CPU Upgrade?

[iTouchPodz]

I was wondering if I should upgrade my CPU or even my GPU.

I mostly play games like CS:S and Combat Arms, but they seem to lag a lot. I have great internet connection (Cable - Roadrunner) and I think these two are the problem. Here are my specs:

OS - Windows Vista Home Premium
Manufacturer - HP
BIOS - Pheonix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
CPU - AMD Sempron LE-1250 @ 2.2GHz
RAM - 3GB
GPU - (Integrated Graphics) NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
Socket Type - AM2

So if you guys could please help me out I would appreciate it a lot. Thanks.

PS - If I need to upgrade can someone also post the things I need and steps I must take. I'm new at this stuff. Thanks.

 

[andy5174]

Model number of your MB? Download and install CPU-Z if you don't know.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

 

[welshmousepk]

well yes, both the CPU and GPU in that system are outdated, and even in their time would be considerably underpowered.

what sort of budget do you have?

 

[hundredislandsboy]

Upgrading just one is not worth it. But if you're short on cash, start with the GPU first, minimum HD 4850.

 

[hundredislandsboy]

Does your mobo allow overclocking of your CPU?

 

[iTouchPodz]

I don't know if this will help any but I have the piece of crap that is ........

HP Pavillion Slimline s5113w.

It was a bundle that my folks got over at WalMart, but my dad is a major pain in the ass and doesn't really care if I can play games on it or not, and says that it does what a computer needs to do, which is true I guess.

So anyways any more help? And I'll get the info that Andy, Welsh, and IslandsBoy need soon unless someone else gets it.

EDIT: Checked the HP Website and I came up with this -
Motherboard manufacturer's name: Pegatron M2N68-LA
HP/Compaq name: Narra5-GL6


Here's the link if you guys need it - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01701270&tmp_track_link=ot_faqs/top_issues/en_au/c01701270/loc:1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=au&lang=en&product=3999219

 

[johnhirix]

the machine is quite old, you definately need some upgrade, but what's your budget?

 

[Pro Llama]

Your board says that it can handle a PII X3 or a PII X4 but it doesn’t say the exact chips that it supports. You will most likely be able to find a chip that will run in it. The board also has a PCI express x16 slot so you can drop in a graphics card.

Will out knowing your price range I can only list some things you may look into. The graphics card is the first thing you will want to upgrade but if you go too big the cpu will just hold the graphics card back. You can find a graphics card from $100, like the HD4850, to well over $300. A PII X3/X4 will cost you from $100 to $160. If you give us a price we can guide you in the right direction.

Also when you pick out a chip I would go for a chip that has older stepping for instance if you wanted the PII 955 I would get the c2 not the c3. The c3 will most likely not work with your board without updating the bios.

 

[iTouchPodz]

I would say my combined budget would be $100-$200.

I don't really need anything mindblowing, just some to let me play CS:S and stuff at decent settings with no lag and good FPS.

UPDATE: Well I looked further into it and these things seem pretty decent in comparison to my budget and what I need. I just don't know anything about PSU or stuff like that. Anyways, here is what I found:

CPU - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4690900&CatId=2328

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103279

GPU - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4042983&CatId=1558

or

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4353968&CatId=1558

So yea I hope a combo of these will work cause I really don't think I could get another PSU.

 

[iTouchPodz]

BUMP!

 

[jeff77789]

Upgrading just one is not worth it. But if you're short on cash, start with the GPU first, minimum HD 4850.

WHAT?!?!

combat arms does NOT need a 4850...........try one of the Radeon's 5000 series.....i recommend the Ati Radeon 5750, or the ATI Radeon™ HD 5670

 

[hundredislandsboy]

WHAT?!?!

combat arms does NOT need a 4850...........try one of the Radeon's 5000 series.....i recommend the Ati Radeon 5750, or the ATI Radeon™ HD 5670

Won't that "unbalance" his system as his CPU is slow?

 

[Pro Llama]

I would say my combined budget would be $100-$200.

I don't really need anything mindblowing, just some to let me play CS:S and stuff at decent settings with no lag and good FPS.

UPDATE: Well I looked further into it and these things seem pretty decent in comparison to my budget and what I need. I just don't know anything about PSU or stuff like that. Anyways, here is what I found:

CPU - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4690900&CatId=2328

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103279

GPU - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4042983&CatId=1558

or

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4353968&CatId=1558

So yea I hope a combo of these will work cause I really don't think I could get another PSU.

I would go with the X2 5600; it’s not that fast of a cpu but much better then what you have and its cheap. Personally I would put out a little more on the gpu. I would go with one of these 3:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143169
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143118
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161319

The last one doesn’t need any extra power, but it cost the most.

 

[jeff77789]

all of your choices are good......just make sure you don't have the cpu as a bottleneck if you have a REALLY good gpu