The trouble with computer upgrades, and why my other computer is going to stay exactly the way it is until I can afford a new one, is that one part always depends on -all the other things- in the rig.
You want to upgrade your processor? Make sure you know what motherboard you have, and exactly what types of processors it can house. If you don't get a new motherboard, you've got to remember to buy a new tube of thermal paste to replace the old stuff.
Oh, you want to go ahead and upgrade the motherboard too? Sometimes rigs are too small, or too big, to house this lovely new board. Gotta look into a new one of those.
Graphics cards require motherboard compatibility and a power supply strong enough to handle the card as well as powering everything else in the rig.
etc. etc.Â
 It's no big deal for people familiar with the process, or who are really good with parts, but some of us get "tech induced headaches".
I also noticed that you've got 1g of RAM, and this can pose a problem as well for running games. It's the video card, processor, and RAM that have to work together to process all the information that is being sent through the computer. From the sound of it the three of them are very old secretaries dying under a mountain of papers.
When my husband wanted to get a new gaming computer it took me -years- to get him to stop trying to buy factory rigs and having me upgrade them with whatever parts those dinky things could hold. Eventually he listened and went to iBuyPower.com. We watched for sales, took our time, and were able to build him a really awesome rig for $1200. It doesn't have "the best" parts, but they're plenty good enough to play FFXIV:ARR on fully maxed settings with no lag.
I have no idea what kind of budget you guys are looking at, but I would suggest for a long term rig to save as much to the side as possible for flexibility in terms of rig accessories (keyboard/mouse/monitor/speakers/headphones/etc.) and shipping charges.
You want to upgrade your processor? Make sure you know what motherboard you have, and exactly what types of processors it can house. If you don't get a new motherboard, you've got to remember to buy a new tube of thermal paste to replace the old stuff.
Oh, you want to go ahead and upgrade the motherboard too? Sometimes rigs are too small, or too big, to house this lovely new board. Gotta look into a new one of those.
Graphics cards require motherboard compatibility and a power supply strong enough to handle the card as well as powering everything else in the rig.
etc. etc.Â
 It's no big deal for people familiar with the process, or who are really good with parts, but some of us get "tech induced headaches".I also noticed that you've got 1g of RAM, and this can pose a problem as well for running games. It's the video card, processor, and RAM that have to work together to process all the information that is being sent through the computer. From the sound of it the three of them are very old secretaries dying under a mountain of papers.
When my husband wanted to get a new gaming computer it took me -years- to get him to stop trying to buy factory rigs and having me upgrade them with whatever parts those dinky things could hold. Eventually he listened and went to iBuyPower.com. We watched for sales, took our time, and were able to build him a really awesome rig for $1200. It doesn't have "the best" parts, but they're plenty good enough to play FFXIV:ARR on fully maxed settings with no lag.
I have no idea what kind of budget you guys are looking at, but I would suggest for a long term rig to save as much to the side as possible for flexibility in terms of rig accessories (keyboard/mouse/monitor/speakers/headphones/etc.) and shipping charges.
