Will this work?

[devinsmit]

here is my first post, plz dont be too upset if i mess up, i searched but want to ask. I have a very low end computer, i wanted one low wattage to save energy. I just use it for word processing and surfing the net, I am not a gamer but I want to play the new star wars game. i put in a new processor and memory sticks, but i know i will need a new graphics card and psu

here is what i have

psu is bestec 160 watt max 3.3 volts

intel gma 3100 g33/g31 express chipset family

procesor 3.0 gig dual core http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=A1481295&baynote_bnrank=0&baynote_irrank=0&~ck=baynoteSearch

4 gigs ram

here is what i am looking at

Intel DG33TL Media Series G33 uATX DDR2 800 Intel Graphics DVI+VGA 1333MHz FSB LGA775 Desktop Board - Retail
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-DG33TL-Graphics-1333MHz-Desktop/dp/B000RH0AF6/ref=sr_1_24?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1317157514&sr=1-24

MSI nVidia GeForce GT 520 1 GB DDR3 VGA/DVI/HDMI Low Profile PCI-Express Video Card N520GT-MD1GD3/LP
http://www.amazon.com/MSI-GeForce-PCI-Express-N520GT-MD1GD3-LP/dp/B004W9BGJY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1317149971&sr=1-1

because what i have now is pci express so will it fit?

this looks pretty good too

Intel BLKDG41CN LGA 775 Intel G41 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121424

i have a dell vostro 200, any generic power supply with 24 pin or 20+4 pin will fit. i look around for the quality, but which would be better? there wasnt much on new egg


I am leaning towards getting this one except it is only 380 watts

Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=5hevdjv2cpjs

ANTEC BP500U Power Supply Unit
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=A1311579&dgc=SS&cid=52102&lid=1342490


here is the #1 seller in power supplies on amazon

only 30 bucks and 460 watts: Cooler Master Elite 460W ATX +12V V2.31 SATA, PCI-E Power Supply RS460-PSAR-J3-US
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Elite-Supply-RS460-PSAR-J3-US/dp/B002G1YPHK/ref=pd_sim_e2

CORSAIR Professional Series HX750 (CMPSU-750HX) 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
i doubt i would need 750 watts but this came up as well
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-139-010&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=(keywords)&Page=1&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=es4p661u8qnl#scrollFullInfo

P4 500W ATX Power Supply (24pin), Non-UL
http://www.amazon.com/500W-Power-Supply-24pin-Non-UL/dp/B004ICOTHG/ref=sr_1_23?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1317156497&sr=1-23


Okia 450w ATX Power Supply w/ SATA & 20 & 24 pins motherboard adapter
http://www.amazon.com/Okia-Power-Supply-motherboard-adapter/dp/B001F2323O/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1317157005&sr=8-22

that last one is only 20 bucks and 500 watts

I dont care what site i get it from so long as it fits. preferably under 120 bucks total, a lot of these items dont have reviews, i am trying to understand all of it, but most of the terms are out of my league/over my head.

 

[henydiah]

yes it will work
Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W enough
ANTEC BP500U Power Supply Unit more than enough
Corsair Professional Series HX750 : overkill
Cooler Master Elite 460W : Crap PSU ( actually 400W)

 

[badtaylorx]

ooooh.....lookee what i found

http://www.algogo.com/store/products/ASUS-Maximus-Formula-X38-ICH9R-Socket-775-DDR2-ATX-MOTHERBOARD.html

good deal for a nice 775

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Asus-Maximus-II-Formula-W-Intel-C2D-E8500-and-4GB-RAM-/150667929367?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2314822717

 

[devinsmit]

badtaylorx those look nice, tho they are used processors. that seems like wearing someone elses underwear, even if they are gucci or prada, i dont think i would want to wear second hand underwear

I may just get the graphics card and psu now, or wait until black friday. i just want something low end/low watts so maybe some of those parts will get clearanced out at BF, but this all seems pretty reasonably priced already

 

[casualbuilder]

I am running the HX750W in my system now, and i agree, it is overkill for your system. However, the psu wont pull any more than it needs to for your system to run, and the farther away it stays from its max load, the longer the life of it will be. Also, Future upgrades will be much easier to make with a stronger psu.

