Finally upgrading my store bought pc!

Alex Werries

Honorable
Dec 27, 2013
3
0
10,510
So i purchased a Dell inspiron 620 last christmas! I have been wanting to do a few upgrades to it so it will run faster and better! I also play games on the PC and watch movies! So i need to upgrade a few things. Video card, and Ram mostly. Currently my pc has cpu- intel core i3 3.30 GHz Ram- 6GB OS-Windows 7 GPU-XFX GEFORCE 9800GT (but the fan is clicking and driving me insane LOL!) it was free from my brother HDD-1.5 TB PSU- Dynex 520w. so i have upgraded a few things but think i could add better hardware componets and hopefully make this pc preform better!
 
if you have Mini Tower:

inspiron545formfactors.jpg


Than you Video Card length limit is 9.5" and any ATX PSU will fit.
First I would choose GPU, and then, based on this choose PSU.

Dynex is crap PSU.

Generally I would recommend to follow those guidelines:

Tier Breakdown:

* Tier 1 provides the best quality power, great for overclocking, super high-end systems, and bragging rights. The best of the best. Very good longevity.
* Tier 2 offers very good quality power output, and great reliability. Highly recommended for use in new systems.
* Tier 2b contains units that almost made Tier 2, but may not have quite as good quality output(still very good), or may not last as long. Recommended for systems not expected to run 24/7 for several years.
* Tier 3 power supplies fully meet all ATX requirements for power output quality, but don't have as good of power output quality as above tiers. No reason to replace one if you have one, and they're still good choices for most systems.
* Tier 4 units may have some problems, such as being unable to deliver rated power at higher temperatures, or being slightly out of ATX spec on power output quality. Not recommended to buy except in situations where you will not be stressing it, or expecting it to last for more than a few years. If you have one, you can probably keep using it unless you're experiencing problems.
* Tier 5 power supplies are NOT RECOMMENDED. If you have one, you should strongly consider replacing it ASAP. These can damage your computer, and often cannot put out the power that they're rated for. If a brand name is listed here, then all models from that brand name are considered to be Tier 5, except for those specific models listed above.

Tier 1 Brands - The Most Powerful And Stable Components On The Market.

* Antec Signature
* Antec High Current Pro -1200w
* Antec HCP Platinum 1kW
* Cooler Master V series 700, 850, 1kW
* Corsair AX
* Enermax Galaxy
* Enermax Revolution
* EVGA SuperNova G2 1000W and 1300W
* Kingwin Lazer Platinum
* PCP&C TurboCool
* PCP&C Silencer Greater than 610 watt
* Sapphire Pure
* Seasonic X-Series
* Seasonic S12D/M12D
* Silverstone ZF (Etasis 85/75/56)
* Seventeam ST Greater than 600w (SSI, V2.91)
* Silverstone OP/DA Greater than 700 watt
* Silverstone ZM
* Ultra X3 Greater than 1000 watt
* XFX Black Edition
* XFX XXX Edition
* Zippy/Emacs SSL
* Zippy/Emacs GSM
* Zippy/Emacs PSL
* Zippy/Emacs HG2
* Zippy/Emacs HP2


Tier 2 Brands - Top Quality components With Top Notch Stability - For Those With Price/Availability Issues With Tier 1

* Antec Neo HE
* Antec High Current Gamer Series
* Antec EarthWatts greater than 700 watt
* Antec TruePower Trio
* Antec TruePower Quattro
* Antec TruePower New -- 750w
* Akasa PowerGreen 80+
* CoolMax CTG-750 watt/850 watt/1000 watt
* Cooler Master Ultimate/UCP
* Cooltek CT
* Corsair GS600 / GS800
* Corsair HX
* Corsair RM 550
* Corsair TX
* Corsair VX
* Cougar SX700 and GX700
* Enermax Liberty
* Enermax Infiniti
* Enermax MaxRevo 1350
* Enermax MODU82+
* Enermax Platimax (600, 750, 850, 1.2K)
* Enermax PRO82+
* Enermax PRO87+ (500w + 700w)
* Enermax Triathlor (550, 650, 700)
* Enhance ENP-GH
* Fortron (FSP) GLN
* Hale82-m 650-750w
* iStarUSA PD2
* iStarUSA PD3
* LEPA G500
* OCZ EliteXStream
* OCZ Fatal1ty
* OCZ GameXStream less than 1000 watt (only if manufactured in December 2007 or later)
* OCZ StealthXStream 400 watt
* OCZ StealthXStream 2 greater than 700 watt
* OCZ Modstream (only if manufactured in December 2007 or later)
* OCZ EvoStream
* OCZ ProXStream
* OCZ Z(t)(s) Series Less than 1000W
* OCZ ZX 850w
* PC P&C Silencer less than 610 watt
* PC P&C Silencer MkII
* Rosewill Capstone (450, 750)
* Rosewill Hive (550, 650)
* Seasonic G series
* Seasonic S12
* Seasonic M12
* Seasonic Energy Plus
* Sentey Golden Steel Power 850w
* SevenTeam ST less than 600 watt
* Silverstone OP/DA 700 watt or less
* Supermicro/AbleCom
* Thermaltake Toughpower greater than 600 watt
* Thortech Thunderbolt Plus 800w
* Topower Powerbird 900w
* Xclio StablePower
* XFX Core Edition
* Xigmatek MC
* Xigmatek HC
* Ultra X3
* Ultra X-Pro
* Zalman ZM less than 1000 watt


Tier 2b - Tier 2 units which have either lower longevity or slightly lower quality output. Still well within spec, and are good units.

