUs in AMD's APUs are poor compared to higher end GPUs on the market, they will blow your x300 and your dad's 8600gs out of the water when it comes to performance in the games you mentioned. You can run skyrim on medium setting at 1280x720 and get just under 30fps with an APU.
Over the last few years Intel and AMD have moved on-board graphics from the motherboard to the processor. Some applications can take advantage of GPUs to run much faster than they would on a regular processor. For some tasks like video processing, a modest GPU can do the work better than a CPU while using less power.
While the GPUs in AMD's APUs are poor compared to higher end GPUs on the market, they will blow your x300 and your dad's 8600gs out of the water when it comes to performance in the games you mentioned. You can run skyrim on medium setting at 1280x720 and get just under 30fps with an APU.
Interesting...sounds like I'm just going to cannibalize a PC for now and start saving for a new rig.
You don't even have to save much more money compared to your original plan:
CPU with integrated GPU: about 100-120$
RAM: about 30$
motherboard: about 60$
Your original plan would have looked like this:
RAM: 30$
GPU: 90$
CPU: 70$?
plus the extra stuff like HDD and PSU. You might even be able to continue using your current PSU.
You don't even have to save much more money compared to your original plan:
CPU with integrated GPU: about 100-120$
RAM: about 30$
motherboard: about 60$
Your original plan would have looked like this:
RAM: 30$
GPU: 90$
CPU: 70$?
plus the extra stuff like HDD and PSU. You might even be able to continue using your current PSU.
I get what you're saying. Like I said, I think I'm going to grab a few things (RAM...HDD) and just swap parts from my other machine for the time being. After that, I'll look into building something bigger and better. Gonna need the HDD anyways.
Nothing to see here...move along.
Last edited by GateCrusher420; October 19th, 2012 at 07:44 PM.
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