Upgrading advice needed from a tech noob

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redwolf_22

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Hi, this site was suggested to me at gamespot, and I'm needing a second opinion about upgrading my 2-3 year old pc. Its an HP M7635.uk, rolling out the specs...

Intel core 2 duo E6400 @ 2.13 Ghz
2.00 Gb RAM
Radeon x1300 / x1600 512mb
Microsoft windows Xp (media center edition 2005)
(Mother Board is a ASUStek Basswood)

So can I upgrade it? What can I upgrade? And how easy is it to do it yourself, (haven't even touched the components before, really am a tech noob)

http://uk.gamespot.com/forums/show_msgs.php?board_id=314159272&topic_id=26541159

Thats the original topic, full of info. Hope it helps, and thanks.
 
OK what exactly do you want accomplish with this upgrade? Better gaming performance? Better video rendering performance? etc

Also, what's your budget for this upgrade? In your native currency please.

EDIT:
Oh if you're planning on a better gaming performance, you will need to get a new power supply since that 300W PSU of yours will not support any new card out now.

And yes your E6600 is a good choice so no real need to upgrade that.
 
Upgrading your video card and power supply is the only thing I see worth upgrading. As far as cpu/ram, don't bother. I wouldn't bother popping in a Q6600 on an old P965 chipset mobo. RAM, 2 gigs is plenty for only Win XP O/S. Also, if you do upgrade your video card, I would say get a 9600GT or 8800GT video card. But, make sure your HP computer has clearance to accomodate these longer video cards. Measure and see if you have 9.5" clearance. If you do, you should be good. Also, as Danny just mentioned you will need to upgrade your PSU as most brand name pcs come with crappy and weak PSU.
 
Well most of the info is in the link i posted, but its filled with useless details so i'll give a summery of it.

Basicaly i'm wanting a better rig thats able to play the upcoming years games without problems. Got a budget of £800 at the moment, probably even more by next year, and i've decided that it would be interesting to upgrade my exsisting one instead of getting a new one.
I was recommended this psu:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...4&name=Corsair VX 450W ATX PSU (CMPSU-450VXUK)
and this Graphics card:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-070-GW
But found a better one that I can afford:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-091-PC

And I would possibly want to improve my processor (might as well do the whole system). Just wanted to know if my Mother board / pc would support all that. I would check for you, but i don't know how.
Also, i've got a free copy of windows vista (probably home basic) that came free with the pc. Worth getting?
 
What size monitor do you have?

Also, you cannot upgrade the CPU any further cost effectively. The highest CPU that your motherboard supports is the E6700 but it is not worth the price since it treads into the price range of newer and faster CPUs that your motherboard cannot support. So in other words, you're stuck with the E6400.

And what do you mean by the OS that "came free with the PC"? Was it already installed or was it an actual OS installation CD (not a OEM specific restore CD)?

Anyway, there's not much you can upgrade on your current PC cost-effectively. For now, your most cost-effective upgrade would be the Corsair 450VX power supply and ATI HD4850 card. Save the rest of the money for a full overhaul next year. That leftover £650 won't provide major cost-effective gains, even if you did build a new PC.

Though, as HardwareGuru said, measure the inside of your case (starting from the rear PCI slot) and make sure that you have at least 10 inches or 25.4 centimeters clearance for the video card to fit.
 
I'm guessing it was an "upgrade to Vista whenever it gets released" type of deal... remember those? :p I may be wrong, but if I'm right, your chance for the free upgrade may be gone, IIRC.

I agree, get the PSU and HD4850, if they fit.
 
Thanks a lot guys. I’ve got about 11" (if I move the bundled bunches of wires to the side) more space lengthwise and about 5" more width for a new Graphics card, but I will struggle to fit it in if a new one if a new card is any higher (I am meaning about 1cm more, tight fit). I can't accurately measure the PSU because its in its own cage.

I've got a spare "Slot" several "Slots" below the one my graphics card is plugged into that is similar and would be able to accommodate a lot more space.

19" monitor that goes up to 1440x900 70Hz, but usually play games at 1024x768.

The vista os came free and is waiting for me to collect (it was on the verge of being released at the time) like a reserved copy. But when people started complaining about vista, I decided not to get it. Its likely its collection is overdue; ah well, wasn't that bothered about vista anyway.

The actual internal cage is (LxWxH) 36x18x36cm.

My descriptions are probably rubbish, so if you want a pic of the interior, just ask.

I see Danny Bui has the same processor as me working at 3.2Ghz, so would over-clocking be effective (I am a noob and don't have a liter of liquid nitrogen at hand).

Thanks.
 
redwolf_22 said:
My descriptions are probably rubbish, so if you want a pic of the interior, just ask.
Click to expand...

Yes, can you please take a picture of the inside of the case?

redwolf_22 said:
I see Danny Bui has the same processor as me working at 3.2Ghz, so would over-clocking be effective (I am a noob and don't have a liter of liquid nitrogen at hand).
Click to expand...

