Have a e-machine et 1331g-03w

[Timp44]

I'm looking to upgrade my et 1331g-03w quite a bit

CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 dual-core processor 235e @ 2.7GHz
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Chipset: Nvidia GeForce 6150 SE
Memory: 6144MB DDR2 dual-channel (8GB max.)
Optical drive: 16x DVD±R/RW Supermulti drive
Media reader: multi card
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 6150 SE

Would like to upgrade the processor to AMD Phenom II and graphics card maybe an ATI Raedon 5000 series? Also know I would need a new power source too.


I would like someone to post some links for these 3 items so I can get an approximate cost. Looking to spend around $200-$250 but im open. Also I have no idea what any of this stuff really is so any explanation you can give would be appreciated.

 

[clutchc]

If you are wanting to try to get it up to 'gaming' grade, let's be sure your motherboard can accept Phenom II processors. Most can, but some are limited to lower wattage versions of the processors. Can you find the make/model of your board? Being as how it uses DDR2 memory, I would think it to have an AM2 or AM2+ socket.

Assuming it can handle 125W CPUs, I would recommend the PhII X4 965BE. But check the board to be sure. Since you now have an energy efficient Athlon, it may not take 125W CPUs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727&Tpk=965%20be
But be sure your BIOS is updated to a late enough version for the PhenomII.

The PSU will depend on how much graphic card you would like to move up to. It can be the most power hungry of your devices. The fastest CPU you may be able to use, would bottle neck some hi-end cards. So an HD 7850 1GB or 2GB would be a nice choice.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600286767%20600298542&IsNodeId=1&name=Radeon%20HD%207850
What resolution is your monitor?

You would want a brand name PSU of at least 500W and 40+amps on the +12V rail(s).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007657%20600014021&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=RATING&PageSize=20

 

[popatim]

I beleive that motherbd is a low power board only supporting upto 65w processors making the athlonII x2 255 about the fastest one it will support.
Sorry.

 

[Timp44]

MCP61PM-GM is the motherboard

 

[clutchc]

I believe that is the same MB Gateway used. I think it is made by ECS. If so, it is indeed limited to 89W CPUs or less.
Gateway board: http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERBD/Shared/4006254R/4006254Rsp2.shtml

popatim suggests you may have the best CPU available for that board in it now. I would have to agree unless you can find a faster processor under 89W. You may get by with a more common 95W processor, but excessive use at max wattage will eventually kill the board.

 

[Timp44]

Pop that CPU uses a AM3 socket, and it would not fit from what i've read as I have a AM2 socket. I have also found this one listed below but would have to find somewhere to buy it. I dont know how it stacks up to the one I have now. Also what graphics card would you guys suggest to complement this CPU or the CPU I have if this CPU is the best. Also would I have to upgrade my power supply for it or not since it is limited to 89w?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103771

 

[clutchc]

That's about equal in power to the Athlon II X2 dual-core processor 235e, just a bit older technology. I'm getting confused a bit. Which processor do you have now, the Athlon II X2 dual-core processor 235e... right?

The gfx card will depend on how large a PSU you have now.. And what resolution you game at.

Here are some Athlon cpus and their wattage. Remember, AM3 processors are backward compatible with AM2 boards.
http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/processors/athlon-ii-x2/Pages/AMD-athlon-ii-x2-processor-model-numbers-feature-comparison.aspx

 

[Timp44]

Yes i have the Athlon II X2 dual-core processor 235e and I game at 1024 X 768 resolution. There is an article i was reading the other day about the same machine and was looking to do something similar.

http://forums.cnet.com/7726-7586_102-5062777.html

Sorry to ask so many questions, like i said I have no idea on this stuff and I appreciate the response

In all honesty im just looking to make this game playable, here are the specs for the "high" settings followed by the specs for Medium settings ( I would like to play on high if possible )

High Settings
Internet Connection: ADSL or better

Computer Processor: Intel Core duo or AMD Athlon 64 X2 Series or better
Computer Memory: 2048 MB RAM or more
Graphics Card (with latest drivers): NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Series or better / ATI Radeon 2900 series or better.
DirectX: Version 9.0c or later
Sound Device: Direct X compatible sound device
Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768 pixels
Hard Drive Space: 10 GB of free space

Medium Settings
Internet Connection: ADSL or better

Computer Processor: Intel Pentium 4 2.8g hz or AMD Athlon 64 Series or better
Computer Memory: 2048 MB RAM or more
Graphics Card (with latest drivers): NVIDIA GeForce 7800 Series or better / ATI Radeon 1900 series or better.
DirectX: Version 9.0c or later
Sound Device: Direct X compatible sound device
Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768 pixels
Hard Drive Space: 10 GB of free space



I have the Sound device, screen resloution, DirectX version 11, plenty of Hard drive space and 6GB of Ram. So the only thing i question is the processor and graphics card. If you think my processor is ok with this requirement of the game then would a NVIDIA Geforce 8800 series or better work with my computer and if so which one? Would I need a PSU for a graphics card?

