What hardware do I need to upgrade? or is there something wrong with my computer?

[BigDoinksInAmish]

COD: Ghosts online is unplayable on the lowest setting.
I can't even play Far Cry: Blood Dragon on the lowest settings in singleplayer mode.
I am so confused as this is my first gaming computer, which I bought all together from a friend.

Here are my specs:

Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU
AMD FX-8350 22 °C
Vishera 32nm Technology
RAM
16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 722MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. M5A97 R2.0 (Socket 942) 36 °C
Graphics
NS-32D20SNA14 (1360x768@60Hz)
1024MB ATI AMD Radeon HD 7450 (XFX Pine Group) 47 °C
Storage
3726GB Seagate ST4000DM 000-1F2168 SATA Disk Device (SATA) 35 °C
7GB SanDisk U3 Cruzer Micro USB Device (USB)
Optical Drives
Optiarc DVD RW AD-7280S SATA CdRom Device
SanDisk U3 Cruzer Micro USB Device
DiscSoft Virtual SCSI CdRom Device
Audio
AMD High Definition Audio Device
PSU
Corsair TX 850

If you could also leave a link to a good replacement for suggested hardware that would be awesome.

[Azza ☠]

Your graphics card isn't at all ideal for gaming purposes...
Get a Nvidia GTX 660 Ti or better for gaming on. It will give you a lot more juice.

Also why is your DDR3 memory only running at 722MHz? Check that you motherboard drivers / chipset, etc, are installed correctly. Then go under your BIOS (F2 upon startup or whatever it is for your motherboard), check the advance memory settings.

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

No wonder, HD 7450 is very weak graphics card.
Get R9 270X or R9 280X graphics card.
You didnt list your PSU, you need 550-650W PSU with two 6+2 pin PCI-E connectors for those cards and FX-8350.

[BigDoinksInAmish]

Thanks Azza and Rumpelcrutchskin for the responses.
Azza how do I check that they are correctly installed?
Rumpelcrutchskin is there anyway you can check the PSU without removing the cover on my tower?
Sorry guys I know I may be asking stupid questions but I am completely new to this! :P

also I am willing to spend up to $350 (canadian) on a new graphics card. What is the best bang for my buck?

[BigDoinksInAmish]

I just checked my PSU and it is a Corsair TX 850.... is that good or bad? :/

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

jayjones13 eredeti hozzászólása:

also I am willing to spend up to $350 (canadian) on a new graphics card. What is the best bang for my buck?

http://www.ncix.com/detail/xfx-radeon-r9-280x-black-45-94151-1060.htm?affiliateid=7474144

No way really checking the PSU without taking a look, check for label on the PSU or brand name, or you could ask your friend who sold it to you if you trust him.
Also need to measure the lenght of graphics card at the motherboard PCI-E slot if the card would fit. This card I linked is 11.61" long.

If you need new PSU too then R9 280 and XFX 650W PSU:
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/XNmGbv

This card is same lenght.

[shiel]

A 770 or r9 280x preferably from Asus or evga. Look on newegg.ca... You will most likely need a new psu for one of those. Our you could go with a card with a small power draw like a 750.
Maybe avoid Asus with the 280x... seems to have a lot of issues after taking a look at some reviews.

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

jayjones13 eredeti hozzászólása:

I just checked my PSU and it is a Corsair TX 850.... is that good or bad? :/

Thats very good, you can use the R9 280X if you have enough room inside case for 11.61" long card.

http://www.ncix.com/detail/xfx-radeon-r9-280x-black-45-94151-1060.htm?affiliateid=7474144

[BigDoinksInAmish]

is there anyway i can send you a picture of the inside of my computer on this forum?

because i don't think i have a big enough slot for that graphics card

it may squeeze in there :S

[shiel]

Sometimes you can remove the lower hdd cage to fit longer cards. Do you know what case you have?

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

jayjones13 eredeti hozzászólása:

is there anyway i can send you a picture of the inside of my computer on this forum?

because i don't think i have a big enough slot for that graphics card

Take a measuring tape or ruler and measure if you have 11.61" free room inside case at the place of main PCI-E slot, long slot closest to CPU.

[BigDoinksInAmish]

ibuypower i-series 301 i think

ok yeah i think i can fit it in! with the HDD cage still intact :D.
Is there anything else I would need to alter to make it a higher end gaming computer?

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

There is also shorter R9 280X card, 10.6".

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127759

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

jayjones13 eredeti hozzászólása:

Is there anything else I would need to alter to make it a higher end gaming computer?

Not really, your horrible graphics card was holding you back. Should be no problem running pretty much any game with ultra settings on one 1920x1080 monitor with this PC and R9 280X.

[BigDoinksInAmish]

wow I thought I bought a piece of garbage lol! ... I got it for 500 canadian dollars so instantly thought it must have been terrible!

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

jayjones13 eredeti hozzászólása:

wow I thought I bought a piece of garbage lol! ... I got it for 500 canadian dollars so instantly thought it must have been terrible!

Appart from horrible HD 7450 graphics card it has quite good specs, well worth $500.
Decent CPU for gaming, 16 Gb RAM, decent quality motherboard, good quality large PSU, large HDD.