Thinking of a computer upgrade...

[Markus]

So my friends and I are rather excited about the release of Diablo 3 next week and I was wondering if my computer couldnt use some sprucing up.

Right now I have:
AMD Phenom 9650 Quad Core 2.3 ghz
Geforce 9500 Gt
2gb ram
1tb Sata Drive

So if I want to use DDR3 ram I need a new processor... And a New motherboard and new ram and I would like a better graphics card... Essentially a whole new computer >.< Am I right in this asessment?

Im not too picky on what I get just budget minded... So any suggestions?

[Autarchist]

Looks like the recommended requirements are the following:

Not sure how your vid cars stacks up against the 260.

If what you have doesn't provide a smooth enough experience, I'd opt for just another stick of RAM and new videocard. That is, if you mostly just want to play that game.

[Markus]

Yeah thats about it Im not too ambitious with my gameplaying atm...

[JDay]

What's your budget?

[Markus]

I was thinking around $200

I could just upgrade my graphics card and ram. How do these two sound?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=41125&sku=E145-0550

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4631346&sku=C13-6084

[Autarchist]

How many memory slots do you have?

EDIT: Also, is your current memory 2x1GB or 1x2GB? What are the specs?

[Hoop]

Get another 2gbs of ram and a decent video card like an ATI 6850, Geforce 460 or 560.

You will get another years' worth of use out of it unless something breaks and that would probably keep you under 200$.

[Hoop]

I was thinking around $200

I could just upgrade my graphics card and ram. How do these two sound?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=41125&sku=E145-0550

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...6&sku=C13-6084

Ram is fine, 550 ti is slower than the 460 and ATI 6850 cards you can buy for same money.

Also if you have a fry's nearby they will match the tigerdirect/newegg prices so print out some ads and go there if you don't want to deal with shipping just make sure it's the same part # for the product and they will honor it.

For example the geforce 560 EVGA is 189 at newegg and I know fry's carries them...so you could be around 230 for ram and a decent video card.

[Markus]

Is this the one you meant?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130660

[the86d]

So if I want to use DDR3 ram I need a new processor... And a New motherboard and new ram and I would like a better graphics card... Essentially a whole new computer >.< Am I right in this asessment?

I typically reuse the case (as my "relay rack" has 3 rack-mount cases in it and regular industry standard ATX cases can typically be reused, unless you have a proprietary Dell, Gateway, Compaq, Acer, Lenovo, Sony, or other "buy it and go" brands), power supply, cd/dvd drives (if possible), hard drives (if they are new enough tech to work) and the like. This is a substantial cost savings if your case costs >$65, the power supply costs >$60, and the drives are >$200 together.

You may not gain much speed if you use old hard drives, unless they are of a newer tech/speed.

If possible the main upgrade components are Board, Ram, and CPU. I don't really play games on my rigs, so a major video card upgrade is not on my list typically.

[Markus]

I've got a nice case with more features than I currently use. I think I'm set with a good graphics card and some ram.

[JDay]

I typically reuse the case (as my "relay rack" has 3 rack-mount cases in it and regular industry standard ATX cases can typically be reused, unless you have a proprietary Dell, Gateway, Compaq, Acer, Lenovo, Sony, or other "buy it and go" brands),

Most of those are standard ATX now. I haven't run into a proprietary box since the old Packard Bell days.

[Hoop]

Is this the one you meant?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130660

Yes.

A friend has one and it works very well.

[cfm117]

I just semi upgraded in preparation for D3 also. I have AMD FX dual core now. I have on hand AMD Phenom 2 BE but don't have money to upgrade my Mobo to Asus M5A97. Sooo, I just grabbed a EVGA 560 TI Superclocked off EBay for $175. I have 4GB of ram already installed. Im getting 45-50 FPS on Skyrim out in the environment on Ultra, 1920x1080 all shadows maxed. Getting 60 FPS indoors, shops etc. seems a GPU upgrade is the kicker.

Got new on eBay as open box display item for $175

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130610

[the86d]

Most of those are standard ATX now. I haven't run into a proprietary box since the old Packard Bell days.

MANY are BTX, many still use proprietary mainboard mounts (Dell for one on their higher end systems, and funky i/o shield configs), and some still use funky "front panel" plugs w/missing pins.