PC Problem + Upgrades

[AzzA-D]

Hi all,

Up until today I havent had any problems with my PC that I couldnt fix by reinstalling Software, Drivers or backing up my C drive and reinstalling Windows, but today my PC started throwing up red horizontal lines across the screen, before black screening and occasionally showing my desktop again with the red lines. Nothing intensive was happening - I was only watching a DVD at the time.

It sounds to me like my graphics card is on the way out, but I thought I would see if you all agree before I get too ahead of myself.

Now, I have been saving for quite some time now, and was hoping to upgrade my PC with about £500 (as a student I really cant afford to go over that budget, and Id prefer as much change out of that as possible).

My current PC specs are -

Mobo - ASUS A8N32-SLI-Deluxe
Ram - 3gb memory (2* 1gb and 2* 512mb)
CPU - 2.40 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core
GPU - Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT

The original plan was to buy -

Mobo - GigabyteGA-X58-USB3 x58 Express 1366 - £120
Ram - 6gb Corsair 1600Mhz Triple Channel - £70
CPU - Intel Core i7 930 2.8 Ghz- £210
Cooler - Akasa Nero S Premier - £30
GPU - Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT - Already owned

Coming to roughly £430 ( or I can get the bundle overclocked to 4.0Ghz for an extra £60).

However, given the recent problems (potentially with the graphics card), would it still be worth upgrading everything BUT the GPU until Ive got more money, or do you think I should get a new GPU and continue to save towards the rest at a later date?

From a personal point of view, I would like to get the new mobo, ram, cpu and cooler, and get a much beefier gpu when I can afford it at a later date, but the recent events have thrown me a bit of a curve ball.

Any help would be appreciated, and I will happily answer any questions.
Thanks

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

If your current GPU will fit that Motherboard and does its job for now, just stick with it and use it. Intel i7 Mobo's dont come with on-board graphics so when I built mine I had to get a graphics card reguardless so I brought the GTX480 (2nd latest). I only went with the latest 'cause I didnt have one and buying a lower one only ot upgrade it later is a waste, but in your case because you already own it it'd be easier to keep using it for now.

 

[MrTub]

I would get Intel sandy bridge I5/i7 instead (make sure you buy a mobo which is made for socket 1155 then)

 

[AzzA-D]

Cheers for the comments.
So you both think that I should leave the GPU until later on?

@Tubez - I didnt realise the Sandy Bridge i5/i7's were out in the UK yet, but looking into it they are and only bout £40 more than I was originally going to spend... Will have to take a look into the motherboards though aswell.

Thanks for your help, guys.

 

[MrTub]

Cheers for the comments.
So you both think that I should leave the GPU until later on?

@Tubez - I didnt realise the Sandy Bridge i5/i7's were out in the UK yet, but looking into it they are and only bout £40 more than I was originally going to spend... Will have to take a look into the motherboards though aswell.

Thanks for your help, guys.

SB has a built in gpu so even if your graphic card fails u can still surf and play old games until you buy a new graphic card

 

[Killermud]

Just a small concern, what is your PSU and wattage? Of course with better gear requires more power and you should read into the parts (mainly Mobo and CPU and GPU) and see if your current PSU has enough wattage for them.

Also personally I wouldnt get a new fan unless you plan to overclock, as the default fan that will come with your intel i7 will be good enough for any game at any setting.

 

[AzzA-D]

@Killermud - my PSU is an enermax noisetaker eg701ax-ve(w). The 600Watts seems a bit excessive for what I have here atm, but my step dad made this PC a few years ago and I bought it off him last year for £200.

@Tubez - I think I will get a Core i5 Sandybridge. After looking into it, Im going to save at least £40 which can go towards a new graphics card at a later date, and the i5 SB will give me equal - if not greater - power than the i7 I was looking at.

Thanks for all the help guys!