PC Upgrade for rFactor2

Recommended specs are this:

CPU: 3.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or 3.0 GHz AMD Athlon II x2 or better
Memory: 4 GB+
Video Card: nVidia 250 GTS or ATI/AMD 4870 or better
Video Memory: 512MB+
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista 64bit, Windows 7 64bit
Storage: 4 GB+

I currently have:

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+ 3.00 GHz
Memory: 2 GB+
Video Card: NVidia GeForce 8800 GT
Video Memory: 512MB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP
Storage: Heaps.

What would you guys recommend I focus on? Was hoping the processor would suffice, so am thinking at least the graphics card and I should probably upgrade to Windows 7 (anybody got a "backup"? )

Edit: Ha. how long since I bought memory. 1 Gb Kingston DDR2 stick only $17.00 http://msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=5397) Should I be installing DDR3 memory now? I notice that is only $14.00 for a 2Gb stick of Kingston DDR3 RAM.

well for GPU id say go either a nvidia GTX560 or ATI 6950 (amd new gpu's the 7000 series are coming out soon within the first quarter this year i believe. i could track down more info if you want). Those cards arent too expensive and are damn good, i know alot of people who have gotten the 560's and are loving them.

as for the rest, if your case is fine id do mobo/cpu and ram upgrade. get something like a i7 2500k (min) with a z68 mobo from whoever (gigabyte or asus) and 8gig ram

i7 2500k - are around $230 max, can get them from about $215 up from my quick look.
gigabyte mobo say something like the GA-Z68X-UD3-B3 - $134
ram G Skill 8G(2x4G) DDR3 1600Mhz PC12800 RL 9-9-9-24(CL9D-8GBRL) - $68.00
or you could go G Skill 8G(2x4G)DDR3 1600Mhz PC12800(CL9D-8GBSR2) - $59.00
video - Gigabyte GTX560 Super OC 900Mhz DDR5 1GB HDMI PCIE $215.00

and if you dont have win7 - Microsoft Windows 7 Pro 64bit OEM(Microsoft OEM Terms&condition apply) $127.00

total = $759

if you want to keep using your current cpu and mobo let me know what your mobo is and ill have a look at ram upgrade

Thanks very much Ulti. Current Mobo is an Asus M3A.

That is an old mobo

mobo does support up to 8gig of ddr2 1066mhz. So for ram something like the G.skill 4gig kit -

G.Skill DDR2 4G(2x2G)PC8500 1066Mhz Heatspreader(F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK) $79.00

would work and give you a boost and as i mentioned before the GTX560 cards are damn good for their price.

Do you think I would get away with the current MOBO/CPU for a while, or think they would be too much of a bottleneck and negate the RAM and GPU upgrade?

yeah if you do a ram and graphic's card update your cpu will be the bottle neck but the ram obviously isnt the fastest but it would do the job fine. But if you can afford $700-800 might as well do cpu/mobo/ram/graphics. Is the case you have big enough? and what of the power supply?

FMD!!! I just realised I built this system in August 2002!! I thought it was only about 3-4 years ago

Think I might have to look at replacing everything Ulti. The case is "Antec Sonata III MiniTower Case - Piano Black with 500W PSU".

LOL 2002 damn that thing is old. So what do you want to do? build new pc yourself or get a pre-built rig?

Not sure yet, still in shock. It still runs really well, and is even running rF2 fairly well on High settings. I hate wasting stuff, so what do i do with my PC??

up to you really. keep it, sell it, use it as a backup/storage machine. your choice

Lucky to get a couple of hundred bucks for it, have a NAS for backup/storage, and don't live on a hill so nothing needed behind the wheels Do need a pc in the garage though for the rowing machine software.

Am going to start looking at pre-built units vs DOY build again. The CFO has given approval to "buy whatever you want"

haha cool well let me know if you want me to have a look at any pre-built machines.

Umart have something like this:

Product Description:
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T - 3.2GHz
ASUS M5A97 AMD970 Motherboard
8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600Mhz Kingston HyperX
1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 7200RPM SataII Hard Disk
Samsung 22x DVD-Burner
Gainward GXT570 1280MB GPU
Coolermaster Centurion 5 II RC-502-KWN1 Case
Coolermaster 800w Silent Pro Gold
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit OEM
1 Year Return To Base Warranty

If you get bored, and want something to do, see what pre-built systems you can find in Melbourne that you would recommend

do you have the link for that one?

