Upgrading computer, any advice

[Chronicle]

Hey,

With PlanetSide 2 being around the corner, I thought it's time I upgrade my current set-up:

System Information
------------------
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.120504-1619)
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6320 @ 1.86GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2048MB RAM

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8500 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Display Memory: 1024.0 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200

On the current set-up I struggle playing Call of Duty Black Ops & Bad Company 2, however PlanetSide 1 isn't too bad.

So, on that note, any recommendations? In this day-and-age, what kind of build would I be looking at to get the best performance I can?

Cheers.

[Ganymede]

What's your budget? Do you want to be able to run the game on max settings or make it playable on med/low with no lag ect...

FYI while it might be nice to think about, Planetside 1 is not a good benchmark for Planetside 2 as we are dealing with a completely new engine and drastically increased preformance demands.

[Goku]

Hi Chronicle if possible answer these questions:

1. Are you building this computer yourself or having one built for you (Like HP, Alienware, or even a small shop)?

2. What is your budget and does that include shipping/taxes?

3. Where do you live (Please list town, state, and country)?

4. What do you need this computer to do (like gaming, Photoshop, and so on)?

5. What parts will you need for the computer? List what parts specifically, saying you need everything will not do.

6. Are you reusing any parts for this computer? If so say what parts (make and model).

7. What kind of monitor/resolution do you have or want to get to use for the computer?

8. Do you have already have a OS or do you need one? What OS is that?

9. What are you looking for the motherboard to have feature wise? Like SLI, Crossfire, Firewire, USB 3.0, Sata 6.0 Gb/s, and so on.

10. Any plans to overclock the CPU or GPU?

11. What time kind of time frame are you planning on ordering these parts?

[Rbstr]

Well you can use it as a benchmark in some respects...if PS1 doesn't run flawlessly, you've got little hope.

Anyway:
You're at the point where you need to think about a whole new set of internals. That graphics card wasn't ever spectacular and it's like 8 generations behind, for instance.
So you're looking at new Motherboard, CPU, memory, graphics and probably power supply at least. You can probably reuse the case CD drive and hard disk(s)...I think. The latter two might still be PATA and not SATA.

Basically you need to give us a budget...fill out the info in the stickied thread.

[longfire]

well building a new computer would be better since like Rbstr said most of the major components would need to be changed. Heres a decently priced build http://pcpartpicker.com/p/chqF that can probably run most of todays games no problem. its a littles over $1000 but like everyone else said an intended budget would be nice :p

[Rbstr]

I don't really like that build.
That powersupply is overkill, and the cooler won't matter ($50) if he isn't overclocking and he can save at least $20 by going with the pro3 motherboard (and he should also do an i5 3550 at the same price as the 2500k in that case).
16gb of ram is also more than you need now ($45), and it will only get cheaper in the future when you do want it.

All of those things add up to over a hundered bucks you can put down on a better video card...or 64 bit Windows...because he'll need that.

[Chronicle]

Hi Chronicle if possible answer these questions:

1. Are you building this computer yourself or having one built for you (Like HP, Alienware, or even a small shop)?
I am leaning towards Alienware

2. What is your budget and does that include shipping/taxes?
Anything up to £750

3. Where do you live (Please list town, state, and country)?
United Kingdom

4. What do you need this computer to do (like gaming, Photoshop, and so on)?
Gaming

5. What parts will you need for the computer?
Everything

6. Are you reusing any parts for this computer? If so say what parts (make and model).

7. What kind of monitor/resolution do you have or want to get to use for the computer?

8. Do you have already have a OS or do you need one? What OS is that?
Need

9. What are you looking for the motherboard to have feature wise? Like SLI, Crossfire, Firewire, USB 3.0, Sata 6.0 Gb/s, and so on.
Not fussed, however if possible I would like the option to use dual monitors

10. Any plans to overclock the CPU or GPU?
yes

11. What time kind of time frame are you planning on ordering these parts?
ASAP

As I posted earlier on, my computer literally went pop so I am now left with the iPhone/iPad!
Ideally I would like to stay away from building it myself as I would more than likely make a mess of it.

Just a quick note regarding graphics cards, I am aiming to get one of the recent GTX ones. Ultimately I'm just after something that will play the likes of BC2, PS2 and COD without any issues.
If the choice in graphics card has a say in my current budget, then I can always settle with the next best thing until I have the chance to replace it with a more up-to-date one.

Excuse my ignorance, I've answered the questions as best I can.

Cheers

[Rbstr]

Ideally I would like to stay away from building it myself as I would more than likely make a mess of it.


It's as easy as putting some legos together. There's no fabrication or delicate work, you're just plugging some stuff into slots and tightening some screws.

$1500 of DIY is usually as good as or better than something ~2k from a company. You'll get a lot out of it.

[Ailos]

As I posted earlier on, my computer literally went pop so I am now left with the iPhone/iPad!
Ideally I would like to stay away from building it myself as I would more than likely make a mess of it.

