Advice on casual gaming rig.

Synesthesia

Member
Aug 18, 2010
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Hello Atech!

I'm a casual gamer, and not much of a hardware guy, so I was thinking about upgrading a 5 year old HP Pavillion computer in my basement to a casual gaming rig. Here are the specs:

Intel Core 2 Quad CPU @ 2.40 GHz, 2400 MHz
2GB of RAM
Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
Nvidia Geforce 7350 LE
363 GB of memory

From what i've gleaned from my nightly internet searches, my graphics card is crap for any 3d gaming (COD series, Bioshock, Bad Company 2 etc), and my 2 gigs of RAM might bottleneck my system even if I get a better card. So i'm primarily asking for the right balance of RAM and card.
Also, can you guys recommend a good defragging software? This PC has 4 accounts full of old junk and doesn't run as sharp as it should.

Use: Casual Gaming

Budget: CD$200 - maybe a bit more

Country: Canada

Brand Preference: Nvidia, unless there are better alternatives.

Parts: Buying Everything New

Similar Threads: I have found a few, but they are all looking to build a brand new gaming PC from scratch. I just want a card and/or a RAM upgrade.

Overclocking: I'm new to this, so I would say yes if a simple fan behind the tower would help at all? I use said fan to keep my MBP cool. Any OC software would be appreciated.

WHEN: Probably in a month or two.

Thanks for your help :D

EDIT: Forgot the resolution, i'm using an HP w2007 24 inch screen right now so whatever fits that I guess (I sound horribly inept at this ^^)
 
Last edited:

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,570
10,200
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It's good that it's a quad-core, that has some life left in it. It's a shame that you can't overclock with the OEM BIOS. Upping the FSB from 1066 to 1333 would give you a nice and easy boost.

I would probably look into getting:
1) first, a GTX460
2) second, another 2GB, or possible a replacement 4GB of RAM
3) re-installing Win7, except using 64-bit. You can re-use the same key, you just need 64-bit install media.

Edit: What is the wattage and individual rail ratings on the Power Supply included with that HP? You might not have the power plugs needed for a GTX460. You might need a new PSU.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
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nvidia GTX 460 768MB model should be under $200.

Just get that first, then see if you still need to change anything else. Next would probably be another 1 - 2 GB RAM.

Windows built-in defragger is fine. Before that, delete old junk files first, so you have plenty of free space. Also go to Control Panel > Add/remove programs and uninstall programs that you no longer use.

Edit: What is the wattage and individual rail ratings on the Power Supply included with that HP? You might not have the power plugs needed for a GTX460. You might need a new PSU.
<-- good point, I was going to ask that too.
 

Davidh373

Platinum Member
Jun 20, 2009
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(I had the same setup with a Core2 Duo, that HP is even more unbalanced than mine was lol :) )

Geforce 9800 or 4870 (~$120)

2 more GB DDR2 (make sure you match speed with the original) ($60)

I'd get a new 80+ PSU also. ($60)
 

Synesthesia

Member
Aug 18, 2010
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Uhmm, I have no idea where to find the wattage and ratings, short of opening the tower up. I'm really a novice at this.

I had one of those university Vista upgrade to Windows 7 things which were download only, so I'm not entirely sure if I can upgrade to 64-bit. I'll check that out.

How much would the extra 2gb of RAM cost? Is there a benefit to a replacement 4gb instead of an additional 2gb?
 

MisterDonut

Senior member
Dec 8, 2009
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The GTS250 = 9800. Literally (which, in ATi terms, ~4850). Go with that 4870 to get more performance for your money.
 

Davidh373

Platinum Member
Jun 20, 2009
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Control Panel > System and Security > System should allow you to view your product key. All you have to do at that point is find a friend who has a disk with the same version (in X64) and install with that serial.
 

Synesthesia

Member
Aug 18, 2010
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Control Panel > System and Security > System should allow you to view your product key. All you have to do at that point is find a friend who has a disk with the same version (in X64) and install with that serial.

The product key would work to activate a trial version too, right?

Anyhoo, I did some digging and found out my PSU wattage - 300W.

ATX12V-HP300BT (Bestec ATX-300-12Z CDR)

is what it said on the website.
 

betasub

Platinum Member
Mar 22, 2006
2,677
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It sounds like no-one has removed the side-panel in the time the HP has been with OP.

Well, to make any upgrades, you are going to have to open it up anyway, so get that side-panel off! That will allow you to check if it really is a POS Bestec 300W PSU (this'll need replacing to run any decent graphics card - pretty limited options otherwise), and also clean out the layers of dust and lint that have undoubted built up over the years inside the case.
 

Davidh373

Platinum Member
Jun 20, 2009
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also clean out the layers of dust and lint that have undoubted built up over the years inside the case.

lol! Totally! From all the dust my intake fan filter on my case gets, it'll be full of all sorts of dust bunnies :D
 

Synesthesia

Member
Aug 18, 2010
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Lol, none of my family is really into hardware that much so i've been handling stock computers ever since I was 8 :(.

Thanks for all the great tips guys. Really appreciate it! I think I'm going to give this project of mine a rest until after I'm done my 4 month coop placement. Incidentally, does anyone know of a reputable site/store in Canada that sells prebuilt gaming pcs? I don't think I'd be able to make one myself from scratch lol.