Upgrading Alienware X51

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Killer185

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Nov 28, 2014
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Looking to upgrade my gaming rig for multi-purpose use.
Running the latest games at max settings, video editing, and audio sound design.
Looking to handle RED footage with ease.

Alienware X51 -
GeForce GTX 555
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40 GHz
8 GB RAM

Looking to upgrade RAM to 16 GB. (would do 32 GB if the motherboard and processor can support it)
Looking for decent video card suggestions ($300 range cap)
Also looking for new internal hard drive suggestions 2 to 3 TB

Overall it would be great to spend $500 on this.

Thanks!
 
Solution
Warukyure
Your upgrades will be very limited due to the nature of this computer. First off, for RAM i think you cap out at 16 GB, theres no way to go to 32 GB because the motherboard won't handle anymore. 2nd thing, you can't go overboard on the GPU because your PSU, depending on which one it is, is probably only 330W Max, so I would recommend the GTX 750 Ti. That card is a lot better than what you had inside already, and it doesn't use that much power which means you don't even have to touch your PSU. As for the HDD, consider the WD Black drives as they do perform a bit better.

Would look like $80 RAM, $150 HDD, $150 GPU. Works out to be like $380. Not bad, might add an extra 2 years or so onto it. Overall I think if you save up like maybe...
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Warukyure

Warukyure

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Oct 20, 2014
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Your upgrades will be very limited due to the nature of this computer. First off, for RAM i think you cap out at 16 GB, theres no way to go to 32 GB because the motherboard won't handle anymore. 2nd thing, you can't go overboard on the GPU because your PSU, depending on which one it is, is probably only 330W Max, so I would recommend the GTX 750 Ti. That card is a lot better than what you had inside already, and it doesn't use that much power which means you don't even have to touch your PSU. As for the HDD, consider the WD Black drives as they do perform a bit better.

Would look like $80 RAM, $150 HDD, $150 GPU. Works out to be like $380. Not bad, might add an extra 2 years or so onto it. Overall I think if you save up like maybe $700, salvage the CPU, you could overall build a newer much powerful desktop that wouldn't have as many restrictions placed onto you from this old one.
 
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Killer185

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How many years do you think I could get off of the CPU?

I would love a suggestion for a overall new build of the much more powerful desktop.
I'm willing to spend the $700 to make it happen, might as well if I'm already spending half that just to give my desktop another 2 years of life.

Thanks
 
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Warukyure

Warukyure

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Oct 20, 2014
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Salvage the RAM/CPU/HDD ($0)
Get an ATX motherboard that can fit 4 slots of RAM, and a LGA 1155 socket ($120-$150)
Maybe consider getting another 8 GB of RAM if you can find it cheap, to get that 16 GB (your call if you REALLY want to do this) ($80)
Can upgrade to an SSD if you want faster speeds, even a 250 GB Samsung EVO 840 isnt that expensive ($150 optional)
A larger 2 or 3 TB HDD since you are gonna be working with video need a lot of storage as well as new games are like 30-50 GB, can be used as a main or secondary if you get the SSD ($150)
A PSU with roughly 550W ($60)
A newer case ($???) (this is preference call, pick the case YOU like)
A GPU, personally I think the GTX 970 would be the best bang for your dollar as well as the power requirements are modest in comparison to the GTX 780 Ti ($350)

You could possibly get the GTX 780 Ti's maybe for a bit less than the GTX 970 since they are older and are sorta being phased out. Most of these components should let you play almost all games under the sun at High or Ultra.

Here's a quick something thrown together real fast. All you would have to do is salvage your old CPU/RAM/HDD and the Windows Product key that is stickered on the back of your tower or wherever it is.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/htdxt6
 
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