Upgrading my graphics card and CPU

I'm trying to create a decent gaming computer.

Current specs are:

- Pentium D 3.0

- 2GB RAM

-Nvidia GeForce 7300 GS

-Vista 32 bit Home Edition

At the moment, I can run Half-Life 2 on 1280*800 on highest (no AA) pretty smoothly, which seems to be the upper limit. My native resolution is 1440*900, so I won't need hardware to run massive resolutions. The other Orange Box games seem to be a lot more intensive - I finished Portal on 640*480. Ultimately Crysis is my final goal, though I don't doubt that would be being optimistic. I'll be happy with anything that can run Bioshock.

I'm aiming around mid range, the Geforce 9600GT looks like a good choice. What would I be able to run with a 9600GT? I'd like a CPU upgrade too, but I'm completely in the dark there. Any ideas?

I live in Australia by the way, if it matters.

What is the socket of your mother board? If it is lg775, you can get a good C.P.U. for a cheap price. You may have to do a B.I.O.S. update but that is easy to do now-a-days if your mobo does not recognise your new C.P.U.roulettethedog

Not exactly. Only Intel chipsets 945 and up support Core-architecture processors, and even 945 is hit-or-miss. Intel is not like AMD on the motherboard front - just because you have the physically appropriate socket does not mean you can automatically install any processor made for that socket.

The 9600GT is a good card its not as fast as a 8800GT but it will be like night and day difference coming from a 7300gs. You will be able to nearly max any game besides Crysis which you will be able to play at high settings fine.04dcarraher

Mrrrm. Not too sure about the high settings part. That processor is really going to screw with him. I'd say Crysis at medium settings. For High Settings, I'd recommend an E6600 + 8800GT atleast.

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"]The 9600GT is a good card its not as fast as a 8800GT but it will be like night and day difference coming from a 7300gs. You will be able to nearly max any game besides Crysis which you will be able to play at high settings fine.GodLovesDead

Mrrrm. Not too sure about the high settings part. That processor is really going to screw with him. I'd say Crysis at medium settings. For High Settings, I'd recommend an E6600 + 8800GT atleast.

[QUOTE="roulettethedog"]What is the socket of your mother board? If it is lg775, you can get a good C.P.U. for a cheap price. You may have to do a B.I.O.S. update but that is easy to do now-a-days if your mobo does not recognise your new C.P.U.RayvinAzn

Not exactly. Only Intel chipsets 945 and up support Core-architecture processors, and even 945 is hit-or-miss. Intel is not like AMD on the motherboard front - just because you have the physically appropriate socket does not mean you can automatically install any processor made for that socket.

At the moment, I can run Half-Life 2 on 1280*800 on highest (no AA) pretty smoothly, which seems to be the upper limit. My native resolution is 1440*900, so I won't need hardware to run massive resolutions. The other Orange Box games seem to be a lot more intensive - I finished Portal on 640*480. Ultimately Crysis is my final goal, though I don't doubt that would be being optimistic. I'll be happy with anything that can run Bioshock.

tycn

Thanks for the replies. Checking the documentation, my motherboard appears to be a MSI 945GZM3 (MS-7267), with an Intel 945GZ chipset and socket 775.tycn

Thanks, that's what I wanted to make sure. I'll be getting a 9600GT then, shouldn't bottleneck too much compared to the bigger cards.tycn

According to MSI's website, that motherboard does support Core 2 Duo processors: MSI 945GZM3 specs

It looks like higher bus speeds might be spotty however - if you do upgrade the processor, I wouldn't suggest anything more powerful than the E4500 (or any E4x00 chip). You'll also likely need to update the BIOS.

According to MSI's website, that motherboard does support Core 2 Duo processors: MSI 945GZM3 specs

It looks like higher bus speeds might be spotty however - if you do upgrade the processor, I wouldn't suggest anything more powerful than the E4500 (or any E4x00 chip). You'll also likely need to update the BIOS.

RayvinAzn

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"]The 9600GT is a good card its not as fast as a 8800GT but it will be like night and day difference coming from a 7300gs. You will be able to nearly max any game besides Crysis which you will be able to play at high settings fine.GodLovesDead

Mrrrm. Not too sure about the high settings part. That processor is really going to screw with him. I'd say Crysis at medium settings. For High Settings, I'd recommend an E6600 + 8800GT atleast.

I mean who doesnt overclock a graphics card.

[QUOTE="GodLovesDead"]

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"]The 9600GT is a good card its not as fast as a 8800GT but it will be like night and day difference coming from a 7300gs. You will be able to nearly max any game besides Crysis which you will be able to play at high settings fine.Spybot_9

Mrrrm. Not too sure about the high settings part. That processor is really going to screw with him. I'd say Crysis at medium settings. For High Settings, I'd recommend an E6600 + 8800GT atleast.

I mean who doesnt overclock a graphics card.

ummmmmm, me!

