Possibly Upgrading System - Need input

[SilentxDeadly]

I'm looking to upgrade my computer, and hopefully have PR run better (along with Arma 2). I need your opinions!! I get severe system hickups when flying around in Muttrah city, or near any buildings. Some maps have great FPS, others hit ~10 fps.


I think this is the place to post this thread, but not sure....

Here's current specs:
Windows XP - 32bit
Processor: AMD Athlon II X4 630 Propus 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor Ram: 4GB DDR3 1600
Mobo: ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
Video Card: PNY RVCGGTX4601XXB GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
Power Supply: 850Watt... Don't know brand offhand

Potential Upgrades:
I'd like to upgrade to Windows 7, either 32bit or 64bit. I'd also put in another 2gb to 4gb of ram if 64bit. I MAY add another video card for SLI.

Questions??
1) Should I upgrade to Windows 7?
2) 32bit or 64bit?
3) Does it work well with PR? Your experience with PR under that particular OS?
Thanks in advance!

[Doc.Pock]

this goes into suppport
edit:
go W7 64x and get 2 more gigs of ram for arma.
dont take another GFX if you intend to stay on arma and PR. if you want to spend money go SSD
edit2:
W7 works great with PR and arma for me plus its a real ease to use

[Gracler]

Yep I use win 7 64bit

It works good with Arma2 and you defensively need 64bit so you can go beyond 4gb of ram.

Didn't see any difference in BF2 PR though since I don't think there is any advantages over Vista or XP....except when your not playing the game of-course

[Lajning]

Put in another extra 4 Gb of ram. 8 is better than 6 and your motherboard might run the modules in dual channel if all Ram-sticks are identical.

[TheComedian]

Most applications don't use more than 3GB of RAM :\

[WhiskeyHotel]

If you want to upgrade something, from what you've already got... just go with a GTX 560.
And I would also recommend Windows 7, Vista is a waste of money.

To answer your questions...
1) Yes
2) 64-Bit
2) Can't say, I play on a calculator, but those specs blow my calculator out of the water and I can still play PR with a frame rate of about 30 on the lowest specs... yeah it's that pothetic, I'm starting my job next month and guess what I'll be building!

[Triggerfinger]

Use the underrated guide I posted a while back ago;

https://www.realitymod.com/forum/f329-h ... uilds.html

[Cassius]

If you upgrade your graficcard PR will run smooth. To run PR maxed out you are looking at a current generation card. I have an HD 5850, If you want to save a couple o bucks you can get the 5830 but its not worth it imo. The 6850 is about the same as the 5850, get the cheaper of the 2. If you want to run it in Full HD maxxed out you might need an 5870.

If it has to be nvidia I suppose the situation is similiar. An entry level current gen graficcard will be fine, but u need better for full HD on maxx.

Everything else is fine and upgrading your cpu, ram or OS wont improve PR in the slightest.

[SilentxDeadly]

Thanks for all the input! I just bought the video card thinking it'd change my game playing, and although it increased my FPS by ~10 for most games, it looks like I'll be looking into another card. Definitely going to upgrade to W7 + 4 more gb ram.


One more question... In my infinite wisdom/stupidity, I bought a HDD that is "eco-friendly" or something along those lines... It's meant to use less power (not that I really care).

I believe it has less RPM than most in it's storage class, could that effect game performance substantially?

[DDS]

Your on to it..

Windows 7 64bit
8GB of Ram

HDD could be a factor. I have all my games / apps on a second HDD

[rushn]

I would upgrade the processor if I where you but yours is fairly new

[Agemman]

Low RPM on the HDD should mostly affect the loading times I think. When you start playing everything is loaded into the RAM I think. SSD would be your best investment at the moment. Grab one with ~100GB and you put Windows 7 64 on it as well as your games. Put your media on the eco-HDD instead.

CPU can be upgraded to Bulldozer if you feel like it. It is not really necessary to be honest. If you want to upgrade your GPU, just buy another 460 and get them in SLI. Someone talked about 5850, don't freaking buy into that. The 5850 is about 12% faster than the 460. And 460 SLI is on average as fast as a GTX580.

Conclusion?

Buy more RAM, SSD and acquire Windows 7 64. In the future you can look at SLI and upgrading to AMD Bulldozer, but it is not necessary now.