How Should I Upgrade My PC? Thread

Hey everyone. Hope i got the right part of the forum for this...sorry if i haven't.

Anyway, in a few weeks it's half term and i plan to upgrade my PC from Windows Vista to Windows 7. I've already started with all the backing up and such and i'm all good to go but i got thinking, should i upgrade anything else?

My PC has...

120GB Hard Drive
2GB DDR2 RAM
Nvidia GeForce 9500 GT 512MB
3GHZ Single Core Procress [can't remember the type]
Windows Vista Home Premium

...thats about all i think i need to worry about upgrading. Maybe a sound card not sure. Anyway i ran that Windows 7 program to see if your PC can run it ok and i got the a'ok for Home Premium. I have a budget of around £400 however i would like to stay within £200. My PC is almost 3 years old so that why i'm thinking it's time for a big upgrade. Would i need a bigger Hard Drive? should i get more RAM? is it time to replace the fan? please help me out i'm not hot on hardware.

What do you all think i should do?

All the best and thanks.

~ Nik ~

Well you have a single core, so for me that would be my priority, get a duel or quad core, or spend a bit more and get an I7.

but it really comes down to what you want to use it for. your sig suggests rendering, animating and digital painting, so Id suggest ram and CPU first.

Thanks for that.

I've been thinking about getting a new PC and personally i don't really want to. I mean i know it would do me better but i like my PC as it stands so I'll have a think. It may be best to upgrade the CPU so the new model would make it easier, could pick up a 64-bit OS as well.

As for the grahpics card should i upgrade that or am i ok with that?

Edit: Also i use my PC for gaming, modelling and texturing as well as anything i can pull off in Photoshop.

Edited by: Nikholai-Chan

The PC it's self is almost 3 years old but when i got it they said it was one of the best at the time. However i understand that PC are flying forward in terms of details.

I'll have a look around as well as a think about what to do. I think your right however...which pains me coz i know it will cost a lot...

Thanks for the help mate.

Basically, it's getting to the stage where it's dual core or bust, and replacing a single core CPU with a dual core CPU will inevitably lead to buying a new motherboard and a new copy of Windows, most likely. All in all, I would be surprised if you get much change out of £400, nevermind the £200 target. It may be more efficient to scratch that rig and start over.

For example, Intel I5 Quad Core 2.66 Ghz processor: £152.06, replacement motherboard £81.95, replacement RAM £38.17, replacement Windows £82.39 Dabs.com

Total cost of the above: £354.57, and that's assuming all the rest still works. (You may get a better price, although I think my point stands)

So with that Dual Core 2.66 Ghz would basically mean i have a 5.24 Ghz processor...or such?

Sorry i know this should be simple but I'm really not hot on Hardware. I guess a new PC is in order.

Any ideas of a new model?

Buy a new one. Prices have become extremely reasonable.

Dang. That seems like ancient vista, dude. My xp computer has the same amount of Hard Drive space (gigabytes) and like 1/4 more RAM.
If you are not into Win7, I suggest getting a newer version of vista, preferrably with these system properties:

Vista Home Basic 34-bit
Hard Drive 160 gig
Intel Pentium 4 processor 641 with HT tech
Memory 1024 mb
Intel Graphics Media Accel. 950
And obviously a faster RAM as well.

Ahh, runs a lot of stuff, can even run Total Annihilation easily, but anything before Total Annihilation, and 1 of 3 things will happen. (or 2 things):

1: You will experience display issues
2:It simply wont install properly
3:You will have a seriously unstable system, which will not enable you to run the game due to constant crashes, ect. But if you are looking for something fast & modern (Below Win7), I think this is the thing you might need.

Bjangles.. you are joking, right?
I mean.. you must be.
And 34-bit software? That's interesting.. ^^

I'm with the " Metal man " here Bjangles. Aside from the processor ( which is decent ), that list has nothing impressive for a gaming rig at all.
I also have to say that W7 is the far more stable and user friendly OS of the two. Bundled it in a half decent PC and go for the 64 bit.

When anyone finds themselves with a decision like Nikholi- Chan's, their first thought she be to look ahead at what this investment of their time and money will be able to do for them down the road.

Edited by: jjawinte

If your really on that tight of a budget go with AMD/ATI as your save money but still get a huge performance boost from your last system.

Example:
Windows 7 64-bit OS (I'd get the Ultimate edition for the added security) about $299 USD
Phenom II X4 945 (3GHz Quad Core) $150-155 in that range USD
Asus M4A79 Deluxe motherboard (yes I know its a DDR2 board but DDR2s really cheap atm an that's what he needs cheap yet very effective! ^^) about $160 USD
4Gigz of ram around $77-100 USD
ATI 5770 (No point getting a HD4870 or HD4890 when there priced so closely) $150-170+ USD
Antec EarthWatts EA750 Watt PSU (Optional but I think your need a new one regardless) there about $100+ USD

To be realistic intel atm is really expensive for the average PC buyer i7 920s are nearly $300 USD and the motherboards to support them are about the same if you want to get a good one anyway (X58s etc etc) so building a new system from the ground up on a budget your best off with AMD/ATI.

Either way building a new PC your going to have to spend more then 400 euro's to get a more up to date PC, cause if you don't build it right your end up bottlenecking either the video card or the CPU an either is not good >.> as it is my CPU (AMD 64 X2 5400+ @ 2.8GHz) is actually bottlenecking my HD4890.. so I'll have to get a new motherboard an CPU soon to fix that lol.

Wow thank for all your input guys, really helps. Just thinking it all over now.