From a Noob: What Should I Upgrade?

[DaGrinder]

Wow... Been browsing thru the forums for the last week or so and have learned so much. Prior to that, I knew next to nothing about hardware. You guys are all so knowledgeable and offer top-notch advice! Cnet/PCworld sux!

Three weeks ago, I bought a Dell Inspiron 530. It's a decision I'm starting to regret now that building to me doesn't seem too difficult. Anyway, here's the specs:

- Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 2.4GHZ
- Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1
- 3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
- 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
- FoxConn Intel G33m03 motherboard
- Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
- Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
- Lite-On 350w PSU

My LCD monitor is an Acer 22" with max res of 1680x1050.

Right now, I'm using this system for web-browsing, dvd viewing/ripping, and MS apps. I'd also like to start getting into gaming and don't have plans on overclocking yet. (I now know Dell rigs don't allow this.)

Although I know a lot more now, I still have a few questions maybe someone can help answer...

1) If I want a 4850 video card, will the stock 350w PSU be sufficient? Or is a 4850 overkill? I also plan on adding a TV tuner card. Recommendations?

2) I'm running Vista 32-bit. Is 3GB RAM enough? What are the benefits of upgrading to 64-bit?

3) If I do want to OC, will the case I have now fit other motherboards and aftermarket coolers?

4) I already own a (somewhat old) SB Audigy SE card and Logitech X-530 5.1 speakers. Does this card perform better than the integrated sound card (Realtek ALC888 codec Creative Sound Blaster X-fi ExtremeGamer)?

I'll also greatly appreciate any other comments anyone has. Thanks for putting up with this noob!

 

[ausch30]

Chances are you would have to upgrade your PSU but the problem is that on a lot of Dell's the PSU design is proprietary so a standard PSU won't fit.

http://www.pcpower.com/products/power_supplies/dell/
This is a link to a company that makes Dell compatible PSU's so the first thing you would need to do is find out if yours is a standard ATX or something else.

The G33 Chipset is ok but the GMA3100 is not very good so you will definitely want to look at an aftermarket video card.

3gb of RAM is enough

A lot of OEM cases are proprietary so you will have to determine if you can change your motherboard.

There are issues with compatability with the Audigy cards and Vista, there was a guy on the Creative site (I believe it was Daniel K) that was hacking Creative drivers to enable the Audigy cards to work with Vista but Creative stopped him. A Google search might turn up the drivers somewhere and yes the card would be better than onboard.

Here's a link to the drivers
http://nomoregoatsoup.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/sound-blaster-audigy-series-vista-support-pack-feb-24-2008-by-daniel-kawakami/

Unfortunately
"Does NOT support the following OEM / Retail models:

- Host / software-based cards including Audigy LS / SE / Value, Audigy 2 SE, Live! 24-bit)"

 

[mtyermom]

As I see it, you really just need an add in video card (and possibly a better power supply to support it).

 

[dirtmountain]

Using this power supply calculator
http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine
I have your system with a HD4850 using about 307w at load. I was generous with 2- 120mm fans, 1 HD, 4 sticks of DDR2 (2x1 GB and 2x512) 1 card reader and a TV tuner etc. I used
http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354
to guesstimate the HD4850 since the 48xx series isn't included in the calculators GPU tables yet.
So the short answer is that your 350w stock PSU would be enough, but you'd be pushing it at over 80% of it's rating. I'd recommend a good quality 450w to 550w PSU. Much depends on your budget, i might go ahead and get the GPU and update the PSU as soon as you have the funds. You'll probably get as many different opinions as you get responses though.

 

[DaGrinder]

Ausch, thanks for your reply!

I believe I can use a standard ATX.

LOL Daniel K must be doing something right when a company like Creative gives you cease order.

I think I'll just keep using the onboard sound card. I don't really want to deal with incompatibility issues.

 

[DaGrinder]

dirtmountain...If I stick with the stock PSU and add a 4850, what's the worst that can happen? The PSU explodes?

 

[blackwidow_rsa]

The system will be unstable, video corruption can happen, damaged components including the psu and the psu will start to degrade. Any of these can happen.

 

[DaGrinder]

The system will be unstable, video corruption can happen, damaged components including the psu and the psu will start to degrade. Any of these can happen.

Upgrade the PSU it is.

 

[smalltime0]

^check if its standard ATX power connectors or propriatary first.

 

[ausch30]

Are you sure it's 350w? I just looked at the Inspiron 530 and it states that it has a 300w PSU so in that case you would absolutely need a new PSU. Also as I said before and other's have said make sure it's not a proprietary design.

 

[DaGrinder]

It's definitely standard ATX. All the Inspiron 530 shipped with a Q6600 comes with a 350w Lite-On PSU.

I think I may be getting this Corsair TX 650w on buy.com for $75 shipped AR.

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-650w-atx12v-power-supply/q/loc/101/206178324.html

Overkill I know. But I'll have the option later on to OC with a different mobo if I so choose.

I also found this ASUS HD4850 on newegg.com for $160AR (incl. NYC Tax ) Good deal?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253

TBH, I'm not even sure if I even need all this stuff. All I really want is TV tuner card. I have no idea what games I want to play. FPS make me nauseous. LOL. I enjoy mainly sports games but they hardly make them for PC. Do you think there might be even a further price drop on PSU's and 4850's in a few weeks. I think I can wait.

 

[ausch30]

Good choice, that's a very good PSU.

 

[th_username]

you need a video card for that processor

 

[ausch30]

I also found this ASUS HD4850 on newegg.com for $160AR (incl. NYC Tax ) Good deal?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253

TBH, I'm not even sure if I even need all this stuff. All I really want is TV tuner card. I have no idea what games I want to play. FPS make me nauseous. LOL. I enjoy mainly sports games but they hardly make them for PC. Do you think there might be even a further price drop on PSU's and 4850's in a few weeks. I think I can wait.

Yes it's a good deal but if you wait and look around you should be able to find a similar deal from another retailer that doesn't charge NYS tax (I've stopped ordering from Newegg)
Tiger Direct has good deals sometimes and Zipzoomfly is good also you could keep an eye on Slickdeals.net and wait for a deal.

 

[DaGrinder]

Ausch! You da man! Thx for all your help!
Again, this forum rocks with peeps like you and others!

 

[ausch30]

http://www.slickdeals.net/
You could check it out now there is actually a $20 promo code for the same Asus 4850 at Newegg which makes it $145 w/ free shipping and a $20 promo code on a Gigabyte 4850 which makes it $149.99 w/ free shipping but if you wait I'm sure something else will come along. Glad you got the help you needed.