Need to upgrade or custom build - Help!

Hey guys, I am mostly 4 or 5 boxing, and having major issues with performance. I have to keep everything on lowest settings, and sometimes even lag at that.

Here is what I currently have:
Asus computer I bought from Best Buy last year
Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q8300 @ 2.50ghz
8.00 GB RAM
64 bit operating system
Geforce 220 1gb
279gb hard disk drive
23" Acer H233H

I am not sure if I should upgrade my video card to the new Geforce 580, or add more ram, or I keep reading about how awesome solid state drives are. I'm not super smart with the intricacies involved in building computers or knowing how to tweak this and that and make it work. I just know my setup is slow now, and I want to make it better. I am considering giving this computer to my girlfriend (since it still can run WoW on ultra just find...1 WoW) as she is my dedicated healer (/score), and either building or buying a new computer.

Can any of you help me out and tell me what you recommend? My girlfriend bought me a 2nd Acer H233H monitor for Christmas, so I was planning on using those, unless you recommend something different/better for performance.

Thanks guys!

Most of the system is on the low side of being able to box as you have found. Getting a new machine is the best way. What do you see as a budget for a system. I would say an i7 rig would be a nice goal as most people have good luck running 5 toons on one. Once you set a price, then you decide if you can build one. If you have replaced RAM or a GPU, then you have the skills needed for the job

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Originally Posted by alcattle

Most of the system is on the low side of being able to box as you have found. Getting a new machine is the best way. What do you see as a budget for a system. I would say an i7 rig would be a nice goal as most people have good luck running 5 toons on one. Once you set a price, then you decide if you can build one. If you have replaced RAM or a GPU, then you have the skills needed for the job

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I'm game for a new system. Let's fantasy build one and see where the pricing comes in at. Would it be best to obviously build it myself rather than buy one already done? I'm semi-noob with computer-stuff so when things break I'm like "uh oh" and less Mr. Fix-it-esque.

Its always significantly cheaper to build it yourself when it comes to computers, unless you break something. Having built dozens of computers in the last decade or so, I've never broken a component, YMMV tho =0. I remember my very first build I didn't know about thermal paste and the default (out of the box) position for the mobo jumpers was to reset the CMOS, and I fucked up the spacers. So at first the comp wouldn't boot, im like wtf, rma'd it rather than take it out and try it on a piece of cardboard to see if the mobo was bad. they sent it back saying it tested fine...I forget how i figured out the CMOS jumper; finally got it booting and it was overheating and resetting like crazy. I forget who explained thermal paste, but that was a major doh. Oh also, my cpu fan was poorly manufactured, and was rubbing the casing, so i had to file that down =p. That computer was an experience=p. But after all that, it had a nice long life, finally something went wrong with the AGP slot and i got psychedelic colors in 3d games randomly, so I retired it =p. Had some fun experiences with matching ram too, lol. But honestly never broken a component, and the only 'additional' cost was the shipping for the manufacturer to test the board. Anyway, the point of the wall of shame was to say you can't possible the as ignorant about builds as I was, and my first build still worked out, yay! On the other hand, one of the out of the box computers i bought had massive heat problems that I believe ended up causing heat damage to every component that eventually caused them to fail. (Except, perhaps, the hard drive... Also would cut off when it got too hot, particularly in 3d games. I believe that build was using one of the first Nvidia 6800 GT'. But again, that computer/those components lasted for a year or 2 before i had any serious failures. )

Fun times. And before everyone makes fun of me for the first computer ignorance, it was a loooong time ago ;p

wrt components, depending on the type of ram you have, you might have to buy new ram as well. Something you can do, if your replacing most of the components, is just buy another case and keep the old one for spillover. (Run a few dps on it.) Win 7 is your friend, also I love my SSD but they are a bit pricey. Also, I couldn't live and function without multiple monitors =p. A intel i7 is also probably the best bet wrt performance.

If you're thinking of a new system.

Probably go something along the lines of an i7 930.
12GB of DDR3 ram (can go 9GB, they go in 3's).
A decent video card, although if your game is wow you don't need anything incredibly special.
A lower end SSD, purely for a gaming folder is a good idea.

Quite a few go with a pair of 24" widescreen monitors.
One for the four slaves and one for the main.
I prefer a 30" widescreen, everything on the one monitor.
But that is a preference call.

Not sure how everything prices out.
You might want a new Tower/Power supply too, so you retain the older system as functional.

win7 64-bit operating system.

Assuming your system is for wow only:


12GB of DDR3 ram (can go 9GB, they go in 3's).


Ya but ram itself is only 1, 2 or 4.


Let me look up if you can go 1G in 3 slots and 2G in 3 slots ... maybe you can ... humm 9G interesting.

Well ya I guess you can.

On the Asus Rampage 3 you have:

On a 6 slot board you have 3 X 2 channel pairs that can take any size DDR3. So if you go 2G on 4 slots and 1G on 2 slots you get 10G BUT only 6G will be triple channel and 4G will be single channel.....

Ya you can get 9G with 4 slots of 2G and 2 slots for 1/2G ....

I always thought they went in three's also maybe the rampage is just odd. Still if you mix sizes seems only the lower total (X6) will be in triple channel mode and the left over in single channel mode.


I would also go with the 30inch single monitor solution for 5 boxing. Hannspree is a good budget 28inch 1920X1200 monitor (I am sure they make larger), and others make higher quality (although I am happy with mine). Oh well you have 2 smaller, thats fine also, use those.

nivida 460 video card will be more then enough and get a solid X58 (or P55) motherboard. And the cheapest intel processor that goes in it. And get cheap ram at low speed 1066.

"Due to Intel Spec DDR3-1600 is supported for ONE DIMM per channel"


DeathWalkers Best Bang for the Buck System:

Asus X58 motherboard:

Sabertooth http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_I...h6J&templete=2

Intel 930 or 920 (cheapest i7)

Nvidia 460 video card (1G minimum)

3 4G rams (12G now and don't waste them if you upgrade to 24G later). 1066 spec.

Revo PCI SSD 50G (a bit small but 500 r/w)

Themaltake Case (I like the shark) and Power Supply (700plus) and heat sink (I like the Typhoon).

Hannspree Monitor (28 plus).



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