Upgrading CPU/OS/RAM for more FPS, need help

[juju]

My current computer is only getting 10-12 FPS in rift (new mmo coming out) with all settings low while running three wow/GB and the wow video settings are the lowest possible, and playing in 600x800, even though I recently upgraded my GPU and PSU, thinking it'd solve my FPS problems but it didn't. I'm still getting crappy FPS even with the lowest possible settings.

My current GPU (just bought it last week): Newegg.com - EVGA 01G-P3-1366-TR GeForce GTX 460 SE (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

My Motherboard (it is rev/PCB 1.01G): ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS M3A78-CM

My current CPU: Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core black edition Processor AD775ZWCGHBOX

My PSU (just bought last week): Newegg.com - RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-730SS 730W ATX12V V2.2/ EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Modular LED Power Supply

4GB of Ram (2x 2GB sticks): Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ

I'm running windows XP 32 SP3 32 bit

I'm thinking of upgrading to windows 7 premium 64bit and buying 4 more GB of ram, along with buying a this CPU:

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX



The question is, will my motherboard support that CPU,run a 64bit operating system, and support 8 total GB of RAM?

and will this improve my FPS from 7-8 FPS while playing rift and running GB if I upgrade to 64bit windows 7, and get that new CPU I linked enough to be worth the money I'm spending? (i'm looking for at least 25fps with middle settings while playing right and running wow/gb in the background)

will my motherboard support that CPU and run a 64bit operating system?

I know these are a lot of questions but I want to be sure before I spend $350 to upgrade my system on top of the $230 I've already spent, and I want to be sure everything will work right. Thank you for any help you can provide, I really appreciate it.

 

[echelon17]

The question is, will my motherboard support that CPU,run a 64bit operating system, and support 8 total GB of RAM?

No. Your motherboard does not support Socket AM3 - which the new processor you've linked is. AM2 is very old now, and you'll likely need to upgrade your motherboard and RAM at the same time to upgrade your CPU.

Take a look at motherboard, CPU and RAM bundles to make your life easier.

and will this improve my FPS from 7-8 FPS while playing rift and running GB if I upgrade to 64bit windows 7, and get that new CPU I linked enough to be worth the money I'm spending? (i'm looking for at least 25fps with middle settings while playing right and running wow/gb in the background)

If I'm honest, no, the rig you've quoted will likely not be enough. You need more processing power - something like a quad core would suit you best, since Rift and WoW are optimised for dual core, they can both use 2 cores each.

WoW is far more CPU demanding than GPU intensive. Rift is pretty much the opposite, so you're in a catch 22. The GTX 460 is a reasonable card and should give you far more FPS in Rift with more CPU power behind it.

will my motherboard support that CPU and run a 64bit operating system?

No, it won't support that CPU.

For the record, you currently have 4GB RAM but you will only be using a maximum of 3GB. Only 64 bit Windows supports 4GB+.

 

[LifeCycle]

You can basicly build a whole new computer for less than 250, seeing as you already have the GFX card. Look around, some really cheap AM3 motherboards out there, and some nice CPU's to boot! Overclock them a bit and you'll have yourself a really good thrifty rig.

 

[juju]

No. Your motherboard does not support Socket AM3 - which the new processor you've linked is. AM2 is very old now, and you'll likely need to upgrade your motherboard and RAM at the same time to upgrade your CPU.

Take a look at motherboard, CPU and RAM bundles to make your life easier.


If I'm honest, no, the rig you've quoted will likely not be enough. You need more processing power - something like a quad core would suit you best, since Rift and WoW are optimised for dual core, they can both use 2 cores each.

WoW is far more CPU demanding than GPU intensive. Rift is pretty much the opposite, so you're in a catch 22. The GTX 460 is a reasonable card and should give you far more FPS in Rift with more CPU power behind it.


No, it won't support that CPU.

For the record, you currently have 4GB RAM but you will only be using a maximum of 3GB. Only 64 bit Windows supports 4GB+.

I just read some more on the asus website and on the cpu support page it lists the am3 CPU I want as supported with my current motherboard with a bios upgrade. So now I'm pretty sure the CPU will work. I just need to know if my mobo will support windows 7 64bit and if itll support 8GB of ram.

If I did upgrade my mobo/cpu/ram, what bundle would you suggest that is around 300-400 price range that would work with my PSU, GPU, and tower case thingie?

 

[morggue]

In my opinion for $300 this is the absolute best bundle you can buy. Will out-perform your old rig by triple.
ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 Motherboard and AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Quad Core Processor Bundle at TigerDirect.com
Just throw in the same memory u already have and you should be goos. Although 8gb is probably more than you need and you will be fine with your current 4gb.

