So I have a three / four year old computer.
Specs when I got it.
AMD 64 3700+ San Diego build socket 939
1 gig Corsair ram
MSI K8N Neo4 Motherboard
Sapphire X800 256 ultimate
Anyways, up until Bioshock, I could play anything released. Hell, even with the right cracks I could play Bioshock no problem.
So for Christmas I replaced my video card with a Radeon HD 3870 512. My motherboard is old enough that it predates Crossfire/SLI technology.
According to the Crysis benchmark software I'm averaging 34 FPS on medium settings at 1024-768.
So I have a three and a half year old computer with a $200 upgrade playing the current "system killer" just fine. The only thing I'm even looking at upgrading is my ram just to make system processes run a little better.
My only dilemma with this is that I have 4 slots, with 2 of them being used at 512. What I wanted to do was replace the current ram with simply 2 1gig pieces of Corsair XMS so that I could transfer them into a new machine when I finally did upgrade. Well, my motherboard only accepts 184 pin ram, which is still available. I just simply can't find a newer motherboard that accepts anything below 240 pin ram. So in order to get newer ram I have to upgrade the motherboard, which means I also have to upgrade the CPU, which comes to a grand total of a lot more money than I'm willing to spend in upgrades when I really don't need them.
So I think my solution is to spend around $50 on the final two ram slots at 512. I'll feel a lot better about spending $50 and essentially throwing/giving it away later, than I would with $120+ ram.
I'm getting a little bit off topic.
My system at current prices...
Motherboard: $116.55
http://www.eworldsale.com/msi-k8n-neo4-platinum-nvidia-nforce4-ultra-chipset-serial-ata150-atx-form_5753_2111.html
Processor: $80 (couldn't find it new)
http://www.bizrate.com/cpus_computerprocessorupgrades/amd-athlon-64-3700-2.2-ghz-cpu--pid320026397/compareprices__keyword--amd+64+3700.html
Ram: $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145440
Power Supply: $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371004
Single Graphics Card: $249.99 (price has actually gone up. I paid $210 for mine)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102713
Grand total of $556.52 for a Crysis capable PC provided you didn't buy a CPU, ram, power supply, or motherboard in the last 3 or 4 years...
Overhype much? |