[QUOTE="Spybot_9"][QUOTE="GodLovesDead"]

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"]The 9600GT is a good card its not as fast as a 8800GT but it will be like night and day difference coming from a 7300gs. You will be able to nearly max any game besides Crysis which you will be able to play at high settings fine.daytona_178

Mrrrm. Not too sure about the high settings part. That processor is really going to screw with him. I'd say Crysis at medium settings. For High Settings, I'd recommend an E6600 + 8800GT atleast.

I mean who doesnt overclock a graphics card.

ummmmmm, me!

I hope yours is some factory oced otherwise so much potential wasted.....

Why not?:?

I hope yours is some factory oced otherwise so much potential wasted.....

Spybot_9

Anyway, the most demanding games I possess ATM are the Orange Box games. My Q9450 and 9800GTX are overkill for Source games (I built the rig to be able to take on Crysis with some nice settings--I'll get it down the line).

[QUOTE="Spybot_9"]

Why not?:?

I hope yours is some factory oced otherwise so much potential wasted.....

HuusAsking

Anyway, the most demanding games I possess ATM are the Orange Box games. My Q9450 and 9800GTX are overkill for Source games (I built the rig to be able to take on Crysis with some nice settings--I'll get it down the line).

And you wont get any noticible performance increase by ocing your CPU for now as it already overkill for most games except supreme commander and maybe a few other.

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"][QUOTE="Spybot_9"]

Why not?:?

I hope yours is some factory oced otherwise so much potential wasted.....

Spybot_9

Anyway, the most demanding games I possess ATM are the Orange Box games. My Q9450 and 9800GTX are overkill for Source games (I built the rig to be able to take on Crysis with some nice settings--I'll get it down the line).

And you wont get any noticible performance increase by ocing your CPU for now as it already overkill for most games except supreme commander and maybe a few other.

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"]The 9600GT is a good card its not as fast as a 8800GT but it will be like night and day difference coming from a 7300gs. You will be able to nearly max any game besides Crysis which you will be able to play at high settings fine.GodLovesDead

Mrrrm. Not too sure about the high settings part. That processor is really going to screw with him. I'd say Crysis at medium settings. For High Settings, I'd recommend an E6600 + 8800GT atleast.

I get 35FPS Average in Crysis with 8800GS and E2160 on all high, Vista(DX9) @ 1280x1024 using the benchmark tool.

[QUOTE="GodLovesDead"]

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"]The 9600GT is a good card its not as fast as a 8800GT but it will be like night and day difference coming from a 7300gs. You will be able to nearly max any game besides Crysis which you will be able to play at high settings fine.musclesforcier

Mrrrm. Not too sure about the high settings part. That processor is really going to screw with him. I'd say Crysis at medium settings. For High Settings, I'd recommend an E6600 + 8800GT atleast.

I get 35FPS Average in Crysis with 8800GS and E2160 on all high, Vista(DX9) @ 1280x1024 using the benchmark tool.

Upgrade your CPU to a Q6600 for $240 or pay a little more for the new Q9300 for $280. But if you are currently running a Pentium D you will probably need a new motherboard. Also, I have the BFG 8800GT OC and it works great. You can get it for $170 at tigerdirect.com while a 9600GT is only slightly cheaper at $150.Mikester009

And Q6700>>>>>>>Q9300.

[QUOTE="Mikester009"]Upgrade your CPU to a Q6600 for $240 or pay a little more for the new Q9300 for $280. But if you are currently running a Pentium D you will probably need a new motherboard. Also, I have the BFG 8800GT OC and it works great. You can get it for $170 at tigerdirect.com while a 9600GT is only slightly cheaper at $150.Spybot_9

And Q6700>>>>>>>Q9300.

[QUOTE="Spybot_9"]

[QUOTE="Mikester009"]Upgrade your CPU to a Q6600 for $240 or pay a little more for the new Q9300 for $280. But if you are currently running a Pentium D you will probably need a new motherboard. Also, I have the BFG 8800GT OC and it works great. You can get it for $170 at tigerdirect.com while a 9600GT is only slightly cheaper at $150.HuusAsking

And Q6700>>>>>>>Q9300.

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"][QUOTE="Spybot_9"]

[QUOTE="Mikester009"]Upgrade your CPU to a Q6600 for $240 or pay a little more for the new Q9300 for $280. But if you are currently running a Pentium D you will probably need a new motherboard. Also, I have the BFG 8800GT OC and it works great. You can get it for $170 at tigerdirect.com while a 9600GT is only slightly cheaper at $150.Spybot_9

And Q6700>>>>>>>Q9300.

Yea the Q9450 is $70 more and it's always sold out. I would take the Q6700 or even the Q6600 over a Q9300.

Looks like I'll probably need a PSU upgrade too - my current one is an ISO-450PP 4S with 350 watt max and 16A on the 12V rail. Is there any chance of getting it to work with my current PSU, or do I certainly need to upgrade?

Edit: After checking a bunch of threads, that doesn't seem very likely. Not that I won't try.