$500 to upgrade my computer

[Reynardin]

Hey guys,
I'm going off to college in August, and I want to make a few upgrades to my computer before I leave. I've only got $500 allotted for this upgrade, so can you guys tell me where I should put it to get the most bang for my buck? The upgrades should be geared at making this computer better at playing games.

System Specs are on my profile.

 

[Kreij]

I think that a better GC will do you just fine.
You can get away with a lot less than $500, and use the rest to party at college

 

[Reynardin]

hm, so something like a 5850?

 

[erocker]

hm, so something like a 5850?

That would be my pick. Everything else on your rig looks great!

*Maybe get yourself a new sound card.

 

[Kreij]

Depends on whether you like the red or green camp.
Either way, I think you will see a nice increase in game performance without having to do any major upgrades to the system.

 

[phanbuey]

i would make sure that the side window is visible... get some blacklights... and maybe retrofit a bong into the case (for decorative purposes only, of course...) .

+1 to gfx

 

[Reynardin]

I use a nice USB headset with its own inline sound card, so sound isn't an issue for me.
Thanks for the advice =)

 

[phanbuey]

are you taking this with you to the dorm?

 

[joeyck]

(my first reply to some one elses post)

I like your build, I was actually thinking about having a Intel CPU / intel based build and i was going to get that same CPU but I got a quad for less money XD

I like your 8800GTS

and like Kreij said it doesn't matter Red or the Green up to you and since your Mobo doesn't support multi GPU then u wont have to stress out about Crossfire or SLI ya no? (mine is locked to SLI) but a nice GPU would do u justice,

 

[DonInKansas]

5850 and beer.

 

[Reynardin]

hmm would it be worth the extra $50 to go for a gtx 470?

 

[Hockster]

hmm would it be worth the extra $50 to go for a gtx 470?

No.

 

[erocker]

Tough call. They are very power hungry and if your case isn't well ventilated it will get pretty hot as well. If you like doing things like folding and swear by PhysX games, yes you should get the 470.

You still have a budget and can go for a 5870 as well. But I must say if you are going to get a 5850, get a reference card. Compatilbe, voltage control, you can strap a water block to it without problems, runs cool, runs quiet and is completely bios flashable to do whatever you want to it. Here's a linky: VisionTek 900297 Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) 1GB ...

I just wish they were cheaper..

 

[Reynardin]

I don't know if a 5870 will actually fit in my current case lol

 

[erocker]

I don't know if a 5870 will actually fit in my current case lol

Yeah, it will. A 5850 is as long as a motherboard is wide in your case, and you have plenty of room between the end of your mobo and the HDD drive bays.

 

[Reynardin]

I think i'll go with the 5850. Much less power draw, less heat, and in a small dorm room during the summer, that can make quite a difference.

 

[douglatins]

5850ftw!!!

 

[Fourstaff]

5850 and hookers.

Fixed . Your build is good, but at the same time its starting to show its age. Maybe wait for a cheap used quad to appear and upgrade your processor? I am just curious, but what games do you play?

 

[Reynardin]

Actually, when i get the money, i'm probably going to junk most of my current computer and build something like this:

MOBO:
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/...
$209

CPU:
Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 ...
$279

GPU:
VisionTek 900297 Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity
VisionTek 900297 Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) 1GB ...
$309.00

RAML
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 160...
$169.99

$15 for windows 7 (student discount)

Monitor:
SAMSUNG P2350-1 Rose Black 23" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 50000:1(1000:1)
SAMSUNG P2350-1 Rose Black 23" 2ms(GTG) Widescree...
$209

Case:
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Co...
$159.99

Total: 1351 (discounting shipping / taxes)
That's not gonna be for a while though, I have to earn the money. Higher on my list of priorities is buying a laptop that I can bring to class.
(that's just a speculative build, haven't but too much research into it yet)

I play a lot of BC2, which is what's prompted me to start thinking of upgrading my computer. Playing it with an 8800gts 512 is just painful.

of course, if i spend all of my money on booze and hookers, I probably won't have time to use the monster =)


On the subject of laptops: lemme know if you can find a good deal on something with specs similar to http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite/E205/E205-S1904

 

[BraveSoul]

reference 5850 and then celebrate
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