Upgrades needed for BF3?

[WinterSparkplug]

Hi, I'm a newbie here on the forum, so I apologize if it is in the wrong place. Moderators, please feel free to move this to the appropriate section if it is in the incorrect place. Over the last few years, I've had a gateway FX6800-010e running all of my PC games with no problems whatsoever.

Well... during the BF3 beta, I ran into some problems associated with the game eating up a huge portion of my RAM (92-95 percent on average) over the course of the game. I also encountered a blue screen of death which I think was associate with my graphics card.

I currently have the game for Xbox, and I know the game is more than 10 fold better for PC, which is killing me.

The system is pretty much stock, other than the monitor, which I forget the model on currently. I can post about it after I get home from class this evening.

Any suggestions on what upgrades to make to run BF3? Sorry about the mess in quotes, but I had to cut/paste it in a hurry.

Processor Intel® Core™ i7-920 Processor1 (2.66GHz Quad-Core w/ Intel® Hyper-Threading & Turbo Speed Technology)9

Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (64-bit) with SP1

Memory 3072MB DDR3 1066MHz Three Channel Memory (3-1024MB modules)10

Chassis Premium Tower Desktop with Media Control Interface with a Stunning Jet-Black Finish and Copper Metallic Accents

Video ATI Radeon™ HD 4850 with 512MB Discrete Video Memory (Ports: 2x DVI-I, S-Video includes DVI-HDMI & DVI-VGA Dongles)10

Hard Drive 750GB 7200rpm Serial ATA II/300 hard drive with 16MB Cache5

Application Software Microsoft® Works 9.0, Microsoft® Money Essentials & Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 (60-day complimentary trial period)4

Audio 8-Channel (7.1) HD Audio

Available Expansion Slots Available: 1 - PCI-E x16, 1 - PCI-E x4 & 0 - PCI x1

Backup Media Cyberlink® Power 2 Go

Dimensions (Box) 11.7" (H) x 20" (W) x 24" (D) or 297mm (H) x 508mm (W) x 610mm (D)

Dimensions (System) 18" (H) x 11.7" (W) x 7.5" (D) or 465mm (H) x 297mm (W) x 191mm (D)

External Ports (8) USB 2.0 ports (2 Front, 6 Rear), 2-IEEE 1394a Ports (1 Front, 1 Rear), 2- eSATA Port, (2) PS/2 Ports

Keyboard Premium Multimedia Keyboard

Media Card Reader Gateway® 15-in-1 media card reader with copy button

Memory Capacity Expandable to 16GB (6 Slots Total, 3 Slots Available)

Modem 56k ITU v.92 ready Fax/Modem (RJ-11 port)

Motherboard Systemboard with Intel® X58 Chipset

Mouse USB Optical 2-button Wheel Mouse

Network Intel® 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)

Optical Drive 18X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive featuring Labelflash™ Technology8

Power Supply 500W Power Supply11

Security Software Norton 360 All-in-One Security™ 2008 (60-day trial)7

Speakers Amplified Stereo Speakers (USB Powered)

Warranty 1 Year Parts and Labor Limited Warranty12

Weights 37.2 lbs. (16.9 kg) system unit only / Approximately 31.13 lbs. (14.2 kg.) box

 

[Lollipop]

Well i would get 3x2gb of RAM a new gfx card and a 650w quality PSU

 

[WinterSparkplug]

Well i would get 3x2gb of RAM a new gfx card and a 650w quality PSU

Any suggestions on which gfx card? I figured the other two, but I'm at a bit of a loss on where to upgrade video/gfx.

 

[Lollipop]

Any suggestions on which gfx card? I figured the other two, but I'm at a bit of a loss on where to upgrade video/gfx.

Budget? I would suggest a 560/560ti/570

 

[WinterSparkplug]

Budget? I would suggest a 560/560ti/570

Budget is whatever lasts me 2 years with no upgrades. Looking more into the long term with this, but something proven and reliable at the same time. I don't like being a guinea pig.

BTW, thanks so much for the quick responses!

Edit: I know Nvidia is typically a better gaming video/gfx card, I'm thinking I'm better off with AMD because that is what my computer currently has. Would there be a problem mixing the two companies? My engineering background tells me no, but I'd rather play it on the safe side.

 

[J0s3e]

To last 2 years, GTX 590. To be able to play anything now, GTX 580, and add another one later.

 

[S_I_N]

look at it this way since ur gaming you want it as real as it can be right??? Go Nvidia and dont look back. Its simples Nvidia has Physics AMD doesnt. Physics is the extra eye candy the game has in it like smoke billowing around after a motar hit. Having played games with both brands I see what I was missing before. There is no way in hell anybody playing without it can say AMD wins. Also for BF3 I'm playing on a 570HD by EVGA and it plays super smooth. I need to re-install Afterburner and see what my actual FPS is but I assure you from the fluidity I feel while playing its pushing the 60+ range with physics on its like being there mate

 

[Lollipop]

Well honestly if you can afford it buy a 580, if not look at the 570

And no it doesn't matter if you choose a nvid card

 

[yassarikhan786]

If you want a 580, the Gigabyte Super Overclocked version Tom reviewed recently is probably the fastest 580 out there and is a lot faster in some games than the reference 580's. I have one myself and it is awesome

.

