Sorry if this is a tech support thing. Wasn't sure since i'm not exactly having problems. Just wanted suggestions.

Well about 2 years ago, I got a letter in the mail. It was from some law firm or something along those lines. They were sueing Wal-Mart/Sams Club because of how they treat their employees. If you filled it out you would get money if they won. It said 6 Months = $50, 1 year = $100, 1.5 years = $150. I worked for 2 years so I was hoping to get $150 :). After a year of hearing nothing about it I gave up. But earlier I passed out and my dad came in and woke me up with the check in my face. But instead of $150 it was for $1,200. I guess they must have gotten more than they expected. That made my week.

But now i'm trying to think of what I can do to upgrade my computer. More for better gameplay I guess. But since i'm not a genious with comps, I figured you guys might be able to throw out some good suggestions.

So far for computer specs all I can give you is this:
-Motherboard: Asus P5P43TD
-Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93Ghz
-Video Card: Saphire Radeon HD 4650 1GB
-4GB Ramm(unsure what kind, I'm guessing DDR3 because that's what's in the instructions now that I read it haha.)
-Antec 500W Power Supply

If there's anything else you need to know I can figure it out. But i'm just unsure were to start. I'm giving my dad $500, so any suggestions to were i'de still have cash left over(maybe enough to were i'de have spending money for food for a week and actually make my first donation torwards the community haha.) I'de appreciate some help, either that or I can go to ENU(local computer store that I got the comp from.)

Dude, please double, triple, and quadruple check that its not a scam/fraud.

It's not, it's the real deal. F*CK, if anything i'll just look like a retard at the bank tomorrow afternoon.

DEF the GPU!

The 4650 isn't very good and an upgrade to that to something nice will be like buying a new computer since your cpu is good enough for Source or easily overclockable to 3.2 without worries. Mine runs stock at 3.16 so I know your cpu isn't the prob.

http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html

Top 50 is where you want to be obviously with higher being better. IMO the fun stuff starts at about 20 where you can max all the settings and make the game look as nice as possible while playing. I just got a BFG GTX260 on ebay for $100 used. BFG offers a lifetime warranty so if the card doesn't work when I get it or if it ever breaks, I can just send it back for a new one. So if you wanted to try to save a little cash while getting the best available you can go that way or if you don't mind waiting, sometimes people put up broken ones not realizing warranties(make sure they didn't throw it across the room breaking it and it's actually something like it turns on but doesn't have a picture or something) and try to just get $20-30 for their broken card. Downside is once you pay for the card and have it shipped to you, you have to immediately RMA it to the manufacturer and wait the week or 2 for the new one.

I thought BFG stopped accepting RMAs and the like?

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/news/vid ... -business/
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/b ... ty_repairs

Otherwise, yeah your GPU is gonna be the part you wanna upgrade first. Just make sure your PSU can handle it (or get a new one of those too :P ). Personally I upgraded from a Radeon 4670 to a Nvidia GTX 460 and while it has its quirks (mainly due to the fact that its new and the drivers, while mostly functional, have a quirk or two) it really was a nice card for only $200.

I was thinking the PSU first a 500watt they make those? lol Get a 750 or higher and a better GPU and u should be good if you really wanted to if u had the extra cash upgrade for some more ram if you feel like your pulling alot of downtime with restarts and programs starting.

GET 5 FREE STEAM GAMES!

Personally, I would go with a i7 930 and higher. Im using the gigabyte x58a-UD3R motherboard. Its very nice and has programs that come with it for easy overlclocking. Power supply is fine. I have been using a 550 watt ps for 2 years with no problems. http://www.be-quiet.net/be-quiet.net/index.php?StoryID=17&ProductID=35&websiteLang=en Im also using a xfx 5770 and about to buy another(althouh I dont need it). I also think you will love using triple channel memory.

Call the law firm and verify that the check is real.

You could get ROYALLY screwed if it's not legit.

I got a check in the mail once for $5,000. After reading the fine print, cashing that check would have essentially been me taking a loan from this company, with some retarded interest.

