Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

[Death Merchant]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

How much is your total budget?

I guessing your going need a motherboard, cpu, gpu, memory, and a power supply.

In other words if you want a significant upgrade to your PC, you might be better saving for a new build, because the most expensive parts have to be replaced anyway

you could always pick up a cheap graphics card for say $30-40 for now and re-sell it later once you have the money, that should make WoW and Red Orchestra very playable, BF2 probably medium/high

something like a Nvidia 7800/8600 series or ATI x1900/x2600/3800 should be able to be purchased for next to nothing on ebay (avoid the nvidia 7900's)

[Cassius55]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

Well if I got the CPU as a Christmas present and considering all the sales at Christmas I guess I could get the video card I already listed for cheap.

80 for video card
70 for tower/power supply
60 for motherboard

Total would be 210. I won't have much money left for games though, What if I just upgraded the graphics card to the 9800 and got a ATX power supply from New egg? Would there be a significant change in performance? Would I beable to play Empire:Total War on medium setting at 30-40 fps?

[Cassius55]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

HIT THE BRAKES! I thought you were just sticking a new GPU in. The 5150 can only take an Intel Pentium 4 (Which is what you already have and is also totally past its sell-by date). You won't be able to upgrade the CPU without a new motherboard and case.

Are you sure about that? I remember when I got this computer, they had a dual core version of the 5150 but it was only 2.63 ghz if I remember correctly, are you sure that the 5150 can't have a Intel Dual Core?

[jake_]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

Don't skimp on a PC upgrade because you're impatient. You'll waste your money and regret it in the long wrong.

Save a bit more money and wait until you can get a new build with a Core 2 Duo, at least.

[Flt. Sgt. Powderhound]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

Are you sure about that? I remember when I got this computer, they had a dual core version of the 5150 but it was only 2.63 ghz if I remember correctly, are you sure that the 5150 can't have a Intel Dual Core?

OK, having looked into it, it has an Intel 945G chipset, which with the basic dell BIOS will only support the old Pentium D range (Not to be confused with the current Pentium Dual Cores). Those are so out of date that it isn't worth the hassle of upgrading them.

[jake_]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

Are you sure about that? I remember when I got this computer, they had a dual core version of the 5150 but it was only 2.63 ghz if I remember correctly, are you sure that the 5150 can't have a Intel Dual Core?

OK, having looked into it, it has an Intel 945G chipset, which with the basic dell BIOS will only support the old Pentium D range (Not to be confused with the current Pentium Dual Cores). Those are so out of date that it isn't worth the hassle of upgrading them.

:nod:

Dual Core Pentium D isn't equivalent to a Core Duo, which in turn isn't equivalent to a Core 2 Duo. My mom still has a Pentium D in her destkop. Slow as hell, I say.

[Cassius55]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

So would it be worth just upgrading the graphics card then? To that 9800.

[Flt. Sgt. Powderhound]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

With a new PSU.

[Cassius55]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

Okay sounds good, so your sure a 9800 will fit in a Dell 5150? I found the most affordable power supply ever, its 450 wats and the 9800 requires at least 400.

http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=PO0450

Is this power supply good enough? Its only 20$.

[Death Merchant]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

its cheap for a reason, theres a video on youtube where they tested the cheapest power supplies and around 40% burned out (some causing actual fires) when they were pushed to the limit

id look to pay a little more for a branded one, shouldnt cost you much more and will be worth it in the long run

[jake_]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

Okay sounds good, so your sure a 9800 will fit in a Dell 5150? I found the most affordable power supply ever, its 450 wats and the 9800 requires at least 400.

http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=PO0450

Is this power supply good enough? Its only 20$.

Spend some more money for something reliable. You can skimp on some things, but not a PSU.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023

[Cassius55]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

Alright that looks good, thanks. Would I be able to run Empires:Total War on medium-high settings getting 30fps at least after upgrading my gfx card?

[Hellsent 2.0]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-lUH_f7U4w[/media]

[Cassius55]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

Ooooo that looks bad, glad I didn't end up buying that piece of junk. Anyway, are there any better gfx cards then the one I listed above in the same price range? I saw that there is a lot on newegg but I don't know exactly which one I should get. I know it has to have 1gb vid memory and has to be GDDR3.

[Death Merchant]

Re: Upgrading my computer on a Buget, would this be good enough?

have a look for Nvidia 8800gt (exacly the same as the 9800 just re-badged) Nvidia GTS 240 (again re-badged 9800)

on the ATI side look for

the 4770 and 4850 series

these a similar speeds to the 9800gt, maybe slighly faster, are in a similar price range....probably