 

[WinterSparkplug]

Thanks again guys.

So, in order, upgrades needed:

1. 650w power supply (should have done this long ago)

2. 3x1 or 3x2 gb RAM

3. 570/580

Correct?

 

[hmmblah]

Thanks again guys.

So, in order, upgrades needed:

1. 650w power supply (should have done this long ago)

2. 3x1 or 3x2 gb RAM

3. 570/580

Correct?

I'd go for a beefier power supply with that system. Minimum I'd go is a single rail quality 750w (Corsair) if you are going with a 580 especially if you ever plan on overclocking.

 

[Lollipop]

Thanks again guys.

So, in order, upgrades needed:

1. 650w power supply (should have done this long ago)

2. 3x1 or 3x2 gb RAM

3. 570/580

Correct?

I'd go for a beefier power supply with that system. Minimum I'd go is a single rail quality 750w (Corsair) if you are going with a 580 especially if you ever plan on overclocking.

Not true

But atleast it gives an excuse to buy an AX750

 

[hmmblah]

Not true

But atleast it gives an excuse to buy an AX750

Minimum requirements on a 580 is 600w with 42? Amp on the 12v rail. Personally, I like some headroom, especially if I'm over clocking. How is what I said not true? If you're going to discredit me, at least back it up with some proof. If I'm wrong I'd really like to know why.

 

[S_I_N]

cant +1 a mod

but I agree with ya Bro. To long have some of our members been saying you can get away with less when more is needed. Just because one or two of our members have been lucky enough to get by with less does not mean it will work for everyone. Hell those that are doing it prolly def so they dont hear the psu screaming loudly. Minimum specs should not be taken lightly when they say minimum its assuming you are not overclocking anything and that you prolly dont have more than the average person has in a comp (meaning one cd/dvd drive and one HDD) in addition to a gpu and cpu and a couple miniscule fans. We here are the exception to that rule from what I have witnessed. We need MOAR POWER!!! to do what we do. So as said in many thousands of posts prior to a certain few members saying different) Do Not Ever skimp on the poewer supply unit. Plus running a psu outside of its efficiency range is just asking for it to expire sooner than lasting longer not to mention what it can take out with it if it does go POP !!! search it out there are some that had psu's go boom and lost more than the psu. Not saying those were less canidates as I cant recall just a warning a psu can take out more with it.

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

750w Fatal1ty/ AX750 or equivilant,

6870x2/ 5870 CF/ 5970/ 470 SLI/ 460 TriSLI/ 570/ 560Ti SLI/ 580 SOC (best choice IMO),

Any 2400Mhz 4GB DIMMs but if you aren't too fussed for major speed then Ripjaws are a good choice right now

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

cant +1 a mod

but I agree with ya Bro. To long have some of our members been saying you can get away with less when more is needed. Just because one or two of our members have been lucky enough to get by with less does not mean it will work for everyone. Hell those that are doing it prolly def so they dont hear the psu screaming loudly. Minimum specs should not be taken lightly when they say minimum its assuming you are not overclocking anything and that you prolly dont have more than the average person has in a comp (meaning one cd/dvd drive and one HDD) in addition to a gpu and cpu and a couple miniscule fans. We here are the exception to that rule from what I have witnessed. We need MOAR POWER!!! to do what we do. So as said in many thousands of posts prior to a certain few members saying different) Do Not Ever skimp on the poewer supply unit....

My last unit was a 450w Chineese abomination and departed shinobi style

 

[S_I_N]

750watter for single gpu 850min for dual gpu's

 

[Lollipop]

Minimum requirements on a 580 is 600w with 42? Amp on the 12v rail. Personally, I like some headroom, especially if I'm over clocking. How is what I said not true? If you're going to discredit me, at least back it up with some proof. If I'm wrong I'd really like to know why.

Sorry, i misread that i thought you said he NEEDED a 750

 

[WinterSparkplug]

Thanks for the additional responses guys. Would I really need more cooling though if I'm just introducing a new GPU, PSU, and more RAM? I wouldn't figure they would induce THAT much heating, but granted I don't want to play electrical engineer with my system.

It looks like my upgrades are going to be held off for a little bit though, had my dog's vet bill eat up my budget a bit. Looking probably by the end of November now to make the upgrades.

Playing BF3 on Xbox360 is fricken killing me... the explosions look like M80s going off, and the people look plastic.

 

[Contortion]

750watter for single gpu 850min for dual gpu's

+1. Gives you some headroom. And also, they've really turned down the graphics in the retail release since beta. I used to get really low FPS on Ultra settings (45FPS approx.) now i can get in the 50s most of the time. 570 should do you well then, if you've had your budget cut and maybe you'll have to get a 650W.