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View Full Version : Cheap PC Upgrade for Home and Modest Gaming



Alkanlover
08-28-2009, 11:39 PM
My gaming is limited to Civ IV and MS Flight Simulator; Storage and PhotoShop
Digital and Scanning Old Pictures/Slides. Netsurfing and general use at home.

Keep: old Micron Millenia Tower Case (25x16x7.5), room for 6x3.5" drives; full ATX Motherboard. Keep old Enermax EG365P-VE PS (Two Fans) one 6-pin PWR.

New: Motherboard Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P (Intel)
VideoCard Radeon HD4850 1GB PCI Express
CPU Intel Core Duo E8400
Memory 4GB G.Skill DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
HD WD Caviar Black 7200rpm 1TB SATA
Samsung 22X DVD/R Burner SATA
Zalman CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
Sound Card CSSB X-Fi ExtremeGamer7.1Channels PCI
TOTAL COST ABOUT $713 I have mouse and speakers.

Questions: Parts above suggested by SuperPC and Anand Tech;
1) Is my old Enermax PS (350Watts) enough to run system?
2) Will I be able to OC my CPU?
3) I plan to someday upgrade to i5 or i7 and get new motherboard
and PS at that time; possibly another HD4850 in dual mode.
4) Any thoughts about how the old tower case might bite me?

I would really appreciate any comments, haven't built in a long time!!:

RickyTick
08-29-2009, 12:58 AM
Flight Sim is known for being very demanding on cpu and gpu. I you play it a lot, then you might consider a better video card like the 4870 or 4890. Not saying that you can't play it with a 4850, just that the others are better.

I might consider forgoing the cpu cooler and sound card, and putting that money towards a better psu and maybe a new case. The E8400 will come with an adequate cooler and on-board sound is very good these days. Just a thought. If you want to overclock the cpu later down the road, then you could spring for a cpu cooler then.