Can I upgrade this little SilverStone without spending too much?

[_Fletch_]

Hello everyone, I would like to use this PC for gaming again, but I know it needs upgrading. Thing is, I don't want to spend big bucks, and I don´t really care about super graphics (now playing Dark Souls 2 on my PS3, and it looks just fine to me).

These are the specs:

Box: SilverStone SG05 (http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=210)

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1

CPU: Intel Pentium E6500 @ 2.93GHz

RAM: 4,00GB Doble-Canal DDR2 @ 399MHz (6-6-6-18)

Motherboard: NVIDIA MCP7A (Socket 775)

Graphics: 256MBNVIDIA GeForce 9300 / nForce 730i (ZOTAC International) I think it's integrated

HD: 931GB Western Digital WDC WD10EARS-00Y5B1 ATA Device (SATA)

CDROM / DVD: TSSTcorp CDDVDW SN-S083C ATA Device

Audio: High Definition Audio device

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Best regards

 

[James Mason]

Mmm, yes somewhat depends how much money you want to spend, you might be better off just building a new PC though.

Upgrade: This is roughly what you have now. It's unfeasible to get more RAM though, as 8 GBs of ddr 2 is like 120, whereas 8GB of DDR3 (which is by default twice as fast as DDR2) is only like $60. This is, passable. http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/506/Intel_Core_2_Quad_Q9650_vs_Intel_Pentium_Dual-Core_E6500.html
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($182.96 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Zotac GF9300-I-E Mini ITX LGA775 Motherboard
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($129.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $312.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-15 14:32 EDT-0400

But you could get a new system for not too much more, and you could reuse the other parts as well:
New: http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/621/Intel_Core_2_Quad_Q9650_vs_Intel_Core_i3_i3-4160.html
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($109.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($129.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Other: SilverStone SG05 (Purchased)
Total: $386.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-15 14:37 EDT-0400

 

[_Fletch_]

Thank you James!

I guess it's more than I was thinking about spending, and you're right, it would make more sense going for a new system comparing the $312.95 vs $386.94 tags.

Would it be possible to add the Zotac GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card only? Please don't mind me if I make no sense, I'm not too savvy on this stuff

 

[James Mason]

Thank you James!

I guess it's more than I was thinking about spending, and you're right, it would make more sense going for a new system comparing the $312.95 vs $386.94 tags.

Would it be possible to add the Zotac GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card only? Please don't mind me if I make no sense, I'm not too savvy on this stuff

Yes, getting the card alone would help alot, but you'll probably hit some snags in certain games that care about the CPU. (BF4, GTAV) But I believe a game like darksouls should still run fine(ish)

 

[_Fletch_]

Oh, thanks! Just one doubt, the Zotac GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card is compatible with my current motherboard? I've been googling it with no success...

 

[James Mason]

The motherboard listed in that first build "should" be your motherboard, or one extremely close to it. All you really have to do is open the case to see if there is a PCIE lane there and the GPU will be compatible.

The 750ti is compatible with virtually all motherboards, because it doesn't require an extra power source, if your motherboard was like 10 years old there may be an issue, but it isn't.

 

[_Fletch_]

I've found the manual It's either the Zotac GeForce 9400-ITX or the 9300-ITX. Opened the case, there's a big orange-ish empty lane, so I guess it's doable.

Thanks again James!