Upgrading my desktop! A few questions for the experts!

[DeidaraLP1]

Hello Forum!

I'm currently planning an upgrade for my desktop PC. I dont have much clue about PC hardware, so i need your help guys.

My current specs are:
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GeForce 8800 GT - 512MB
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Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
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6GB RAM
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Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
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My PC can handle games up to 2012-2013 on medium. But i would like to play the newest games like Fallout 4, Battlefield 4 and GTA V.

I'm thinking about buying AMD Radeon HD 7950, would that be good enough for the newest games, and for how long would it last before it becomes to outdated?

I have no clue about which proccesor i should buy, people tells me i need i5 but i have no clue what that means?

And is there anything else in my computer i should upgrade beside this? Or would that do it?

Last question, can i go from a Nvidia Video Card to a Radeon Video Card without any trouble, im thinking about drivers and such or is that no worry?

Extra:

 

[jboydgolfer]

as far as GPU's go, and being obsolete, I have a HD 6950 that i bought @ release in like 2010, or maybe '11 and it is Still capable of running games like GTa5 , albeit on lesser settings, but certainly playable. i wouldn't worry too much about "the furture" and just get a reasonable GPU that fits your budget.

good Luck, and welcome.

 

[DeidaraLP1]

Thank you mate, some of my mates told me to just to buy an entirely new PC, but i dont know. If i could spare money just replacing some of the old parts i would be happier, but they might be right.

 

[sneekypeet]

Major concerns I do not see listed.....

With a new CPU, you are going to need a motherboard. Also on this same path, with a new motherboard, you will be looking at running DDR3 or DDR4. (You do not specify current motherboard, so I am guessing you are using DDR2 currently.)
Next and more important would be the Power Supply in your current rig. If it has enough power, age may be a factor as well.

On to your questions.
The HD7950 is fine to game with, not the best, but still should offer much more grunt than the 8800GT you are used to.
i5 refers to Intel Core i5 CPUs. These are typically CPUs with 4cores and 4threads, and usually plenty enough grunt for gaming purposes, but comes with the points I added earlier.

As for switching teams for the GPU, you would be fine in normal situations, but with a new build in your future, I would recommend the operating system be from a fresh start, not using the old OS you have running now.

 

[That Guy In The Shirt]

You might want something better than a dual core processor with a low clock speed. Building a new pc would be great if you've got the money for it, but if not then pairing that with an HD 7950 would probably work for playing on the lowest settings at 1080p at around 30fps.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Hiya

i hate spending money but i love pcs, i would buy the HD 7950 definitely and put it in your current system, you will be knocked backwards by the difference that card makes but check your psu will supply enough power first, i doubt it will.

Spend a few months with that and at the same time spend time here,you will sooon understand what the next step is, maybe a serious PSU as a backbone for your new great build in maybe a years time when you know a lot more and have saved some cash.


You have done the right thing first though, you came here
Click on your name top right and add your mobo details, 2 fast cores can be great with plenty of modern games and whos to say a cheap quad core wont slip straight in there.

 

[dorsetknob]

You should also think about a SSD that will improve your performance on your current system
It would be a future proof ing investment as you could take it to a future system upgrade

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

its at least 6+6 or 8+6 power connector so its defo a psu upgrade

@DeidaraLP1 we need to know the mobo and psu

 

[DeidaraLP1]

Im finding out what the PSU is right now, what is mobo and how do i found out?

Update: Alright guys, im trying to get inside my PC Case right now, but i can see my battery says AC 230 V. Is that enough info or do you need name?

 

[dorsetknob]

download CPUz and post screen shots of the motherboard tab if you can if not post them in your specs anyway
Psu often has info on side

Mother board often has silkscreen printing which gives info such as for example

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

the easiest way to find out about your mobo or motherboard is to d/l and install cpuz from here

http://www.cpuid.com/

the buttons at the top will show different info about your pc but not the power supply, that will have a big sticker on it, you may have to take a pic of that. there should be a manufacturer brand and model number.

 

[DeidaraLP1]

 

[dorsetknob]

good quality board which would run a kentsfield Quad core Cpu if you were so inclined to fit one

I have a similar one P5Q turbo laying around and a few quad cpu's as spares

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

i think youd get a core 2 quad in there

bollocks dorset

 

[DeidaraLP1]

So this motherboard should be fine to go with? Is it possible to fit any proccesor in there? And battery picture coming in 1 second.

Here is battery

 

[dorsetknob]

bollocks dorset

bollocks dorset
dorsetbollocks

 

[dorsetknob]

you Can fit any socket 775 Cpu in there including the extreeme ones

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

So this motherboard should be fine to go with? Is it possible to fit any proccesor in there? And battery picture coming in 1 second.

Here is battery

not any processor

you are limited to those that fit in the 775 socket of which there are some nice ones and they are cheap because they are old, they are stil very very good, check my specs....all old.
Amother plus is that you have what looks like a reasonable psu and may have the correct connectors to power your gpu as it calls itself a gaming power supply. no guarantee of course.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

We need to know what conectors come off the end of the psu, make sure you turn it off. Look for any loose ends tucked away or any empty sockets on the psu itself

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

some psu are "modular" and you are able to add extra cables like this one

 

[dorsetknob]

your Psu has these power connectors
1 x 20+4 Pin
1 x 4+4 Pin
1 x PCI-E 6+2 Pin
1 x PCI-E 6 Pin
6 x SATA
6 x Molex
2 x Floppy
so would not need upgrading to run your proposed graphics card

http://www.inter-tech.de/index.php?...=125:ausland-atx-netzteile&Itemid=541&lang=en

 

[DeidaraLP1]

Alright, i guess i dont have to take pictures of the connectors now, right? Thanks dorset!

And where did you guys get 775 number from? and how do i know if a processor fits into a 775 socket?

And do you need more info, before i close the case?
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And really big thanks to all of you! It's freaking awsome your helping me with this, i dont know what to say!

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Uninstall Nvidia drivers
remove nvidia card.....donate to new owner
install new card
d/l and install new drivers from AMD

spend time at TPU

Buy quad core socket 775 cpu off nice people at TPU
o/c the bollocks off it

 

[dorsetknob]

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5QL/
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5QL/HelpDesk_CPU/

 

[dorsetknob]

where you located out of curiosity