Need help regarding PC upgrade (Graphics Card + RAM).

TheFallenLord

TheFallenLord

Journeyman
My current PC build:

Phenom II X4 955
Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H Motherboard
2*2GB Corsair DDR3 1333
Corsair CX400W PSU

Purpose of Upgrading:

Gaming (All latest and upcoming games).

Screen Resolution & OS:

1600*900 (20 inch monitor); Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

Budget:

Strictly 13k (GPU + RAM)/11.5k (GPU only). Non-stretchable.

I'm assuming that I'll have to upgrade my RAM too for a decent gaming performance. Looking forward to your suggestions guys.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Cilus

Cilus

laborare est orare
You can also get a 2K CPU cooler like Hyper 212 EVO and overclock the Phenom II 955 of yours. That can easily goes to 3.8 GHz with a standard aftermarket cooler and nullify any kinda bottleneck you're expecting.
 
OP
TheFallenLord

TheFallenLord

Journeyman
Okay. I'll skip on RAM for now but since I'll be upgrading it later sometime anyway, I'd like to ask a few questions regarding it.

I have this motherboard: GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM3+ - GA-880GM-UD2H (rev. 1.5)

I have 2 modules of 2GB DDR3 1333 each in dual-channel unganged mode. I'd like to upgrade to 6GB by either adding a single 2GB module or 2*1GB modules. Is it possible?

Will a DDR3 1600 module be compatible with my older RAM or do I have to stick with 1333?

What are the current RAM prices?

Regarding the GPU: Is the GTX 650 Ti BOOST really available at less than 13k? It's a lot pricier than that at online stores. Also, should I go with a 1GB or 2GB version?

@Cilus
Actually I'm suspecting my RAM to be a bottleneck, not the CPU. But since you mentioned it, do you think my CPU might be a bottleneck if I don't overclock it? I currently have a CM Hyper TX3 as the cooling solution for my CPU but I don't think it's good enough to facilitate overclocking.
 
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harshilsharma63

harshilsharma63

DIY FTW!
TheFallenLord said:
Okay. I'll skip on RAM for now but since I'll be upgrading it in the near future anyway, I'd like to ask a few questions regarding it.

I have this motherboard: GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM3+ - GA-880GM-UD2H (rev. 1.5)

I have 2 modules of 2GB DDR3 1333 each in dual-channel unganged mode. I'd like to upgrade to 6GB by either adding a single 2GB module or 2*1GB modules. Is it possible?

Will a DDR3 1600 module be compatible with my older RAM or do I have to stick with 1333?

What are the current RAM prices?

Regarding the GPU: Is the GTX 650 Ti BOOST really available at less than 13k? It's a lot pricier than that at online stores. Also, should I go with a 1GB or 2GB version?

@cilus
Actually I'm suspecting my RAM to be a bottleneck, not the CPU. But since you mentioned it, do you think my CPU might be a bottleneck if I don't overclock it? I currently have a CM Hyper TX3 as the cooling solution for my CPU but I don't think it's good enough to facilitate overclocking.
Click to expand...

> Yes, you can install new RAM modules. make sure you get the one with same FSB and possible same voltage.

> If you install a 1600 MHz stick with a 1333 MHz stick, the faster one will automatically slow down to match the speeds of the slower module.

> Check flipkart.

> It's available for 12.8k at mdcomputers.in
 
rijinpk1

rijinpk1

Aspiring Novelist
TheFallenLord said:
Okay. I'll skip on RAM for now but since I'll be upgrading it in the near future anyway, I'd like to ask a few questions regarding it.

I have this motherboard: GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM3+ - GA-880GM-UD2H (rev. 1.5)

I have 2 modules of 2GB DDR3 1333 each in dual-channel unganged mode. I'd like to upgrade to 6GB by either adding a single 2GB module or 2*1GB modules. Is it possible?

Will a DDR3 1600 module be compatible with my older RAM or do I have to stick with 1333?

What are the current RAM prices?

Regarding the GPU: Is the GTX 650 Ti BOOST really available at less than 13k? It's a lot pricier than that at online stores. Also, should I go with a 1GB or 2GB version?

@cilus
Actually I'm suspecting my RAM to be a bottleneck, not the CPU. But since you mentioned it, do you think my CPU might be a bottleneck if I don't overclock it? I currently have a CM Hyper TX3 as the cooling solution for my CPU but I don't think it's good enough to facilitate overclocking.
Click to expand...

4gb ram is enough for now. you can overclock with tx3. try smaller overclocks.
 
OP
TheFallenLord

TheFallenLord

Journeyman
Hello again guys. This is my first post since 24th feb and all I was doing in the meantime was trying to convince my father to fund my PC upgrade ambitions.:banghead: But unfortunately I couldn't convince him to spend the whole 13k (includes my own savings) on a worthless component such as a graphics card used for running worthless applications such as games (that's how my father describes it).:facepalm: He is willing to give me 10k for graphics card and I have some savings of my own which when combined together will amount to a total of ~11.5k.

So may I ask for suggestions for a GPU under 11k (11.5k MAX)?

Regarding the RAM, I think I should save up on cash for some time and upgrade to 8 GB by buying 2 sticks of 2 GB each later because if I add one 2 GB stick to my already existing 2*2 GB config now, I will lose the benefit of dual-channel. Am I correct?

I'm looking forward to your suggestions once more.
 
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OP
TheFallenLord

TheFallenLord

Journeyman
Thanks for the reply. I also was eyeing the R7 260X. But since I'll be buying locally, I'd like to ask if there are any brands that I should avoid because I may have to settle for some other brand if I don't find the ASUS card at the right price.
 
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rijinpk1

rijinpk1

Aspiring Novelist
TheFallenLord said:
Thanks for the reply. I was also eyeing the R7 260X. But since I'll be buying locally, I'd like to ask if there are any brands that I should avoid because I may have to go for some other brand if I don't find the ASUS card at the right price.
Click to expand...

skip msi ,xfx etc. look for asus ,sapphire, gigabyte. HIS may be even cheaper, but i dont know about how they handle rma.
 
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