Hope that helps! I just upgraded my unit and i was looking at this exact same combo in the fall. However i just upgraded last month and with the release of the new Crosshair IV mobo and the 1090T BE i went with that instead. A little on the pricey side though and i think in all honesty with some tweaking i could have gotten more than enough with the above rig. So if i would say stick with ^^^^^^ that!

 

[juju]

In my opinion for $300 this is the absolute best bundle you can buy. Will out-perform your old rig by triple.
ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 Motherboard and AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Quad Core Processor Bundle at TigerDirect.com
Just throw in the same memory u already have and you should be goos. Although 8gb is probably more than you need and you will be fine with your current 4gb.

Hope that helps! I just upgraded my unit and i was looking at this exact same combo in the fall. However i just upgraded last month and with the release of the new Crosshair IV mobo and the 1090T BE i went with that instead. A little on the pricey side though and i think in all honesty with some tweaking i could have gotten more than enough with the above rig. So if i would say stick with ^^^^^^ that!

While I do agree that the CPU upgrade will help a lot, is the $150 dollars spent on Newegg.com - ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard really that big of an upgrade from Newegg.com - ASUS M3A78-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780V Micro ATX AMD Motherboard ?

What am I getting from upgrading to that 150 dollar motherboard that I don't get from the motherboard I already have? My current motherboard will work with that phantom II 965 3.4ghz CPU just fine with a bios upgrade. I'm not trying to be a smartass, I just am not familiar with motherboards and don't know what benefit I'd get to dropping 150 dollars on an upgrade that I don't know what'll do for my system.

 

[morggue]

the one you have is decent but will shortly be very outdated since everything is AM3 now and also it will not support the 965 BE (See here: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS M3A78 then click on cpu support list). it will support all the x4 core up to the 955 though if you dont mind those which there should be nothing wrong with. I was simply showing you the best bundle in the 300-400 dollar range you asked for ! Regardless you should be fine with what you have if you simply up your memory. WOW is very memory based and i would say boost that first and save the money on everything else and see how much that helps you and if it doesnt then start upgrading one piece at a time

EDIT: It shows that it supports the new x6 cores and even the 1090T x6 so i see no reason it shouldnt support the 965 BE even though its not listed. So scratch the first part but still the last segment is what you should do

 

[juju]

the one you have is decent but will shortly be very outdated since everything is AM3 now and also it will not support the 965 BE (See here: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS M3A78 then click on cpu support list). it will support all the x4 core up to the 955 though if you dont mind those which there should be nothing wrong with. I was simply showing you the best bundle in the 300-400 dollar range you asked for ! Regardless you should be fine with what you have if you simply up your memory. WOW is very memory based and i would say boost that first and save the money on everything else and see how much that helps you and if it doesnt then start upgrading one piece at a time

EDIT: It shows that it supports the new x6 cores and even the 1090T x6 so i see no reason it shouldnt support the 965 BE even though its not listed. So scratch the first part but still the last segment is what you should do

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS M3A78-CM

That is my motherboard, not the M3A78. Isn't the phantom II 965 BE listed as supported? Where did you get that other one from?

My current mother board looks like it supports all the AM3 CPU's with a bios upgrade (and i've already upgraded it to the latest bios) what I'm trying to ask is what do I gain from upgrading to the one you linked? Like I said I don't know much about motherboards some I'm wondering what I'll benefit from spending 150 dollars on http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...3131631&cm_re=M4A89GTD-_-13-131-631-_-Product Will I get more FPS or a faster computer. Like you measure cpu's by the speed and how many cores, you measure memory by gb's. I don't know how you measure motherboards.

 

[scullin6]

Asus m3a78-cm

Funny, I own a nearly identical rig. My cpu was a athlon 2x64 5200. Your mobo (with bios flashed) will work very well. I went with the phenom II 955 black and it works flawlessly. I also chose to go to win 7 at the same time I also picked the same gpu--go new egg! I recomend installingall new components before windows 7. Yes that will involve a lot of reinstalling but a clean install will also get rid of all the old drivers that can later cause issues. just my opinion.

 

[lostsk8r]

My bot computer is running a 2.6 duo core with 6gig ddr2, and an HD 4870 card.. I run 5 on it and it gets about 50-60% cpu usage, I was thinking of moving to 9 bots but I think I'd have to upgrade, what should I look at upgrading? into a quad core? i5? 8gig ddr2? my video card should be fine, I'm thinking the CPU but would a quad core be enough to hold 9 or will I have to go for an i chip?

Not sure if I'd have to upgrade my mobo for a quad, but let's say I didnt, if I just got the quad would it handle it? If I have to upgrade mobo I might as well shoot for an i5 or so, since I'd be buyign a new MOBO, but would I have to get ddr3 ram then?