Upgrading aspirex1420

I have a amd athlon 2 x3 450 3.2 ghz with 4 gigs of ram and 1tb hd aspire x1420 I bought it not intending on really doing much gaming well things have changed. I play a couple FPS and Microsoft flight sim X. Have already upgraded the video card to a sapphire radeon hd6450 which is the best this system can take. So basically my questions are How much ram can this motherboard take. Can I put this motherboard into another case and add a better PSU and Graphics Card and If so What is the Best Graphics card can it take. And if that option is not something I can do Can I at least take this processor and put it on a better motherboard and it that case what are my options. Sorry for so many questions and thank you for your time. And very sorry if this is not the right place to place this question never posted on a forum before thanks. Believe it or not I do know a lot about computer have built 2 before just never tried to take existing and transform it. Thanks again

Mike

I have the micro case so all I can fit in it is the radeon hd 6450 graffic card. So what you are saying is that I can have a total of 8 gigs and if I put all the components into another case I can Up the PSU and put a better video card. So now my question is does this mother board hinder in anyway what type of graffics card I can use. Thanks for the help. Really Appreciate it. I have a baby and a wonderful wife so really working on a budget just trying to get the most out of this computer

OK. The link I found ( http://support.acer.com/product/de [...] delId=3708 ), made it appear to look like a full size mid-tower. But you're saying the case is 'low profile'? And you are restricted to low profile cards with a 3.xx" height? If you have the original 220W PSU, and require a low profile card, the HD 6570 is about the max you can use. It would be an improvement, however, at 1680x1050 or less.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] agesize=20 (they come with low profile back plates to swap out the regular size one)

If you move the board/CPU to a full mid-tower and get a more powerful graphics card (one that requires a separate PCIe cable), you'll need a much bigger PSU as well.

About the memory; your board can only address 4GB of memory, no matter what case you put it in. 4GB is enough for most games, but today most folks go with 6GB or 8GB. Your 3 core Athlon II should be sufficient for gaming. Since you have much more important things to spend your money on, you may want to try just moving up to the HD 6570 and enjoying the games. The HD 6570 would be a great improvement over the HD 6450:
http://www.hwcompare.com/10386/rad [...] 0-oem-1gb/

I looked at the picture you sent me and yes that is the case but it is only 3 and 1/2 inches. So yeah stuck with a low profile card that is why I was hoping just to put this motherboard and components into another case add new PSU and Video card and since I thought I was allowed 4 gigs memory per slot thought I would have 8 but now I am thinking. If I cant put the 8 gigs memory then I have to find the best motherboard that will support this cpu and be able to have a better cpu put into it on a later date. Cause that video card you mentioned is only a little better and if that is all I can do with the current setup not enough. So if you can confirm that this motherboard is for sure 4 gigs that is it that is all and not that it is 4 gigs per slot and what is the best motherboard that can use with this cpu be able to put more ram and all that.

talked to acer but not sure how correct there infor is since the person read off what me and you found on there website and told me that this computer can only handle a 1tb hard drive which I find hard to believe but they did give me this motherboard is a mb.sg901.003 but having hard time finding anything on it again thank you for all your help. Its nice to talk to people who actually know something about computers.

does this look like a good mother board http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128444

Gigabyte makes excellent boards. And that one is no exception. http://www.gigabyte.us/products/pr [...] id=3425#ov
You did notice that it was out of stock though, right?
If price is an issue, you can go less $ and still get a good board for that CPU and memory and any PCIe graphics card you choose. By the way, here's a hierarchy chart to give you some idea of where each card falls in relation to others:
http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 042-7.html

The PSU was the Antec NEO ECO 520C for $55 + shp at Newegg. There are many good ones to choose from. I was just recommending a good unit big enough to run a fast graphics card that didn't cost an arm and a leg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] fn7vg2y5bb

Another good one at that price range w/free shp. is the CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W (May even be a better unit than the Antec)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139027

They are both single rail PSUs. My choice, but not everyone's. Some folks prefer split rails. Either way, you will be fine if you stay at 500W or greater. I wouldn't go any lower than 500W.

Lots of expense for a Athlon II X3, but it will definetly improve your gaming...
You should always try to match memory when you install it. You may get lucky and have your 2 sticks from the Aspire work with the 2 new sticks, but you'll take a chance. The problem is basically timing and speed. Your best to use the same brand/speed/etc. for each slot.

The components you picked are all acceptable and will work together. But...
The graphics card you chose is less powerful that even the low profile one I linked you to. And you don't need a 2GB card for a single monitor. If you're going to spend that much money on a nearly new build... get a more powerful 1GB card.
GTX 460 768 MB, GTX 460 SE, GTX 550 Ti
-or-
HD 5830, HD 6770, HD 6790

MINIMUM.

So I have chosen this video card http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produ [...] 6814500202 and you said that the PSU I have chosen will work with both this video card and the motherboard I have chosen and thank you alot for all the advice it has really helped me decide on a good setup

Yes, very good choice. That's a fine card. May I ask what resolution your monitor is that you game at?

1920 by 1080I think but have a 51 inch 3d tv so really want to start using it for this. thanks for all the help. Take care and thank you again

Yes, today's PSUs come with a 20 pin connector (for legacy boards) with a 4 pin section that attaches to the 20 pin to make it a 24 pin connector.