Just a quick note regarding graphics cards, I am aiming to get one of the recent GTX ones. Ultimately I'm just after something that will play the likes of BC2, PS2 and COD without any issues.
If the choice in graphics card has a say in my current budget, then I can always settle with the next best thing until I have the chance to replace it with a more up-to-date one.

Excuse my ignorance, I've answered the questions as best I can.

Cheers

The only thing from ALienware that fits into your budget is this:
http://www.dell.com/uk/p/alienware-x51/pd?oc=d00and05&model_id=alienware-x51

The processor is OK, but I think you could do better than the GT 545, especially since it only has DDR3 memory, which is much slower than the GDDR5 standard used by most higher-end cards. It probably would run PS2, but don't expect to have a lot of eye candy.

Other pre-built options:
Dell XPS 8500 (http://www.dell.com/uk/p/xps-8500/pd?oc=d00x8503&model_id=xps-8500) - £699
Acer Predator Series (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-Predator-Desktop-i3-2120-Windows/dp/B005ZCX9EM/ref=sr_1_22?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1342473415&sr=1-22) - £599
This dude in a German shed (http://www.amazon.co.uk/GAMING-INTEL-2500K-DDR5-VGA-DVI-HDMI-DirectX-Lizenzkey/dp/B004KE2UW8/ref=sr_1_36?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1342473586&sr=1-36) - £699

Ironically enough, that last one from the dude in a shed is the best one (though still worse than what you could build yourself below). However, none of these builds are overclock-friendly (even the last once, since I have no clue what kind of MB is in there; I suspect that's the cheapo component the guy saved money on). In fact, I find it very amusing that you should expect to get any overclocking done on a sub $1200 pre-built system at all.

For around the same price (OS included), you can build a system yourself, that would feature a much more capable GPU, and much more overclock-friendly MB and CPU:

CPU: i5 2500k
GPU: GTX 570
Mobo: ASRock Z68
RAM: 8 GB DDR3-1600
HD: 2TB
And other usual necessities
PartPicker build (http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/civt)
Total: £722

[Rbstr]

If you're not overclocking you don't need an extra CPU cooler. You're also better off with an Ivy Bridge CPU and certainly don't need a k-series.
Here's my estimation:
http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/ciIB
Price: Parts there (704) + Case (30-46)= in budget
You can save money on the motherboard: There aren't any Z75 motherboards on part picker and I'm not much good with where to buy across the pond. You could use the Z68 motherboard from the previous post as well (That saves you 40. In fact you can use that build in its entirety, just drop the CPU cooler and switch the CPU form the 2500k to the 3550).
As far as the case, that's very personal preference.

[Ailos]

If you're not overclocking you don't need an extra CPU cooler. You're also better off with an Ivy Bridge CPU and certainly don't need a k-series.
Here's my estimation:
http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/ciIB
Price: Parts there (704) + Case (30-46)= in budget
You can save money on the motherboard: There aren't any Z75 motherboards on part picker and I'm not much good with where to buy across the pond. You could use the Z68 motherboard from the previous post as well (That saves you 40. In fact you can use that build in its entirety, just drop the CPU cooler and switch the CPU form the 2500k to the 3550).
As far as the case, that's very personal preference.

I put the 2500K there to entertain his request that the be able to overclock but stay in budget, but I agree with this 100%.

[Rbstr]

I guess...if you're not inclined to put a computer together I wonder about setting someone lose on overclocking.

[Ganymede]

If you don't want to build it yourself here is a gaming PC store front in the UK that seems to have reasonable prices for not building on your own.

Good luck.

http://www.ukgamingcomputers.co.uk/

I read some reviews of course they are self posted by the site but a lot of overall positive feedback..

And don't lean towards Alienware they are a shell of their former corporation now owned by dell and extremely overpriced.

[fb III IX ca IV]

It's as easy as putting some legos together. There's no fabrication or delicate work, you're just plugging some stuff into slots and tightening some screws.

$1500 of DIY is usually as good as or better than something ~2k from a company. You'll get a lot out of it.
You do have to be careful with ESD, and take the proper precautions like using a strap and not wearing a wool sweater and polyester socks while standing on a carpet.

[Ganymede]

It even becomes slightly simple if you do a processor MoBo combo with the two already seated together. The most difficult part for my first build was getting my CPU cooler seated well and mounted. After that, it was cake. As long as you don't do anything to void your manufacturers warranties it can be a good expierence.

[longfire]

dont be afraid of building :p I recently built this pc http://pcpartpicker.com/p/cmBA alone and only read the motherboard instructions for the fan,audio n led connectors xD you dont need a strap for anti static just work on a surface that doesnt have a carpet and occasionally touch metal stuff before handling anything

the builds everyone else recommended are great but heres one thats good and has a new gtx 600 series gfx card and is just a bit over your budget xD http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/cmIq
Just saw my recent build is slighty above your budget as well except i reused dvd drives and hardrives other than the ssd from other computers my family had at home :p and i already had a 64 bit win7 home premium disk sitting unused at home as well. so just a thought :)