You don't need LN2 just to overclock a CPU these days. Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs, like the E6400 we both have, are ridiculously easy to overclock. Hell I managed to do it with a $25 heatsink fan (HSF). However, it would not be cost-effective for you to OC. Your motherboard does not have overclocking options and you'll need a good HSF in order to maintain that overclock.

So you're looking at $85 or so just for a cheap overclocking motherboard and HSF. In addition, you would have to buy faster DDR2 800 RAM just to hit 3.2Ghz like I did. So that's another $40. So you're looking at $125 minimum just for a 1Ghz OC. Not worth it IMO. Especially considering that you pay more for hardware than we do here in the US. So that $125 could be even higher for you in the UK.

So forget about overclocking. At 2.13Ghz, the E6400 is sufficient.
 
Or, if you're cheap yet adventurous, you could do the pad/BSEL mods, hehe; but thats not for novices.
 
Heres a link to the pics (Gamespot Again, couldn't be bothered setting up an account on a image site just for two pics) and I apologies for the shoddy camera work :p

http://uk.gamespot.com/users/redwolf22/images?tag=all-about;header;more

Well, i've got £800 at the moment; so thats about £200 for a new Gfx card, £150 (roughly) on upgrading my components to support an overclock. So all in all £400 would be around the price to improve my system, and comparing to £1000 for a new system, it seems an overclock could be cost effective (disagree?). But then again, should I wait till next year?

So, forgetting about overclocking, how would I go about upgrading my graphics card? And what do I need to check to make sure it is compatible? And is the room I've got sufficient for it?

Also, which Gfx card would you recommend? And which would fit (if either)?
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=GX-070-GW

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=GX-091-PC

Thanks again.
 
Havign not read the gamespot thing. Sounds liek you bought your PC from a store. If thats the case. Chances are high you won't be able to OC your cpu on current mobo.
 
You won't be able to overclock at all on your HP system.

If you want a quick stopgap, follow Danny's advice and get the Corsair VX450 and the HD4850. (The HD4870 is unnecessary for the resolution you're currently using.) A cheaper, yet still effective alternative to the HD4850 is this XFX 8800GT, which is currently on sale.

Is the £800 all you have to spend on all of your upgrades? If so, you may be able to build a completely new system with that amount.

£35.24 - Antec Three Hundred
£9.38 - Two Yate Loon D12SL-12 fans (@ £4.69 each, for Three Hundred)
£46.99 - Corsair VX450
£70.49 - Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L
£84.59 - Intel E7200
£22.31 - Scythe Katana 2 CPU cooler
£29.36 - G.Skill 2x1GB DDR2 800 kit
£15.26 - Samsung SH-S223F/BEBE SATA DVD burner
£38.76 - Western Digital WD3200AAKS 320GB SATA HDD
£82.24 - XFX 8800GT (this week only)
=====
£434.62 - Subtotal (including VAT but not including shipping or rebates)
 
Thanks tiraides. I'll build my own rig in a few years, though at the moment I’m still interested in upgrading my existing one. Mainly due to the fact that I'd like to keep all the software that’s in it (ain't to keen on buying it all again) and for the experience as well.

Also, its kind of in a box like enclosed space (with the back open but near a wall and the front panel on a hinge) so it might overheat. A problem.

So if I replaced the Mother board. The graphics card. The PSU and overclock or replace my processor.... Would that be worth it, and how future proof would it be? (Bearing in mind hardware prices falling over the next few years) Or would it be better to wait?


On a side note, how does overclocking work? Is it a simple matter of supplying said hardware with more power, or is there more to it than that?
 
redwolf_22 said:
So if I replaced the Mother board. The graphics card. The PSU and overclock or replace my processor.... Would that be worth it, and how future proof would it be? (Bearing in mind hardware prices falling over the next few years) Or would it be better to wait?
Click to expand...
You're not going to be able to future proof your machine with an upgrade. You're just operating with too much legacy and OEM hardware. An HD4850 will bring you up to speed and play games just fine for a year or two. You're wasting your money putting anything else into an upgrade.
 
itchyeyes, thanks, probably saved me a lot of money. So what now? Picked my new gfx card, the HD4850, and a new PSU, the Corsair VX450, but I can't help thinking that there are more specifications waiting to annoy me. So what do I need to check to make sure its compatible (like the size of the card / PSU and whether my motherboard can support them, anyone know of a site where I can check?)
 
The Corsair 450W should be fine.

The card is PCI-E2.0 16x. Your slot is only PCI-E1.1 16x, but thats fine, since none of the current cards can saturate the bandwidth of PCI-E1.1, nevermind 2.0. :p
 
pfft... oh, sorry, was referring to the comments in that link from tiraides.
 
Thanks tiraides, I've got enough room (though I don't know about the height, any help?)

So, what do I do when i've got the Gfx card and PSU? (still need conformation on whether its compatable) Any chance of reyclyling my old card to make it work the new one? (stupid question, but you never know..)

