Upgrading kid's computer to gaming

[dfuze]

I just bought the Humble Bundle which gave me an extra copy of BF3 (I already have it). I'd love to have my son start playing on the kid's computer, but as you can see in my signature it's underpowered.

What are the cheapest upgrade paths for it? Keep in mind they use a 17" lcd at a 1280x1028 resolution and going for low to medium graphics is just fine for the kids.

 

[lehtv]

You would have to replace motherboard, CPU, RAM and GPU. For any substantial upgrade you'd have to spend at least $250-300, less if buying used of course. E.g. amd fx-6300, some low end AM3+ board, at least 4GB, preferably 2x4GB DDR3, and a GPU like 7750.

You could consider moving the XFX 6850 to your kid's PC and buying yourself a new GPU.

 

[Termie]

He doesn't need a new GPU. The 4850 is nearly as powerful as the 7750. It can certainly handle BF3 at low settings. What he probably does need, however, is a new CPU. The older Core 2 Duo he has won't suffice for BF3.

What I'd probably do is pick up an i3-3220 and a B75 motherboard for around $180, plus 1 stick of 4GB DDR3-1333. That should be fine for BF3 at 1280x1024. Total upgrade cost would be $210.

CPU: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-i3-3220-...ywords=i3+3220
Motherboard: http://www.amazon.com/MSI-LGA1155-Mi...words=b75+matx
RAM: http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-1333M...=ddr3-1333+4gb

Granted, this is a lot of money just to play a game you paid all of ~$1 for in the Humble bundle, but it will be a much more modern system and should perform better in many tasks.

 

[dfuze]

Thanks for the upgrade ideas, I think I'll go with a new mobo/CPU/memory upgrade. If it still chokes on video I can toy with the idea of getting myself the new and give them my current one as suggested.

It may be a lot for 1 game now, but I'd like to branch out to other games with him that are more taxing so modernizing it a bit is a good idea.

 

[dfuze]

Looking at this for $155:
Athlon II X3 450 (unlock 4th core)
ASUS M5A78L-M (2 memory slots)
Team Elite 4gb (1 chip) memory (add 2nd some time in future)

Any comments?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Looking at this for $155:
Athlon II X3 450 (unlock 4th core)
ASUS M5A78L-M (2 memory slots)
Team Elite 4gb (1 chip) memory (add 2nd some time in future)

Any comments?

You could always look for a second hand Vishera combo, I'm sure you'll find one here in the fs/ft

 

[mfenn]

Looking at this for $155:
Athlon II X3 450 (unlock 4th core)
ASUS M5A78L-M (2 memory slots)
Team Elite 4gb (1 chip) memory (add 2nd some time in future)

Any comments?

This is probably about the minimum you could get away with. Honestly, I like Termie's i3 3220 idea a lot better because you get a ton more single-threaded performance for only $50 more.

 

[dfuze]

Yeah I'm thinking that's a longer term solution too. I looked more last night and then realized how old that x3 chip is, I thought it was newer.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Yeah I'm thinking that's a longer term solution too. I looked more last night and then realized how old that x3 chip is, I thought it was newer.

Just a thought, but you could look at the Athlon X4 750K/760K too. Especially the 750K is excellent value. However a 3220 is way preferable.

 

[dfuze]

Thanks for all the input.

I just went with the Intel 3230, MSI B75MA-E33, and (2) 4gb of ram.

 

[Termie]

Thanks for all the input.

I just went with the Intel 3230, MSI B75MA-E33, and (2) 4gb of ram.

Excellent - let us know how it works out!

 

[dfuze]

Hmm, just realized that their PC is running Vista 32bit, I'm gonna need a 64 OS. Any way I can grab 7 or 8 really cheap (like the $30 I paid a couple years ago for students)?

 

[Hubb1e]

You can technically use your old Vista 32 bit code to install the 64 bit version as long as you had a 64 bit disk. At least this is what I did with win7 when the store gave me the wrong disk. Vista isn't so bad once the PC is booted. It's the boot that makes that OS so bad.

 

[lightningbaron]

The student upgrade price for Windows 8 Pro is $70. Unless you know someone in university taking an IT class and the university has DreamSpark Premium, you may be able to get an install of Win 7 Pro / Win 8 Pro.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

You can technically use your old Vista 32 bit code to install the 64 bit version as long as you had a 64 bit disk. At least this is what I did with win7 when the store gave me the wrong disk. Vista isn't so bad once the PC is booted. It's the boot that makes that OS so bad.

Yep, if you can locate a 64 bit install media, then no problem. I have done that many times.

(Do note that you'll need a media with SP2 slipstreamed, if you want to install in UEFI mode. Otherwise you'll be limited to BIOS mode...)

 

[mfenn]

Hmm, just realized that their PC is running Vista 32bit, I'm gonna need a 64 OS. Any way I can grab 7 or 8 really cheap (like the $30 I paid a couple years ago for students)?

You can install the 64-bit version with the same license key. PM me if you have trouble finding the media.