Hi Team Traction members,
I have yet another technical question to ask:
I have recently come into quite a bit of money ($360) and I am planning on upgrading my processor (which will mean I need a motherboard to support it and ram that the motherboard supports) so that leaves me with plenty left. Then there's a hard drive I want to add.
I need to know if by upgrading to a Phenom II X4 3.2GHz quad core would create any bottlenecking issues, like if the GPU will bottleneck the CPU. I currently have a XFX GT240X 1GB GDDR5 from Xmas.
Would it be necessary to upgrade to a better GPU?
Looking at a 5570-5770 in case I would need to upgrade.
So far I have been researching for like 3 days in a row.
-Kenwood
I've got a Phenom II X4 3.2 GHz, and an ASUS HD 5850 Graphics card, along with 4gigs og 1600MHz ram. My game runs with 150+ FPS at all times in LFS. Though if I were you, I'd take the Phenom 1055 or 1090 (Hecta-core), and then a 5850. They are extremely cheap. When I bought the 5850, it was 1900 DKK ($380), and now it's just 900 DKK ($280).
I know. I was originally planning on the six core, with my current settings I get 110+ steady (up to 400) with no backround programs, but I normaly have like 6 other programs running so it's 40-120.
The rams I chose was 1333 or something like that, I had it organized into a little NewEgg cart:
Seagate Barracuda
ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM
SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard
Drive -Bare Drive
Seagate Barracuda
ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM
SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard
Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822148701
Return Policy: Standard Return
Policy
Protect Your Investment
(expand for options)
$39.99
ASUS M4A78LT-M AM3 AMD
760G HDMI Micro ATX AMD
Motherboard
ASUS M4A78LT-M AM3 AMD
760G HDMI Micro ATX AMD
Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131672
Return Policy: Standard Return
Policy
Protect Your Investment
(expand for options)
$69.99
WINTEC AMPO 4GB 240-Pin
DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3
10666) Desktop Memory Model
3AMD31333-4G-R
WINTEC AMPO 4GB 240-Pin
DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3
10666) Desktop Memory Model
3AMD31333-4G-R
Item #: N82E16820161365
Return Policy: Memory Standard
Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant
$75.98
$65.98
($32.99 each)
AMD Phenom II X4 925 Deneb
2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-
Core Desktop Processor
HDX925WFK4DGM
AMD Phenom II X4 925 Deneb
2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-
Core Desktop Processor
HDX925WFK4DGM - OEM
Item #: N82E16819103940
Return Policy: CPU
Replacement Only Return Policy
$89.99
Sims 3: Deluxe Edition PC
Game EA
Sims 3: Deluxe Edition PC
Game EA
Item #: N82E16832130274
Return Policy: Software
Standard Return Policy
$44.99
Test Drive Unlimited 2 PC Game
ATARI
Test Drive Unlimited 2 PC Game
ATARI
Item #: N82E16832198084
Return Policy: Software
Standard Return Policy
$15.99
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes
from Liberty City PC Game
ROCKSTAR
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes
from Liberty City PC Game
ROCKSTAR
Item #: N82E16832262086
Return Policy: Software
Standard Return Policy
Using your advice, here's a slightly different selection:
Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822148701
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$39.99
ASUS M4A78LT-M AM3 AMD 760G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
ASUS M4A78LT-M AM3 AMD 760G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131672
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$69.99
WINTEC AMPO 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 3AMD31333-4G-R
WINTEC AMPO 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 3AMD31333-4G-R
Item #: N82E16820161365
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant
$37.99
$32.99
AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDT55TFBGRBOX
AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDT55TFBGRBOX
Item #: N82E16819103851
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$159.99
The Sims 3 PC Game EA
The Sims 3 PC Game EA
Item #: N82E16832130097
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
$35.66
Test Drive Unlimited 2 PC Game ATARI
Test Drive Unlimited 2 PC Game ATARI
Item #: N82E16832198084
Return Policy: Software Standard Return Policy
Some of the items may be doubled but in the second list, only one of each, and only 2 RAM's in the first.
2nd list is good. 1st one is crap.
You'll have to get another Motherboard though, since you don't wanna go low on that stuff which really is important.
Go look for 790, 870, 890, or 990 in motherboard numbers.
Can you re commend one for me then? On NewEgg?
Well, just look for Gigabyte, MSI, ASRock and similar bigger brands. I've no idea what expensive stuff is in the US with your valuta etc.
Go find something, and gimme a link, then I'll check it out.
Heres an idea of the values: $40 = rather cheap / $70 = moderate / $120+ = high
I'm on newegg for iPhone so I can't get links. Would you mind searching for this model? I had this in a phenom x4 combo from before I made the OP.
UPDATE:
how about this one?
UPDATE 2:
How's this:
Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition
Motherboard shown below
4GB DDR3 ram 1366 (pci 10666 I think)
WD 500 GB 7200 RPM SATA HDD
Go for the ASRock or the ASUS model. The first one is going to be the 'bottleneck', as you call it, on the system.
OK, thanks. Did you read the list above the ASUS motherboard?
Yes. Looks very nice as well.
Important thing as well, get a proper graphics card. HD5770, HD 5850, HD 5870, HD 6850, HD 6870, HD 6890, HD 6950, those are all very good cards, for very little money.