what do u recommend..?

T

thrasher87

n00b
Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Messages
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i have a Dell XPS 400 Desktop... it only has
1gb RAM
160gb HDD
ATI Radeon X300 X550 X1050
Intel 3.0 GHz duo Core processor

I wanna make it a better gaming machine, but i cant afford a lot....what would u recommend?
 
thrasher87 said:
i have a Dell XPS 400 Desktop... it only has
1gb RAM
160gb HDD
ATI Radeon X300 X550 X1050
Intel 3.0 GHz duo Core processor

I wanna make it a better gaming machine, but i cant afford a lot....what would u recommend?
Click to expand...

For under $200 you could:

1) Increase RAM to atleast 2 gb, 4 would be better
2) Buy a 4850
 
We... need to know what kind of PSU is in there.
If you take off the side of the case, the PSU sticker should tell you what you have, and...
a picture of it would be easier.

Thank you!
 
Ok. IIRC it has 30A on the +12V rail so it is enough power for a HD 4850 or HD 5770
Posted via [H] Mobile Device
 
thrasher87 said:
so the 4850 would be my best bet then?
Click to expand...

Yup. Just don't pay more than $130 for a HD4850 1GB. Any higher and it's a total rip off. because for $145 you can get the significantly faster HD 4870 1GB (it'll also work with your PSU) with a lifetime warranty:
$145 - XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB PCI-E Video Card

So yeah, no more than $130 with tax shipping for the HD 4850 1GB.
 
see... ive been trying to figure what ram is compatible for my system but i am still new to this so where would i figure out what i have? other than tearing it out... im using the computer right now... thanks Danny btw
 
is that a Pentium D dual core cpu because the rest of that pc sounds very old? if so I would go with something like a 4670 or 9600gt with that poky cpu. a 3.0 Pentium D cant even come close to a newer Core 2 duo at 1.6 so really a 4850 would be very bottlenecked by that cpu.
 
thrasher87 said:
see... ive been trying to figure what ram is compatible for my system but i am still new to this so where would i figure out what i have? other than tearing it out... im using the computer right now... thanks Danny btw
Click to expand...
Get this, run it, post information :)
 
This should work fine.

here's the easy way to find what ram you need. Link

I recently bought this card too, and it works fine for the light gaming done on the PC I put it in.
 
Last edited:
wait - did you say your display is 1024x768?

there's a ton of cards that could game on that....
 
thrasher87 said:
yeah its pentium d dual core
Click to expand...
then there is no need to go above 4670 or 4650 then. really at just 1024x768 and with that cpu either of those cards will be more than plenty. any game you cant play smoothly at that super low res with those cards would likely be the fault of that cpu. in other words your experience in many modern games like Red Faction Guerrilla and Far Cry 2 will be quite poor with that cpu no matter what graphics card you go with. of course dont forget the other gb of system or games will be a stuttering mess.
 
cpu is
Intel Pentium D CPU 3.00 GHz

motherboard is
Dell Inc.
i945P
GI: PCI Express

memory
1024mb
DDR2
Dual Channel
 
Maximum I would stick in there is a 4670 and 2 gigs of additional ram. If you have a total of 4 ram slots add the two 1 gig sticks for a total of 3 gigs, if you only have two slots, replace the memory for a total of 2 gigs.. The x300 cards need a minimum of PCI-E 16 so I have to assume you have an actual graphics card slot there in your mobo.

Its not going to make Crysis scream for mercy, but you can do ok on a lot of games with that system for the resolutions you are talking about. It will run Half Life 2 (and games with similar requirements) very well.
 
i would like to play Crysis but im thinkin the price for the upgrades is probably outta my reach
 
thrasher87 said:
what cpu would serve me justice for price and quality?
Click to expand...
you have an old Dell so I dont think upgrading the cpu is even an option. also by the time you start upgrading everything it will get pricey. you could could just go and get a brand new pc for $350 and stick a $50 4670 in there and have a decent rig for your 1024x768 monitor. really I would try to upgrade that too if you have the money because 1024x768 is a ridiculously low res. you could just sell your old pc and monitor on craigslist to offset some of the costs of a new setup.
 
thrasher87 said:
i would like to play Crysis but im thinkin the price for the upgrades is probably outta my reach
Click to expand...
well everything costs money and your current pc is pretty outdated for playing many modern games. the cheapest thing to do would be just get another gig of memory and a 4650. that will at least allow you to easily play Crysis at your 1024x768 res on a mix of DX9 medium and high settings.
 
I would look at getting some used parts to upgrade that system. A lot of guys have some great used parts that are in very good condition. They usually sell them for really good prices!
 
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