Upgrade Future Assistance Needed!

[velocity9713]

Hi! I recently build a gaming computer, and am planning to upgrade components overtime. Thing is. I don't know what I should buy.

Here are my current specs.
CPU: AMD FX(tm)-6300 Six-Core Processor

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 730

RAM: 8 GBs

HDD: 500 GBs

PSU: 500W 120MM Solid Gear PSU

I know for a fact I want to upgrade my GPU first. I however don't know exactly what to buy. My price range is around 150$. I also have access to a 650W PSU that can be installed if needed. My computer also freezes, but with no BSOD. So I assume it's a Hardware problem which I think is the low end GPU. So a reliable GPU would be fantastic. Thanks!

 

[Jared]

The freezing could be driver related, or hardware related.
Driver Verifier might help with that.

https://www.sysnative.com/forums/bs...er-bsod-related-windows-10-8-1-8-7-vista.html

For a graphics card, I recommend the MSI GTX 750 Ti for $131.

Amazon.com: MSI Computer Corp. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti Gaming OC 2GB GDDR5 VGA/DVI/HDMI PCI-Express Video Card N750TI TF 2GD5/OC: Computers & Accessories

 

[Digerati]

I know for a fact I want to upgrade my GPU first. I however don't know exactly what to buy. My price range is around 150$. I also have access to a 650W PSU that can be installed if needed. My computer also freezes, but with no BSOD. So I assume it's a Hardware problem which I think is the low end GPU. So a reliable GPU would be fantastic. Thanks!

I think your assumptions might be off a bit.

Note the PSU is one of the most critical purchasing decisions you must make and trying to cut the budget by getting a budget PSU is not wise spending. Would you buy a new Porsche then fill it with cheap, generic fuel from your corner Tobacco and Bait shop? Maybe, but would you expect top performance from the engine? A car engine can miss a beat and keep running but not so with high-speed digital electronics.

You need to purchase a decent 80 PLUS certified PSU to ensure at least an 82% "flat" efficiency rating across "all" realistic loads. I recommend at least Bronze, preferably "Gold" certified.

If a company does not publish the efficiency specs for their power supplies you can be sure they are not good. The specs for your Solid Gear don't state efficiency. That typically suggests ~70% at just one load, not across the full range of expected loads.

Note that a 500W 80 PLUS supply is plenty big for your system and will likely support a bigger graphics card.

FTR, I will take a 500W 80 PLUS "Gold" supply over a 650W uncertified supply any day of the week.

While your graphics card is certainly not a high-end card, it is not a poor quality card either and there is no reason to assume it is causing your system to freeze. I would first suspect your PSU, or heat.

Your first goal is to find out why it is freezing. What case do you have? What is your case cooling configuration? Are you using the OEM cooler (which I recommend, BTW). Are you monitoring your temps? If so, with what? If not, I use and recommend CoreTemp, or Speccy (from the makers of CCleaner) which now comes with a System Tray applet.

Once you sort out your freezing problem, THEN if you want to get a bigger graphics card, okay. But be prepared to buy a new 80 PLUS PSU at the same time.