Need To Upgrade My Gaming Computer.

Hi everyone, I'm not new to computers at all, however I only really code, do web graphics and play video games. I really have no clue when it comes to the innerworkings of a computer.

Anyways, here are my specs from Speccy

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If you would like to further investigate my computer's specs you can download Piriform's Speccy here http://www.piriform.com/speccy

It will go into exetreme detail on all my drives, and here is the snapshot of my computer's specs http://www.2shared.c...7_0/DAN-PC.html (Requires Piriform's Speccy to view)


I'm just looking for some advice on what equipment I should purchase to achieve higher FPS, and HD gaming (highest graphics settings?) I just really appreciate MMOs and the gigantic worlds that are created and it's very hard to view them when I have to play on minimal graphics settings. Anything above a standard medium, or high setting will crash my computer.

Any thoughts on what I should get for a graphics card or anything else to boost my FPS?

Thanks,
Dan

 

Hi Dan and welcome to CHF

I must state here that I am not a gamer - so somebody else may wish to jump in.

I can see a few things in your specs that will limit what you can do.

1. You are running a 32 bit system.
This in itself does not perform as well with graphics intensive games as a 64 bit.

2. Because you have a 32 bit system you are limited to the amount of RAM that your system will utilise.
This is actually 4GB and Windows will only use about 3.5GB of this.
You have 4GB RAM - so no improvements possible here.

3. The RAM you have is DDR2.
DDR3 is faster - but the two are not compatible .............so you are stuck with what you have.

4. I looks like you have 2 Video Cards installed - have you ?
(one looks to be running a little hot )
If so - you would get better FPS if Crossfire was enabled - but it is showing "disabled"
( I have no experience of Crossfire so somebody else may need to talk you through this if it is an option )

 

As Ken says performance wise a 64bit OS would be better, but I would say the difference would be minimal ~5% at the most, so not really worth changing.

The two graphics cards should have no problem with a good graphics setting and since the RAM and HDD effect on the game wouldn't be much, your processor is likely the cause of your bottleneck in performance as the graphics cards can only process what the CPU provides as instructions. Problem is your motherboard has an AM2+ socket, which is an old processor socket now as the CPU's for it are no longer produced.

As for Crossfire I don't have any experience of dual GPU's, but as a start you would need a cable to link your two graphics cards together (search for Crossfire cable and you'll find loads about it) and the latest AMD Catalyst software/drivers.
These two should enable Crossfire, there would be a performance increase but not all games would be better off.

Your main two options would probably be either getting a new Motherboard, RAM, CPU and PSU (plus possibly a Case), from which you would add your GPU's and HDD (you would have to reinstall your OS in this scenario), this would give you a better upgrade path in the future, but obviously this would be a higher short term cost.
But if money is tight, which would be likely with the way the economy is, then it would be worth looking on Amazon or Ebay for an AM2+ processor.

 

I actually have crossfire enabled via the catalyst control center, there's no cables for it, the cards are attached inside my computer.

So my best option to increase my FPS + Graphics would be an AM2+ processor?

 

Yes based on your system specs I believe the processor is a weak link at the moment, though a dual core processor I can't see any other reason for your system not being able to output better graphics quality in games.