Well that sucks a fat one, hope the card works for sure now.. Shitty that they are going out of business =(. They were one of the best for warranties. Hopefully EVGA still keeps the lifetimes on a few of their cards, but other than them I don't know of a company that offers more than 3 or 5 at the most.

I read on some sites that BFG will still maintain their warranties though...They only stopped making GPU's btw they are still making PSUs and something else I cant remember atm. But yeah deh check on the check lol aaaaaaaand w. 1.2k you can seriously get a kick ass i7 rig. any rig questions jus pm me.

Yes, after Chris mentioned making sure it was real. I got their information off of the original forms I had filled out and made copies of. Some place called Rust Consulting Inc. Then after I got off work I went to a US Bank(since that was the bank on the check) paybe a 5 dollar fee for not having an account and got my moneys.

Now that you recomended one of the GTX models, I have 2-3 questions.

1. Is the EVGA GTX480 really worth all the extra money over the EVGA GTX470 ? I was just thinking of getting the GTX470, because it would be completely fine with me and i'de save a lot of money. It would probably be even better than what i'de need.
this is the one i'm refering to -> http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-PCI- ... 454&sr=8-1..

2. Would either of them be compatible with my computer ?

3. If I ended up getting one of those would it be a good idea to get something else like memory, or a better power supply? I don't know whether it would take up more power or not. I'de probably have to go back to ENU and get the same kind of Memory as well right? Or have them get me something compatible. It might be a while before I have money to put into my computer like this again. So instead of regreting not getting it later, be glad that I did.

EDIT: One more question. On my motherboard there are 4 slots for memory. They go Black, Orange then a gap then black and orange. The memory I have are both placed into the orange slots. If I did end up getting more memory, would I need to remove memory to put the new in ? Or would just adding it to the black slots do ? This just goes to show how little I know about computers

I can get 2G of the same memory online for $47.

The slots on your board are for dual channel mode when you have 2 matching pairs of memory. you would need the same stick in both and then simply place them in the black slots and leave the ones in the orange slots alone. This will mean you will have all 4 slots running in dual channel x2 Thats nice.

wow clorox knows what hes talkn about for once....anyways u got lucky Caniboid that is not a scam...hopefully its not in the long run :) but have fun with the money and deciding on what u want for ur comp.

Btw, what games do you play/plan on playing with the upgrades? That will give you a big insight on whether the 480 is worth it over the 470 or other cards. There aren't very many games that will offer much performance passed a certain point unless you run at extreme resolutions. Like if you only play Source, once you hit that solid 300fps mark, whether you uncap it by putting 0, anything above that solid 300fps card would be for show and bragging. "I have a 750fps stress test on Source" or "My GPU is better than yours". Not hating on that, people buy Vipers, Lambos, and Bugattis to drive 35mph, which is what a 480/470 would be playing Source.

I had two Radeon HD 4870's running in crossfire, but had to turn off crossfire once due to compatability issues with a game I was playing. With only one, I noticed that was was at constant 300fps on CS:S, so don't go overboard if that's what you are mostly giong to be playing.

Ya and it's funny watching the people who buy them because they are "fast" get walked on by Hondas lol.

But ya it wouldn't make much sence to spend so much on something that isn't necessary. The only games I play are Source, BF1942(yes I still play that lol) and BF2. But Im mostly like to stick with Source. So would something like the 460-465 be good but not to overboard ? It would save me even more money :). Instead of $319 for the 470 it would take off $100. Damn I wouldn't mind that haha.

Oh and I play at 1680x1050 in Source.

I have a dual core at 3.16(slightly above yours) and an 8800GT and stress 160fps with everything on 16x and high/veryhigh @ 1280x1024. Anything on the 400 series will be more than enough for 300 constant on Source and maybe 200 series. I'll run it again once I get my GTX260 and tell you what I get since our CPU and RAM are about the same.

Ya everything for me is set on high currently and it runs an average of 123.

I get ansy with oredering new things wich is why I can rarely save money. So I ordered the GTX465(even though it's probably more than I need.) I also got a Corsair 850W Power supply and a 2G stick of ram.