Also, how good is my processor and will it get outdated soon?
 
redwolf_22 said:
Thanks tiraides, I've got enough room (though I don't know about the height, any help?)

So, what do I do when i've got the Gfx card and PSU? (still need conformation on whether its compatable) Any chance of reyclyling my old card to make it work the new one? (stupid question, but you never know..)

Also, how good is my processor and will it get outdated soon?
Click to expand...

The Corsair 450VX and the HD4850 will fit inside that case. A bit close height-wise for the video card but it should fit. No chance of reusing your old card in your current system. And the E6400 is technically outdated already (There have been a few new CPU releases since the E6400 was introduced) but it's still a pretty good CPU
 
Thanks Danny Bui (I feel like i'm using thanks to much, but the help has been great) needed the reasurance. Ok, so i'll get the PSU and Gfx card which probably add up to £200 including shipping.

I'd like to make my pc as future proof as possible, so any other recomendations? Or am i fine for a few years with those components (i'd like to be able to play mid spec)
I play a lot of stratagy games; so will Empire: Total war be fine with my current processor?
 
Also, how does the HD4850 compare to other cards in the market? And to the one i've got? (the radeon x1300/x1600) and will I be able to overclock it (just want to learn) and use it in crossfire?

And would anyone recommend a better card?
 
The HD4850 is the best bang for buck card right now under $200.

Go to gpureview.com and click on compare cards.

You'll be able to use the HD4850 in Crossfire if you got a Crossfire board (P45 or X38/X48; P35, too, but crippled).

OC'ing? dunno... I havent read up on how hot these things run, since I don't typically OC my vidcards. :p
 
redwolf_22 said:
I play a lot of stratagy games; so will Empire: Total war be fine with my current processor?
Click to expand...

Yes the ETW will be fine with your current CPU. You're fine for at least one more year with the Corsair PSU, HD4850 and current CPU. Max two years.
 
So, double checking, the Gfx card is compatible (although i've got a PCI-E1.1 16x), the psu is compatible, or is it? And how much wiring would be needed, and what’s the difficulty of it? (Considering that i'll have to move a bundle of wires to the side to fit in the HD 4850)

Will the 450w power supply damage any of the other components or wires?

I'm now considering preserving my system for as long as I can. So, although you disagreed earlier, should i look into getting a new mobo (or other components) that will allow me to overclock / upgrade in the future?

Thanks again.
 
Yes the GPU is compatible with your motherboard despite your motherboard only having PCI-E x16 1.1. The PSU is compatible and it will not damage any parts of your PC. Can't say on the difficulty level since I don't have that case.

You already know my thoughts on getting a new motherboard/RAM/HSF. However do note that note Intel motherboard you buy today will not be compatible with any new Intel CPU and RAM being released 6 months from now.
 
Ok, I'll stick to the simple Gtx card and PSU for now. I was recomended a more powerful PSU, like 650>, worth getting instead? Because I could just recycle it if a build a new system.

I didn't mean that I was going to get a new Mobo/RAM/etc just now, but maybe in the future.
 
redwolf_22 said:
Ok, I'll stick to the simple Gtx card and PSU for now. I was recomended a more powerful PSU, like 650>, worth getting instead? Because I could just recycle it if a build a new system.

I didn't mean that I was going to get a new Mobo/RAM/etc just now, but maybe in the future.
Click to expand...

For your current system and most likely your future system, the Corsair 450VX is more than enough. And how far in the future are we talking about?
 
I'm still not sure about the 450w PSU, as I read somewhere that the next gen cards will require 500+w, and I'd like to last and reuse it in a few years.

When in the future will I think about buying new components? Don't know, but probably when my processor struggles, so maybe a year or two.

Actualy, isn't there a "war" going on between ATI and Nividia? Just wondering if I could get a better quality card for a lower price in about 3 to 6 months.
 
redwolf_22 said:
Actualy, isn't there a "war" going on between ATI and Nividia? Just wondering if I could get a better quality card for a lower price in about 3 to 6 months.
Click to expand...

That "war" is called competition and it's been happening for the last decade or so. NOthing special. Just business.

Yes you would be able to get a faster card for a lower or similar price in 3 to 6 months from now. But this ALWAYS happens. Six months ago, the 8800GT card was on top. Now it's the HD4850. Six months before the 8800GT, the 8800GTS 320MB was on top. Every six months or so, there will always be a newer/faster card coming out. IN fact, this is true of the entire computing industry in general. There's ALWAYS something new around the corner.

So don't worry about it. Just buy the HD4850 and be satisfied with it.

For the PSU, just go with the Corsair 550VX if you want a bit of headroom for future upgrades.
 
Most power is drawn from the +12V rails, so its important to find out the +12v rail requirement of whatever component you're looking at. Some 450W PSUs have weak ~17A +12V rail(s), while others, like the Corsair 450W, has 33A! Its not just about wattage, and not all PSUs of equal wattage are made the same.
 
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