Help on Upgrading HP Pavilion Slimline s3910t

[r1cefarm3r]

Hey guys, I need a few pointers and tips on part selection to upgrade this crappy computer into hopefully a much better desktop (this model is 3 years old and bad to begin with). I decided to try to upgrade this PC before starting a custom built one to have some familiarity with computer hardware before I tackle something that's going to cost a lot. Here are the links to the HP Pavilion Slimline s3910t product page and it's Motherboard Specifications.

Product page
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=c01880715#N406

Motherboard Specifications
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c01357110#N410

I would appreciate if you can suggest which are the best possible upgrades to the graphics card, RAM, processor, and power supply. Thanks!

 

[ScrewySqrl]

at that age, and it was bargain basement to start with, there's not much for imp rovement. you could put a basic graphics card in it (like a 6670 low profile at best), maybe upgrade the RAM, swap a different HDD.

 

[tsnor]

(EDIT: Assumed usage for system is productivity and gaming. If you really want video editing, CADCAM, etc. let us know)

Actually you have a pretty good system.

Pentium E5300 is fine for low/medium gaming.

The current video you have stinks. However as suggested above you can add in a video card.

The video card must be a "low profile" card because that's what will fit in your case.

The HD6670 suggested above is the strongest low profile card made and will run in your system without messing with the power supply or fans.

You should be able to install card fairly easily and see a huge improvement in gaming performance. Here is a card that should fit and has good reviews. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161397

4GB of memory is fine. I would not upgrade. HDD is fine unless you are running out of room.

(EDIT 2: there is finally a low profile HD7750. This is a better card than the HD6670. Plus lower power. Will cost more. I haven't seen it retail, but this article says it available.

http://vr-zone.com/articles/powercolor-outs-single-slot-low-profile-radeon-hd-7750-graphics-card/16455.html

"What you might pass away for a bare entry-level graphics card at first glance, could end up being Sapphire's new Radeon HD 7750 single-slot low-profile graphics card. The design is a beneficiary of 28 nm "Cape Verde" silicon, which is found to have good-enough temperatures on its reference-design board. The card is ideal for mini-ITX systems."

http://www.techpowerup.com/167347/Sapphire-Squeezes-Radeon-HD-7750-Down-to-Single-Slot-Low-Profile.html

 

[r1cefarm3r]

(EDIT: Assumed usage for system is productivity and gaming. If you really want video editing, CADCAM, etc. let us know)

Actually you have a pretty good system.

Pentium E5300 is fine for low/medium gaming.

The current video you have stinks. However as suggested above you can add in a video card.

The video card must be a "low profile" card because that's what will fit in your case.

The HD6670 suggested above is the strongest low profile card made and will run in your system without messing with the power supply or fans.

You should be able to install card fairly easily and see a huge improvement in gaming performance. Here is a card that should fit and has good reviews. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161397

4GB of memory is fine. I would not upgrade. HDD is fine unless you are running out of room.

(EDIT 2: there is finally a low profile HD7750. This is a better card than the HD6670. Plus lower power. Will cost more. I haven't seen it retail, but this article says it available.

http://vr-zone.com/articles/powercolor-outs-single-slot-low-profile-radeon-hd-7750-graphics-card/16455.html

"What you might pass away for a bare entry-level graphics card at first glance, could end up being Sapphire's new Radeon HD 7750 single-slot low-profile graphics card. The design is a beneficiary of 28 nm "Cape Verde" silicon, which is found to have good-enough temperatures on its reference-design board. The card is ideal for mini-ITX systems."

http://www.techpowerup.com/167347/Sapphire-Squeezes-Radeon-HD-7750-Down-to-Single-Slot-Low-Profile.html

I've looked at the dimensions at this MSI HD 7750 version here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127665

and it just might seem to fit as it's 6.69" x 4.37" x 1.5".
Thank you for your links but do you know when those low profile cards will be up on sale, because if the MSI will fit, I might as well buy that.

 

[tsnor]

Check the HEIGHT of the PCIe slot on your slimline. You'll see a full height PCIe card is too tall to fit. The 7750 you posted will not fit in a slimline case. (I have an e7500 based slimline, like it, but don't game on it).

Now look at this card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161397 Look at the four photos. See how the normal PCIe barcket has the VGA on top attached by a cable? And how the rest of the card is lower than the VGA input? And how the card comes with a "low profile bracket" that doesn't have the VGA? Your slimline needs the low profile bracket and the low height card that comes with it.

"do you know when those low profile cards will be up on sale, because if the MSI will fit, I might as well buy that. " No, Sorry, I don't know when they come avail. The MSI lists will not fit. The low profile 6670 will be a huge step up into gaming. The 7750 is another step up beyond that. Getting the 6670 now is not a fail, you'll enjoy it. The 7750 is a good bit better and lower power, I'd wait a week to get it, but not a month. The article saying the "PowerColor's HD 7750 LP" was shipping was published 3 days ago (google "PowerColor's HD 7750 LP" and you'll see many similar articles.) Maybe chat with NewEgg and see if they know when they will be in stock. Here is the product web page with model number. http://www.powercolor.com/us/products_features.asp?id=421#Specification PowerColor HD7750 1GB GDDR5 LP Part NumberAX7750 1GBD5-HL

 

[r1cefarm3r]

Check the HEIGHT of the PCIe slot on your slimline. You'll see a full height PCIe card is too tall to fit. The 7750 you posted will not fit in a slimline case. (I have an e7500 based slimline, like it, but don't game on it).

Now look at this card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161397 Look at the four photos. See how the normal PCIe barcket has the VGA on top attached by a cable? And how the rest of the card is lower than the VGA input? And how the card comes with a "low profile bracket" that doesn't have the VGA? Your slimline needs the low profile bracket and the low height card that comes with it.

"do you know when those low profile cards will be up on sale, because if the MSI will fit, I might as well buy that. " No, Sorry, I don't know when they come avail. The MSI lists will not fit. The low profile 6670 will be a huge step up into gaming. The 7750 is another step up beyond that. Getting the 6670 now is not a fail, you'll enjoy it. The 7750 is a good bit better and lower power, I'd wait a week to get it, but not a month. The article saying the "PowerColor's HD 7750 LP" was shipping was published 3 days ago (google "PowerColor's HD 7750 LP" and you'll see many similar articles.) Maybe chat with NewEgg and see if they know when they will be in stock. Here is the product web page with model number. http://www.powercolor.com/us/products_features.asp?id=421#Specification PowerColor HD7750 1GB GDDR5 LP Part NumberAX7750 1GBD5-HL

Thank you for the information! I'm am most likely going to get the HD 6670 low profile as you said. How do you think my Pentium Dual-Core E5300 @ 2.6ghz will cope with the 6670? It's a decent processor but it uses technology from about 5 years ago, do you have any tips on overclocking it if need be? (I tried to but my Irvine motherboard does not allow me to change the clock speeds in the BIOS).

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the 6670 will not be bottlenecked by the Pentium. Most manufacturers block overclocking, and in that low profile case, getting extra cooling is tricky, so its not a great idea.

you should be good at gaming at resolutions up to 1600x900/medium settings with the 6670

 

[tsnor]

There actually is a way to OC the E5300, but you're fine just as you are. (google SETFSB).

For ref, on the last page of this article is a hierarchy grid. When you eventually buy a new PC you'll want to go up 3 tiers or more. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html