If you dont game much, I say get the Compaq. Keep in mind that a power supply upgrade may be needed with that new graphics card. These systems usually have a VERY weak Power Supply in them - next question - will a standard power supply fit in that Compaq case? Do some research.
If you really want to build your own system, be prepared to spend more than $225. Honestly though $225 was never an amount you were going to spend if you wanted even semi-decent gaming graphics. Toss out your old Video card (period) it's not good for anything besides email, web browsing, and document creation (this is my opinion) and any low end video card will be much better than it. It has an AGP slot and no new motherboard will accept it anyway. Well maybe a couple of motherboards will accept an AGP card, why bother though....
This all depends on your budget. If you have a budget, tell us what it is and a few more people will be able to give recommendations. If you are not confident in your abilities to build a new system, that will factor in to suggestions as well.
A complete computer for $225 is going to be very difficult to beat, but you never mentioned how much you want to spend on graphics. A mid range video card will almost certain require a PS upgrade.. You have not provided enough details.
------------------------------Don't drink and park, accidents cause people.
Reply to ir_efrem
Hmm i'd rather u reuse your working old hardware 1st and get a awesome multicore/DDR3 el cheapo set up and incrementally add on more current h/w later when u have more funds. IGP mobos ftw A quickie "warp speed" from the world of DDR to DDR3 is in order me thinks hehe In the low $2xx we have
Message edited by batuchka on 11-16-2009 at 08:37:01 AM
sorry,
I'll look into finding out more info on the power supply. I know it's Antec and probably the one that came with the case, 350 watt I would guess. I might have upgraded when I built it, but it was years ago and can't remember.
Is there a way of getting ps specs through the pc, like you look at drives and such? I guess not.
I guessed it might be a power supply problem so I put it back together in that old Antec case with the Antec power supply that had been sitting in my garage gathering dust for years.
I did a fresh 32bit windows 7 install and it's up and running but probably not for long.
So now I'm thinking about upgrading. I ran across that compac clearance pc listed above for $225 and figured it might be way better than what I have now.
there also this deal on woot :
eMachines ET1161-07 Desktop Computer
but wondered if I could just build something better for about the same price.
My budget is about $300-$350 total
330W PSU isn't much these days. if you decide to upgrade i think your best bet would be to get a mobo with integrated GPU on it so you can still use that PSU. other than that if you decide to get a new GPU for your upgrade that 330W PSU will not cut it.