PC Gaming help
PC Gaming help
Hello,
I am what one may call "a boomer" and therefore lack ANY knowledge of electronics.
But, due to this whole COVID situation I've really been needing help with my computer, which I find myself using more and more everyday. Particularly, I've been playing a lot of computer games. I bought computer 3 or 4 years ago now, and didn't really care when it lagged because I didn't really use it. But now that I'm stuck inside, I wanted to ask the people who are good with computers this question: what should I upgrade on my PC? I have a very, very loose understanding of basic computer parts, and my parts seem to be okay, yet all my games seen to run relatively slow.
I'm just wondering what's gating my speed, and what part / parts is most effecient to upgrade.
Thank you.
These are my parts:
(Attach doesn't work, using lightshot even though links are not advised...)
https://prnt.sc/saxtrl
https://prnt.sc/saxmn2
Please reply if you need to see more parts of my computer. Thanks.
p.s I saw that some threads similar might be formatted, but those threads seem to be made by people who know what they are talking about and specifically what parts they need, I lack both. If necessary, I will reformat this thread. Thank you.
“This Dell XPS 8910 is a prebuilt system, often designed to limit upgrades. Dell typically prefers selling new computers rather than individual parts. Upgrading components like the hard drive can be challenging due to design choices intended for longevity rather than frequent modifications. Traditional hard drives use spinning platters and moving arms – mechanical limitations that restrict speed. HDDs might transfer data at around 50 megabytes per second, while Solid State Drives (SSDs) offer significantly faster speeds, exceeding 500 megabytes per second due to their digital storage and lack of moving parts.”
Hi, always good to meet someone who is getting into gaming, you have a long a fun road ahead of you.
So a couple of things, what you have there is a 4 core 4 thread processor, to be fair nowadays they are not going to be able to handle the latest and greatest games, there are many older titles you will be able to play just fine but if you want to play the latest and greatest 8 core 16 threads is the new standard , so you would need an upgrade, sticking to older games though and there are still thousands to choose from
Do you know if you have a graphics card in the system? It handles the processing for the graphics of the videogame and without one you would struggle to play anything really
Also and this is the most important thing, what kinds of games do you want to play? it is going to be the most important factor in determining what kind of machine you will need
I think my graphics card is a "GTX 1070".
Right now I play mostly Paradox titles (company which produces strategy games) but have recently been delving into more mainstream titles like Assassin's Creed. I wish to be able to run games like that smoothly, if that makes sense. I hope that answers all of your questions.
Could you also give some recommendations to which processor ( the "8 core 16 thread" you mentioned) I should buy, perhaps a link or a recommendation? I have done a quick google search and many options seem to pop up.
Thanks.
Here’s a rewritten version of the text:
To improve your gaming experience on older hardware like yours, let's focus on some practical solutions. First, try lowering the graphics settings within your games – this is often the most effective way to boost framerates and reduce lag. Close any unnecessary background programs, especially web browsers, as these can consume system resources. Games released before 2016 should run smoothly.
You can also use a tool called `dxdiag` (type it in Windows search) to gather detailed information about your computer’s specifications, including your AMD Ryzen 7 2700x processor and its associated motherboard model, RAM amount, and graphics card details. Share this information with me – it will help us pinpoint potential bottlenecks.
Regarding storage, switching from a traditional HDD (hard disk drive) to an SSD (solid state drive) would make a significant difference. HDDs are notoriously slow for loading games and booting your computer; the speed improvement of an SSD is substantial.
Upgrading your processor and motherboard is possible but a more complex and expensive undertaking, requiring a new CPU with at least 6 or 8 cores – ideally an Intel 6 or 8 core chip – to see a major performance increase. AMD offers good value currently, but it would necessitate a new motherboard and CPU, essentially building a completely new PC.
Finally, let’s consider your current setup: an AMD Ryzen 7 2700x processor. While powerful for its time, you might benefit from a more modern Intel processor (6 or 8 cores) to achieve optimal performance.
Thank you for the reply!
This is what came up when I ran "dxdiag".
http://prntscr.com/sbfpjq
Screenshot
Captured with Lightshot
prntscr.com
Also I think I have an HDD, a recommendation for an SDD that I should purchase and a brief explanation of the difference / how it works would be fantastic.
I have a AMD Ryzen 7 2700x, it is made by a AMD though, so you would want something comparable from intel, you would need either a 6 or 8 core chip to see a big improvement but intel is still really expensive to buy, amd is a really good deal at the moment but it would mean a new motherboard and cpu, which is basically a whole new machine
Replying to this I was wondering whether you could send a suggestion for a processor. Can you please explain the difference? Obviously I know that intel and amd are two different brands, and whether overall it would be more expensive / effecient to purchase from intel or amd.
Thank you for your help.
Here’s a rewritten version of the text, focusing on clarity and flow:
The Dell XPS 8910 is a prebuilt system that’s often difficult to upgrade due to Dell's strategy of selling complete systems rather than individual parts. Upgrading components like processors can be challenging as Dell typically doesn’t design for future upgrades.
Solid State Drives (SSDs) offer a significant improvement over traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). HDDs use spinning metal platters and mechanical arms, limiting their speed. SSDs, with no moving parts, store data digitally, resulting in much faster transfer rates – an HDD might manage 50 MB/s while an SSD can easily handle over 500 MB/s. Recently upgraded my PC with a new system that boots and becomes usable in just 10 seconds compared to the previous minute-long wait. This speed boost applies to everything, including video games and other applications, making them feel more responsive.
Currently, it's challenging to recommend specific processors due to competition between Intel and AMD. Motherboards are different for each brand (Z390 for Intel, B450 for AMD), and new releases from both companies make pricing unpredictable. However, the Ryzen 7 2700x is a good budget option with 8 cores and 16 threads, often comparable in performance to an Intel i7 8700. Processor speed is measured in GHz, and newer technologies like Hyperthreading (allowing each core to handle two threads) can improve performance, particularly in demanding applications like games. Think of processor cores as employees; more cores generally mean more processing power, and threads are like problems that can be tackled simultaneously.