Keep in mind, the only 2 companies you should in your OP that are even worth messing with are Antec and Corsair. Seasonic and XFX are great companies too, but stay away from the others. You will have headaches and they could actually harm your system components.

Remember, buy smart, buy enough, and buy once. Choose your price, get the wattage/amperage you need, and buy from a good quality company.

 

[devinsmit]

This looks like a pretty decent buy as far as bang for the buck, taking into consideration what you have just said

600 watt corsair for 74bucks(after the $5 rebate, which expires in 2 days) + tax. and yes my local fry's has it in stock, i just checked. i could go pick it up today if i wanted.
http://www.frys.com/product/6251250 Actually, i will just bookmark that page and see if the 600 watt corsair drops even lower.


thanks for the advice about the andtech and corsair, and to avoid the cooler master elite, i actually had that in my cart on amazon at first, but took it out now.

What about video cards? Are there any 'green' that will burn up less energy(i usually just keep my comp in 'sleep' mode, it is essentially off but without having to reboot my pc any time i want to use it(is that smart? if i understand correctly, it is hard on your comp to turn it on and off. But it also uses more energy. I put mine in 'sleep' mode and switch the monitor off. If i really wanted to save electricity, i would just shut down, and turn off my power strip and unplug it. Which do you do? After upgrading the video card, I will almost certainly just shut down and unplug the surge suppressor because the video card and PSU will be using about double or triple the amount of energy as before..

sorry for all of the questions, Also, to make sure my fan never runs, i keep the side of my case open. The fan starts to run as soon as I put the casing on, so i figure i might as well keep the side of it off to keep it from overheating. good idea? bad idea? Like i said, i have never posted anything here before, these may be stupid questions to you, but I read different things about the pro's and cons, just curious what you techies do. Oh i also have windows XP.

This brings me to my final question:

I am also looking at video cards

I dont need, or want, a top of the line video cards, I am not a heavy gamer. In fact, i may just keep all of my low end PSU and video card and swap them back out when I am done playing video games.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=+GT520&x=0&y=0&Page=1

These look like medium end video cards, are there any that are better quality and less likely to give problems?

right now, i have an intel g33/g31 express chipset family
GMA 3100

This is of cource, pathetic by gaming stardards(i am not a gamer, just use the pc for web browsing, word processing, and printing word documents) but I will do some light gaming now.

should I be looking for something weaker? or stronger?
I read thread like this and most of the talk is over my head http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=lntkxqv4va9p

I will probably get a mid level pci express family card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=128+bit+radeon&x=0&y=0&Page=2
i guess fry's and new egg have the better selections. Does 'low profile' also equate to 'low energy?'

 

[devinsmit]

Best answer selected by devinsmit.

 

[devinsmit]

yes it will work
Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W enough
ANTEC BP500U Power Supply Unit more than enough
Corsair Professional Series HX750 : overkill
Cooler Master Elite 460W : Crap PSU ( actually 400W)

thanks guys, I went and got


$50
SAPPHIRE 100293L Radeon HD 5570 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102874

and

CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

the card has a 10$ MIR and psu has a $20 MIR, i will use signature confirmation on both of those, and make copies of the rebate forms but hell, those rebates almost never come through, i dont understand why they dont jus make a website for the rebate where you go and enter the information, instead of snail mail. they might as well not offer the rebates at all if they arent going to fulfill them.

either i spent $95 without the rebates, or $65 if the rebates actually come through, either way, i am happy, thanks for the advice.

i may get a better processor, but really if i purchase anything next, it would be windows 7(right now i am on windows xp)

either way i went from a intel gma 3100 g33/g31 express
to a sapphire 5570

and a bestec 150 watt psu
to a corsair 430
and it only set me back $95, or 65 if the rebates actually come through

4 gigs of ram is plenty and a 3.0 gig dual processor is enough for mere mortals.