 

[clutchc]

Keeping in mind that the review you linked me to was written in 2009, yes the Athlon II X2 you have now will easily game at higher settings and higher resolutions with only the addition of a discrete card. If you've been trying to get by with just the integrated graphics, you are in for a very pleasant surprise when you move to even a mid-range gfx card. What resolution is your monitor? I know you said you were gaming at the lowly rez of 1024x768, but I assume your monitor is capable of more than that.

What size, make, model is your PSU? If you go with an HD 7750, you can probably use the existing PSU. They get all their power from the 75W the PCIe slot is required to provide. There's no sense upgrading your processor if the board is limited to low wattage CPUs. The increase in power would be miniscule. And any card better than the HD 7750 would be bottle necked by any processor that board can accept.

Depending on your budget, here are some HD 7750 cards that I would recommend:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%20600286767%20600298541&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

Here is a gaming CPU hierarchy chart to get an idea of where various processors fall in gaming power:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-review-overclock,3106-5.html

And here is a gaming Gfx Card hierarchy chart as well:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

...and I have no problem with your many questions

 

[Timp44]

After talking to many people in this game quite a few use this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202011

and suggested i should upgrade my psu to this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

what are your thoughts?

 

[clutchc]

Both of those items are excellent choices. However, you will be wasting the capabilities of both the card and the PSU without upgrading the processor. And finding a CPU below the 89W motherboard capability may be diffucult. Most are no longer produced. If you are willing to buy used from someplace like ebay, you may be able to drop in a Phenom II X2 5xx Black Edition. They are 80W CPUs if you don't unlock the dormant cores. And they will be able to keep up with that gfx card.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/CPUs-Processors-/164/i.html?_dcat=164&Processor%2520Manufacturer=AMD&Number%2520of%2520Cores=2&Socket%2520Type=Socket%2520AM2|Socket%2520AM3&Processor%2520Type=Phenom%2520II&rt=nc

What rez is your monitor?

What game are you trying to play?

 

[Timp44]

Both of those items are excellent choices. However, you will be wasting the capabilities of both the card and the PSU without upgrading the processor. And finding a CPU below the 89W motherboard capability may be diffucult. Most are no longer produced. If you are willing to buy used from someplace like ebay, you may be able to drop in a Phenom II X2 5xx Black Edition. They are 80W CPUs if you don't unlock the dormant cores. And they will be able to keep up with that gfx card.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/CPUs-Processors-/164/i.html?_dcat=164&Processor%2520Manufacturer=AMD&Number%2520of%2520Cores=2&Socket%2520Type=Socket%2520AM2|Socket%2520AM3&Processor%2520Type=Phenom%2520II&rt=nc

What rez is your monitor?

What game are you trying to play?

monitor is 1024 x 768 and the game is entropia universe

 

[clutchc]

monitor is 1024 x 768 and the game is entropia universe

You mean your monitor really is only a 1024x768 rez display!? I thought you meant you could only play at that low resolution because of the integrated graphics.
Dang. In that case you'll be wasting your money by doing anything other than upgrading to the HD 7750 alone, unless you plan on buying a better monitor.

 

[Timp44]

Res can go to 1152 X 864 but i plan on getting a new monitor in the future sometime

 

[clutchc]

OK. Now we're on the same wavelength. You must still be using an old fashioned CRT monitor. Probably a 17". What O/S are you running on your PC? Not important, just curious.

 

[Timp44]

Yes it is a crt monitor about a 19in and windows 7. So the 2 items I posted are a go?

 

[clutchc]

Yes it is a crt monitor about a 19in and windows 7. So the 2 items I posted are a go?

The TX650 PSU, Yes.
The HD 7770, Yes, but only if you do the PSU first.

Are you going to try to find a Phenom II X2 5xx BE or stay with the Athlon II X2?

 

[Timp44]

Not sure yet honestly, I may go with the Phenom II x2 5xx BE, how big of difference is it?

 

[clutchc]

Not sure yet honestly, I may go with the Phenom II x2 5xx BE, how big of difference is it?

I took the slowest of the Phenom II X2 5xx BE processors; the 550 BE and the Athlon II X2 240e and compared them. The chart didn't offer your 235e, but there's only a .1GHZ difference, so close enough.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/114?vs=97

Keep in mind when reading the graphs, that some are "lower is better" and some are "higher is better". Don't just look for which line is longer.

 

[clutchc]

You may have to hold off upgrading the processor for that board. Undoubtedly the board will need a BIOS upgrade to recognize the Phenom II processor, and I have not been able to find any BIOS downloads for your motherboard. I'm assuming you have this motherboard: ECS MCP61PM-GM AM2 mATX motherboard
The lack of support for your machine is amazing. I would avoid replacing the CPU until you can be sure of getting the correct BIOS.