To Update or Not To Update

[Turbo91Bird]

So this is the dilemma.

Currently, this is my setup:

Windows XP Pro (Sp3)
E8400
Asus 4870 1GB card
4GB DDR2-1066
Asus P5Q Pro Mobo


Now with the new games coming out, using DirectX 10 and even 11, I'm thinking about updating my rig. The dilemma is, do I bother updating the motherboard, ram, CPU and going to Windows 7 64 bit? I would be updating to an I7 chip, DDR3 memory, and obviously a motherboard that could handle all of that.

Or do I just stick with an LGA 775 socket, switch my E8400 to a Q9550 Yorkfield and upgrade to Windows 7 64 bit.

I'm just not sure what direction games are going in the next year or 2. I look at games like Bad Company 2 and see that they're using DirectX10 and 11 even. Recommending quad core's and Windows 7. Then I see new games like Supreme Commander 2 that don't need it all that and just require some sort of dual core.

I just want to make sure I'm not wasting my money here. Thanks.

[David M]

Your computer is not too old to consider upgrading its components by any means.

The big question is, how much money you are willing to spend? The E8400 is plenty fast for gaming. I clocked my E8500 on air cooling up to 4GHz relatively easy and I am quite happy with that.

BTW, the vast majority of games are not written to utilize quad cores. So unless you are playing a game while running other applications at the same time, a quad core is not going to do you any good for gaming.

The best bang for the buck for your computer will be upgrading with a single graphics card.

I would look at one of the higher end 5000 series Radeon cards. Check with ATI to make sure your PSU will be of sufficient wattage to power the card.

If you have $600 to spend then consider a 5970. In the future you could always move it to a brand new computer.

[pam123]

If you want to upgrade now go Win7 64 bit.

Before I make any suggestions about a new video card (Or maybe squirreling that Yorkfield away for future "rainy day".) what is your power supply ?

Take David's "heads up" seriously on that.

[tomster2300]

This was the best solution for me last summer, albeit quite a costly one...I don't regret it though.

I took the rebuilding plunge and salvaged only my hard drive from my former machine. My new i7 920, hd4870, 6 gigs of DDR3 rig literally screams and plays games like a champ. I had skimped on my previous build years ago, and decided to finally go with a fresh start -- I was constantly playing the catchup game before because I went with current, depreciated hardware - now I feel like I'm still ahead of the curve...at least for a little while.