NO IDEA HOW TO UPGRADE! HELP!

[noobatcomps]

I have $450 to upgrade my comp

at the moment i have a:

Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.0 gHz

512mb RAM

A crappy case with 2 fans (pretty small fans, one in the back and one on the side)

I don't know what this is but my dxdiag says ATI Radeon Graphics Processor 256mb (is this my vid card because i don't know if i even have one because my dad bought the comp)



What can should i upgrade? I was thinking about getting a 2.66 intel quad core for gaming ($184.99) and i want a vid card w/ a new mobo. If i could i want more rams and a strong psu.

HELP!

 

[shortstuff_mt]

What do you use this computer for?

 

[Kill@dor]

Man, you probably won't need a quad man... I would recommend a Core 2 Duo for a $450 budget...

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You can actually build a whole new computer for that price:

Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.190819 $139.98 (CPU + motherboard combo)

G.SKILL HK 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231219 $49.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.175874 $54.99 (HD & free SATA cable combo)

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300 $54.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008 $49.99 - $10.00 MIR (+ an extra 20% off using promo code "Maypsu20")

SAPPHIRE 100277L Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102835 $99.99

Total - $449.93 - $10 MIR & $10 off the PSU with promo code.

You would only go slightly over budget with a new SATA DVD burner.

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171 $24.99

 

[Kill@dor]

+1 Short

 

[jay2tall]

^
I was going to say. This SCREAMS e5200 ALL over it.

 

[Kill@dor]

Only problem with that build is he has to know how to overclock...

 

[Outlander_04]

Heres a quad core AMD for around the same price .

Use the case you have . Use the dvd you have . Sell the rest on ebay and maybe get some money back ... but it wont be much .


COMBO
AMD Phenom II X4 920 2.8GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDX920XCGIBOX - Retail
ASUS M3A76-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 760G uATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.191007

$219.98

G.SKILL HK 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231219

$49.99

SAPPHIRE 100277L Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102835

$99.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008

$39.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074

$54.99

Total $464. 94

Some compromises with the case , and dvd but a much more powerful system than the e5200 suggested abocve

 

[Kill@dor]

I like the suggestion here outlander...but the PSU needs change in my opinion. 450W or better

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I like the suggestion here outlander...but the PSU needs change in my opinion. 450W or better

The 400CX will still easily power Outlander_04's build. It's a very high quality PSU with 30A on the 12v rail. That's more than a lot of 500W PSU's.

 

[Outlander_04]

I like the suggestion here outlander...but the PSU needs change in my opinion. 450W or better

I think 400W is fine , mostly because of the low power requirements of the 4770 . That 40 nm process is producing very low power consumption compared to the previous generations of ATI cards

 

[hundredislandsboy]

If you can still use the current case, DVD drive, and hard drive for your next build/upgrade, then $450 will be more than enough to build a strong gamng rig.

Forget about quad core for gaming. Quad cores are for photo and video editing and programs optimized to use all cores. Very few games are written for quad core.

One of the best gaming CPUs is the e8400 - $169 - free shipping

ASUS P5KPL-CM LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $56 - free shipping.

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $48 - free shipping.


EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB - $130 - free shipping

All Newegg items.

 

[Kill@dor]

I know it can power the PC believe me ^_^. I was just suggesting a higher power PSU for the same price and quality could be found...

SLI and Crossfire ready...x2 6-pin PCIE...2 rails...NO PFC (bummer)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817189005

 

[Outlander_04]

I know it can power the PC believe me ^_^. I was just suggesting a higher power PSU for the same price and quality could be found...

SLI and Crossfire ready...x2 6-pin PCIE...2 rails...NO PFC (bummer)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817189005

Outlanders first rule of power supplies :

Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever .............................
...................................
.............................
....................
......... ever ever ever ever ever ever
buy a power supply that does not have actice pcf

I do see where you are coming from , but I dont think compromising quality is ever in any ones best interests . Far too many cheaper psu's are rated at peak power which they cant produce day in day out . The corsair will run better than 400 w 24/7 and do it far more efficiently thanks to active pcf .

 

[Kill@dor]

Ok ok, i got it...400W it is. I stand corrected ^_^

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Yea, that Xcioi and the Corsair aren't even in the same ballpark as far as quality. The Corsair is FAR superior.

 

[jay2tall]

^
I still like my 500w Thermaltake purepower. haha
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153052

But I DO like the AMD build above, WAY better than the e5200. I'm just starting to read into the AMD's more, and they are taking the cake with budget builds.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

To each his own on the Thermaltake PSU. The 400CX is actually a more powerful PSU, despite the 400W rating. The Thermaltake PSU is only rated for >70% efficiency and I don't see any mention of active PFC. The 400CX is 80 PLUS Certified and has active PFC.

I like the AMD build idea also, but I would swap the CPU and motherboard for this combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.190734 (Phenom II X3 720 + GA-MA790X-UD4P for $218.99)

I'd also get DDR 2 1066 RAM with an AMD build.

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166 $58.99

 

[noobatcomps]

Hey thanks for the suggestions guys! I think I might stick with shortstuff's recommendations. And the PC is for gaming at most. I'm not sure how many watts my PSU is but I'm pretty sure it's 450W