Need Help Upgrading HP Pavilion p7-1517 For Gaming

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Crustacean

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Apr 13, 2016
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Hey!

I need help upgrading this computer to be able to game more efficiently.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03632874

It has a AMD A10-5700 3.4 ghz CPU and a 300w PSU.

So far, I'm thinking of getting my friend's Sapphire r9-270x, which I suppose would need a new psu. However, I don't know which one to get and I don't even know if this case would be able to hold the r9 270x and a new PSU. So basically, that's what I need help on.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
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10tacle
Oh and regarding performance on the card, I'm not familiar with either game, but here's what you may expect at 1080p with that 270x in Dark Souls. You may need to crank down some quality/detail settings as the 270x falls somewhere around Nvidia's GTX 950 (and the game developer recommends a 970 for 60FPS gameplay). These benchmarks stop at 60FPS with faster cards because they had V-sync on (video cards cap the frames at 60FPS to match the monitor's 60Hz frequency).

http://gamegpu.com/images/stories/Test_GPU/MMO/DARK_SOULS_III/test/ds3_1920.jpg
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10tacle

10tacle

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Dec 6, 2008
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The power supply for that case is a standard ATX form factor. So the question there is what is your budget. Any decent ATX-spec PSU in the 400-watt range will serve you fine (this is just an example if you are on a tight budget: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438015&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo )

Regarding the GPU, it's 9" long and requires a dual slot access out the back. You would need to take internal measurements on the length of the card to see if it fits as well as see if a dual-PCI slot card will work in there. If you look at this photo, it will take up the first PCIe X16 slot (main long slot it would actually plug into) and the small PCIeX1 slot below it (there are three of those smaller PCIe X1 slots, so hopefully those are empty, if not, you may have to move the card(s) down to the bottom two X1 slots).

http://support.hp.com/doc-images/765/c03348809.jpg
 
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C

Crustacean

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Apr 13, 2016
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Is there a Bronze rated PSU I can get that has like 500-600 watts? And I MUST get an ATX PSU?

Also, just to clarify, I need to measure the inside of the computer where the video card would go and make sure it doesn't hit something else? How do I know that without putting the PSU in first?
 
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10tacle

10tacle

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Yes, you need a standard ATX form PSU (not a miniATX or whatever the others are). And yes, measure the inside of your PC where that long PCIe x16 slot is from the back of the case (to the left where it would be against the rear case wall if you are facing the case inside from the left open side) to the front where the air intake may be (or hard drive cage or whatever).

There many, many good Bronze PSUs out there in the 500-600W range. It depends on your budget and what nation you are in. But for that PC, anything above 500W would really be a waste of money unless you eventually plan on upgrading the entire PC down the road and want to use that PSU in another build.
 
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10tacle

10tacle

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I'm going to assume you are in the US, so here would be my recommendation in your price range:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438012

A review of it (JohnnyGuru is THE source for PSU reviews):

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&file=print&reid=351

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A recommendation of the best PSUs in the 500-650W range showing this PSU as the best 500W:

http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/2095-best-gaming-psus-for-all-budgets

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you can swing a little more ($60), the Seasonic S12II 520W Bronze is even better than the EVGA:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

Johnny's review summary of that PSU:

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=185
 
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10tacle

10tacle

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Dec 6, 2008
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Oh and just for a reference tool, here is a link to the PSU heirarchy rating and example makes and models listed from Tier 1 (best) to Tier 5 (worst). EVGA's 500W B1 fits solidly in the middle at Tier 3. I would not recommend something that I would not put in my own PC. If you can swing $60-$75 you can move up to Tier 2 (the Seasonic I mention above), or $80-$100 will get you a Tier 1.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html
 
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C

Crustacean

Commendable
Apr 13, 2016
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Someone just told me that I could have gotten this at a cheaper price. Apart from obviously being of a higher wattage, he said this is a newer and better psu in general:

http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=97531&vpn=110-B2-0750-VR&manufacture=eVGA&promoid=1219

Should I cancel the order I made on Amazon, buy this, and mail in the rebate?

Additionally, this Supernova PSU is apparently bigger than what my current PSU is and bigger than the Seasonic PSU. Wouldn't that also be a problem?
 
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10tacle

10tacle

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Remember that EVGA B2 series PSU is a Tier 3 (even the 750W someone recommended to you). It's good enough for an OEM build replacement. The Seasonic that you bought is a Tier 2, better for custom PC builders. I have one of those myself (620W). I'm not sure how the SuperNova can be bigger except in depth (going further into the case). Width and height should be the same (WxH as in facing it from the front where the power connector and screw holes are).

ATX form factor PSUs all have the same screw dimensions for any ATX case, which yours is. "ATX" is an industry standardization format. You've got a good PSU in that Seasonic!
 
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C

Crustacean

Commendable
Apr 13, 2016
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I see! I just hope that this setup will allow me to play Dark Souls games and Black Desert Online smoothly.

By the way, this PSU seems to come with one 6 pin connector and a 6+2 pin connector. Bit of a noob question, butt: Since the r9 270x only requires 2 x 6-pin connectors, I can just use the 6 pin connector and only the 6 pins on the 6+2 pin connector (basically ignoring the extra 2 pins), and everything should be fine, right?
 
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10tacle

10tacle

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Holy cow that GPU requires 2x 6-pin PCIe connectors? I didn't even think about that. Anyway yeah, the 6+2 connector is for flexibility for cards that need 8 pins (my two 970s need 1x 6-pin and 1x 6+2 for each card). The two extra pins are as one and will just be dangling to the side. that's what it's designed for!
 
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10tacle

10tacle

Splendid
Dec 6, 2008
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Oh and regarding performance on the card, I'm not familiar with either game, but here's what you may expect at 1080p with that 270x in Dark Souls. You may need to crank down some quality/detail settings as the 270x falls somewhere around Nvidia's GTX 950 (and the game developer recommends a 970 for 60FPS gameplay). These benchmarks stop at 60FPS with faster cards because they had V-sync on (video cards cap the frames at 60FPS to match the monitor's 60Hz frequency).

http://gamegpu.com/images/stories/Test_GPU/MMO/DARK_SOULS_III/test/ds3_1920.jpg
 
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