* ABS-Tagan ITZ/BZ less than 1000 watt
* Antec VP (350, 450)
* BFG 800 watt
* Cooler Master GX 80 Plus 450W
* Cooler Master Real Power Pro >greater than 800 watt
* Cougar S700
* Enermax NAXN-82 550w - 750w
* Hiper Type-M >greater than 650 watt
* Hiper Type-R >greater than 650 watt
* Huntkey Jumper
* Kingwin Lazer Gold
* LEPA B650, B850
* Mushkin Enhanced
* NZXT HALE
* OCZ PowerStream
* OCZ StealthXStream <less than 700 watt (only if manufactured in December 2007 or later)
* Rosewill Green 630w
* Silverstone EF
* Tagan U95
* Tagan U25
* Tagan U15
* Tagan U22
* Topower Powerbird 1100w
* Xclio GreatPower


Tier 3 Brands - Power supplies fully able to meet ATX specs, although closer to the edges of the limits than higher tier units. Still solid units.

* Acbel Polycom
* Akasa PaxPower
* Akasa PowerPlus (>greater than 500 watt Models)
* AMS Mercury
* Antec Earthwatts >greater than 700 watt
* Antec Basiq
* Antec Phantom
* Antec TruePower III
* Antec TruePower II
* Antec TrueControl II
* Antec NeoPower 480 watt (Old Model)
* Athena Power Space Shuttle Series
* Be Quiet Dark Power Pro
* BFG ES
* BFG LS
* Channel Well
* Cooler Master Real Power Pro <less than 800 watt
* Cooler Master iGreen
* Cooler Master Silent (and gold) Pro
* Corsair CX Series
* Corsair RM750, RM850
* Enermax Maximum Plus
* Enermax Noistaker II
* Enermax Noisetaker
* Enermax Whisper II
* Enermax CoolerGiant
* Enhance ENS-G
* Epower Xscale
* EVGA SuperNova NEX B 500
* EVGA SuperNova NEX G 750
* EVGA SuperNova NEX 1500 Classified
* Fortron (FSP) GLC
* Fortron (FSP) THN
* Fortron AX
* Fortron HLN
* Fortron PFN/PN/PA
* Fractal Design Integra R2 750 W
* Kingwin Lazer
* Kingwin Mach 1 (the negative 12v rail may go slightly outside of spec in some loading conditions)
* LEPA G900
* NorthQ
* OCZ ModXStream (rated for 40° C)
* OCZ Z Series 1000W
* Rosewill RP 2 (temperature sensitive)
* Rosewill Xtreme/RX
* Seasonic Super Versatile
* Sigma SP
* Silverstone F
* Sparkle FSP
* Spire Rocketeer V/VI
* Sunbeam Nuuo
* Thermaltake Litepower
* Thermaltake Purepower RX
* Thermaltake Toughpower <less than 600 watt
* Topower 1000w Gold
* XG Magnum
* X-Spice Kira
* Zalman ZM 1000 watt




Tier 4 - Not Recommend for stressful situations. May not be able to put out full rated power above room temperature, and may slightly fail to meet ATX specs.

* Aerocool
* Asus Atlas
* BFG 1000 watt
* Cooler Master eXtreme (only use 75% of labeled wattage)
* Cooler Master GX (except 450w)
* E-Power
* Futurepower
* Hale82n 650w
* Hiper Type-M
* HIPRO
* Masscool
* MGE XG
* Mushkin HP
* NorthQ 4775-500S/BU
* OCZ Modstream (if manufactured before December 2007)
* OCZ GameXStream <1000 watt (if manufactured before December 2007)
* OCZ StealthXStream (if manufactured before December 2007)
* OCZ GameXStream 1010 watt (essentially a 850watt power supply)
* Scythe Kamariki
* Sigma Shark
* Sintek
* TTGI/Superflower
* Ultra Xfinity
* Ultra X2 <less than 700 watt
* Ultra XVS
* Xion Real Power PowerReal


Tier 5 - Other than the units listed above for any of these brands, NOT RECOMMENDED. Replace ASAP if you have one.

* A-TOP Technology
* Apevia
* APEX (SUPERCASE/ALLIED)
* Aspire(Turbo Case)
* ATADC
* Athena Power
* ATRIX
* Broadway Com Corp
* Coolmax
* Deer
* Diablotek
* Dynapower USA
* Dynex
* EagleTech
* FOXCONN
* FSP Everest
* HEC Orion
* Hiper Type-R
* Huntkey
* I-Star Computer Co. Ltd
* In Win
* JPAC COMPUTER
* Just PC
* Kingwin Inc.
* Linkworld Electronics
* Logisys Computer
* MGE
* MSI
* NMEDIAPC
* Norwood Micro/ CompUSA
* NorthQ
* NZXT
* Okia
* Powmax
* Q-Tec
* Raidmax
* Rocketfish
* Rosewill
* SFC
* Shuttle
* Skyhawk
* Spire Coolers
* Star Micro
* STARTECH
* Thermaltake Purepower NP
* Thermaltake Purepower RU
* Thermaltake TR2 (and TR2-RX)
* TOPOWER TOP
* Ultra X-Connect
* Ultra X2 >greater than 700 watt
* Ultra LSP
* Wintech
* XION
* YoungYear
* Zebronics



Last Update of this list was on 09/26/2013 http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

Anything else I can help you with?
 

Alex Werries

Honorable
Dec 27, 2013
3
0
10,510
with my current motherboard does it not matter how strong of a psu i install? my budget for a gpu and psu is around 250 bucks
i will be playing battlefield 4 world of warcraft and diablo
 


BF4 is processor intensive game, so can you please provide exact CPU model you have.
For GPU and PSU I am looking into GTX660/HD7850 + 600 watt at most PSU combination.
I heard about many problems with AMD GPUs and BF4, just so you know.

Please reply.