NVM found it

What would you upgrade on this base system? http://www.scorptec.com.au/system/159?

I upgraded to 8 Mb RAM and added an Operating system.

Once I have a pre-built system in mind, I will see what I can buy the individual components for. If the difference is only about $200-$300 I will seriously think about just buying it pre-built. If it is more I will just build it again myself. Only reason I am hesitant about building another one is because I can't be stuffed mucking around with drivers etc, and the problems that are always associated with them

Have you run rF2 yet Ulti? You have dual GPUs don't you? Should I be going down that path too?

so here are a few system/websites to check out

umart:
http://umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=78&bid=7&sid=83946
http://umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=78&bid=7&sid=83849
http://umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=78&bid=7&sid=83824

Scroptech: have heard of them but ive never used them. check out the intel ones from 1k to 1.5k
http://www.scorptec.com.au/systems/all/

will have a look later at more.

im not a big fan of using amd's at the moment, intel cpu's are alot more powerful (they have been for a few years now). Thats just my opinion, nothing wrong with them in terms of quality just the intels are more powerful. Id say out of the scorptech ones id look at these -

Redback Gold - upgrade the following
cpu to i7 2500
ram to 8gig
window OS added
maybe upgrade vid card

Redback Platinum - just add OS

Gamer - again just needs OS

Or Umart Pre-built Intel Gamer one

here are some benchmark sites to look at

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

if you rather stick with amd thats cool, ill have a look at some of those if you like

I can't find that system in the Umart site anymore Ulti. I should have written down the price. the parts total comes to about $1300.00, but can't remember what their price was.

Happy to look at Intel CPUs, just a habit buying AMDs.

Appreciate your help Ulti, I hate spending money unless I am absolutely sure of what I am buying. Just spent about $4000 on a bicycle, and spent weeks on the net researching them, then doing test rides, and with a lot of help from GT...remember him?

Edit: With that "Gamer" one ($1449) from Scorptec, I put together the price list, and to buy the parts from them would be about $1400

Which of these ones would you think better Ulti?

http://umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=78&bid=7&sid=83946
http://umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=78&bid=7&sid=83849

I would go with the i7 BM

I have an i7 & like you was a big AMD person.

But the power of Intel as Ulti said is just too good.

Good to see the CFO has provided funding.

out of those 2 id go with the Extreme. Reason being is that it will last you longer, has better cpu and more ram, the motherboard (which is either gigabyte or asus) are better quality brand than the AsRock

Thanks Ulti. I am moreso leaning towards buying the parts and building it myself now, saves waiting for them to put it together. Will see if I can buy the same parts from them. Not sure I like that case though, and it doesn't mention a cooler.

And don't cheer too much about the CFO approving funding Willy, it means our overnight accommodation rate has to be increased

the extreme will have a cooler, just not an aftermarket one like the other one. Yeah you know you want to build it yourself you can do it cheaper than what they price them for or get different parts

Yep, did alright building my last one.

Intel Core i7 2700K CPU - 3.5GHz - keep
Gigabyte / Asus Z68 Motherboard - keep
16GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM - do I need 16 Gb?
1TB 7200RPM SATA3 Hard Disk - keep
12x BluRay Burner - will change
ATI HD6970 2GB PCI-E GPU - is this a good card? Happy to keep it.
Antec Three Hundred Tower Case - blah, horrible case (but happy to save money on case and spend on GPU or something)
CoolerMaster 650W GX PSU - will 650W be enough, or should I go 750W or more?

Also will need a cooler as mentioned

Are you working today? Don't want to take up your time if you are.

yeah im working but its alright, ill just keep checking thoughout the day

16gig ram these days cost next to nothing. like $130 for it. nothing wrong with that card it is ati's highest single GPU card but if you prefer the nvidia the GTX570 is its competitor.

with the cooler, the cpu will come with one just not an aftermarket one. up to you if you want one or not. they do increase cooling of the cpu. look at zalman ones, just make sure they will fit your cpu socket.

Thanks mate. I did need a bigger CPU cooler in QLD, but might not need one here in Melbourne, plus the pc will be in a downstairs room of a 2 storey house, soe even if it is hot in Melbourne (I hear you laugh), it doesn't get hot in my home office.