Save my little hp

[123364]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01643518&cc=us&lc=en

This was my old system. Haven't gotten around to getting rid of it. But now I'm wondering wether I can upgrade it at all to handle some games, for my little brother.

I did was add a GeForce 9400 GT like a year after purchase. I was atually able to play wow @60 fps in lowest settings and @ 30-15 in busy areas (I could not raid 25-mans AT ALL though).

Theoretically, if I upgraded the cpu from a Phenom X4 9150e to a Phenom X4 9600, would I get much better performance or not really. Are Phenom X4 9150e really that slow? It doesn't seem to meet the min. requirements for any games... Basically my little bro wants to be able to raid 25-mans in wow and play GW2.

....is investing any amount of money just dumb?
Q: How much do you think I would get on e-bay for it.

 

[Augray37]

sigh, i hate to say it, but i would just start over bro. you have a decent little computer, but when it comes to gaming, people need to upgrade much more often. what kind of budget are you looking at?

 

[123364]

sigh, i hate to say it, but i would just start over bro. you have a decent little computer, but when it comes to gaming, people need to upgrade much more often. what kind of budget are you looking at?

$170, Lol. I guess I'm better off trying to get like $100 out of it, and streching my budget to like $250. $100 + $250 = $350 super budget build?

 

[tsnor]

Hi,

Your CPU is fine for light gaming. It's much better than the C50 CPU in this article: http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/594-netbook-gaming-performance.html

Your video needs help. The GeForce 9400 GT is not really a gaming video card. Adding in a $130 card like an HD7770 would work with the existing 300W power supply and other infrastructure and totally change gaming performance. http://www.hwcompare.com/12006/geforce-9400-gt-256mb-vs-radeon-hd-7770/ The Hd7770 is also strong enough that if you later decide that you need a fast CPU (which would drive a new MB and new memory) that you can reuse the card.

I would not do a CPU upgrade unless you got a great deal on a used CPU. This is a list of CPU upgrades -- you need an "AGENA" processor of 95W or less. Look for the Agena section in the article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Phenom_microprocessors#.22Agena.22_.28B2.2FB3.2C_65_nm.2C_Quad-core.29 For example an AMD Phenom X4 9650 is $70 used on ebay. That doesn't make sense to me compared to a refurbished i3-2100 complete computer w/windows that is around $200-250 or a new i3 + MB for around $200. Or an AMD A8 setup for $150 including video and MB.

Net, I'd keep the CPU etc just he way it is, stay with current power supply, add a low power high performance Hd7750 or HD7770 (i personally would get hd7770 if budget covers it, 7750 only saves $30). I think it'll game OK, and give you an upgrade path if you want it.

edit: passmark is not a perfect gaming benchmark, but...

c50 passmark = 494 <-- this is the CPU in the slow gaming net-book article I linked above.
your CPU 9150e passmark = 2071
9600 passmark = 2293
9650 pssmark = 2649
A6-3650 passmark = 3419

You should have enough CPU.

 

[123364]

Best answer selected by 123364.
n
nI forgot to mention that the monitor is 1650x1080, will the 7770 still do well?

 

[123364]

Hi,

Your CPU is fine for light gaming. It's much better than the C50 CPU in this article: http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/594-netbook-gaming-performance.html

Your video needs help. The GeForce 9400 GT is not really a gaming video card. Adding in a $130 card like an HD7770 would work with the existing 300W power supply and other infrastructure and totally change gaming performance. http://www.hwcompare.com/12006/geforce-9400-gt-256mb-vs-radeon-hd-7770/ The Hd7770 is also strong enough that if you later decide that you need a fast CPU (which would drive a new MB and new memory) that you can reuse the card.

I would not do a CPU upgrade unless you got a great deal on a used CPU. This is a list of CPU upgrades -- you need an "AGENA" processor of 95W or less. Look for the Agena section in the article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Phenom_microprocessors#.22Agena.22_.28B2.2FB3.2C_65_nm.2C_Quad-core.29 For example an AMD Phenom X4 9650 is $70 used on ebay. That doesn't make sense to me compared to a refurbished i3-2100 complete computer w/windows that is around $200-250 or a new i3 + MB for around $200. Or an AMD A8 setup for $150 including video and MB.

Net, I'd keep the CPU etc just he way it is, stay with current power supply, add a low power high performance Hd7750 or HD7770 (i personally would get hd7770 if budget covers it, 7750 only saves $30). I think it'll game OK, and give you an upgrade path if you want it.

Wow, exactly what I needed to know thanks!

 

[macgreen]

The 7770 can do up to 1920x1080 pretty well, so 1650x1080 shouldn't be a problem at all.

 

[andrewcarr]

Get the 7750 not the 7770 as it doesn't need a PCI-E power connector which isn't on the PSU. If you get the 7770 you'll need to spend another about $35-40 on a decent PSU that works with the card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102969

So it's not a $30 difference but more like a $60 difference between the 7750 and 7770.

 

[tsnor]

Get the 7750 not the 7770 as it doesn't need a PCI-E power connector which isn't on the PSU. If you get the 7770 you'll need to spend another about $35-40 on a decent PSU that works with the card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102969

So it's not a $30 difference but more like a $60 difference between the 7750 and 7770.

hd7770 is known to run well on HPs 300w PSU. Plenty of proof points on this forum, plus basic math that a 65W max tdp processor and an 80W max TDP video card work fine on a 300W PSU. (MB, optical drive, hdd, memory etc rarely hit 50w total)

Good point on the power connector, that's something the OP can check now and order with the video card. If the PSU in the HP is short a 6-pin connector then OP needs to get a molex to 6 pin adapter. I've used those on a few systems. They work fine and are a heck of a lot easier to install than a new PSU. They also give you another 12" or so of cable length which can be good to have. Here's a $3 version: http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-6-Inch-Express-Adapter-LP4PCIEXADAP/dp/B0007RXDDM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352844435&sr=8-1&keywords=molex+6pin

7750 is not a bad card. 7770 is better. both work on the 300W PSU in OP's PC.

 

[123364]

Nice thanks guys.