Best PCI x16 I can get to upgrade old computer?

[Rifter]

Wow some people just cant handle being wrong.

OP replace the whole system, even if you spend the cash on a new slimline PSU that CPU is going to be way to underpowered for anything that could be considered modern gaming, and will not be enough to power even a modern midrange GPU to its potentioal.

 

[Gordon Freemen]

Wow some people just cant handle being wrong.

OP replace the whole system, even if you spend the cash on a new slimline PSU that CPU is going to be way to underpowered for anything that could be considered modern gaming, and will not be enough to power even a modern midrange GPU to its potentioal.

What happened mate is OP did not post his system specs from the get go so when OP finally did post his system specs I immediately deleted my previous post and recommended he upgrade his PSU before anything else.

 

[jvroig]

The drama is giving me a headache.

Discuss the OP's problem, and only the OP's problem. Everything else will be considered infraction-worthy. No more derails.

Moderator jvroig

 

[Magic Carpet]

I would get a new case (ATX or mATX), a new power supply and a used 5770 or 7750. And if that won't be enough, I'd upgrade the rest. Simple.

 

[nenforcer]

not that it matters much but that should be a 65w 5400+ X2.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

It does matter, thank you for pointing this out. The PCB / VRM's on that MiniITX motherboard may only be limited to 65W cpu's so he would have to settle for a 45W 5050e for any kind of cpu upgrade that results in a power reduction.

 

[Denithor]

OP replace the whole system, even if you spend the cash on a new slimline PSU that CPU is going to be way to underpowered for anything that could be considered modern gaming, and will not be enough to power even a modern midrange GPU to its potentioal.

Exactly.

It's simply not worth trying to convert this box into a gaming machine. The only 'short' cards are those with very low power designed for HTPC use, not gaming. Including the 7750. Just look at some benchmarks of the 7750 in BF3 and and you'll see what I mean.

What screen resolution do you intend to use for gaming? That will determine how much video card you need to purchase.

 

[mlah384]

Exactly.

It's simply not worth trying to convert this box into a gaming machine. The only 'short' cards are those with very low power designed for HTPC use, not gaming. Including the 7750. Just look at some benchmarks of the 7750 in BF3 and and you'll see what I mean.

What screen resolution do you intend to use for gaming? That will determine how much video card you need to purchase.

I've actually considered putting it all in an old antec mid tower case I have with a 350w Psu or either buy a new Psu, and take the 8800gt off one of my computers and put in it. And use a 19" 4:3 samsung LCD at 1280x1024 or something... Then I would just buy a vid card for my computer...

 

[blckgrffn]

An 8800GT and a old Antec 350W PSU probably isn't a good combo either, but a step up from where you are. It would be interesting if that HP mobo even fits in that case.

I'd still sell it as a whole, working unit w/legit OS (assuming it has a COA) and buying much better parts from the FS/FT forums.

 

[DominionSeraph]

An 8800GT and a old Antec 350W PSU probably isn't a good combo either, but a step up from where you are. It would be interesting if that HP mobo even fits in that case.

According to the motherboard specs it's mini-ITX, so it should fit in an ATX.

And a "step up"? A 6150SE performs on the level of a Geforce 256. No, we are not talking about a 200 series Geforce, that's the Geforce 1.
6150 has 850 MT/s fill rate and uses system RAM. The 8800GT has 33,600 MT/s and 56GB/s memory bandwidth.

An X2 5400+ paired with a 8800GT can play all but the most demanding games.

 

[blckgrffn]

According to the motherboard specs it's mini-ITX, so it should fit in an ATX.

And a "step up"? A 6150SE performs on the level of a Geforce 256. No, we are not talking about a 200 series Geforce, that's the Geforce 1.
6150 has 850 MT/s fill rate and uses system RAM. The 8800GT has 33,600 MT/s and 56GB/s memory bandwidth.

An X2 5400+ paired with a 8800GT can play all but the most demanding games.

As long as the PSU can handle it, of course. It's a better spot, but maybe not tenable, selling what he has and getting a SB Celeron is likely a much better avenue to pursue.

Does the HP have a standard pinout for front connectors, etc. What is being compromised to get a working a system probably isn't worth it, considering how much more his HP is worth on the used market in one piece vs parted out IMHO.

And yes, I do realize we are talking "no games" currently and "most games" in a future state with this hardware, but the 5400+ is seriously under-powered CPU. I just sold one that I had in use for years because it just couldn't justify it's power consumption based on its performance.

There are plenty of games that are going to be needing that as a minimum CPU option, never a great place to find oneself. Anything requiring a 2+ Ghz Core 2 Duo as a minimum CPU is going to be borderline with that CPU. To do all this work and then find out performance is "meh" to unusable sounds like a waste of time.

The 8800GT coupled with a better CPU (easily and cheaply aquired) is going to be cooking with gas.

 

[DominionSeraph]

It's a better spot, but maybe not tenable, selling what he has and getting a SB Celeron is likely a much better avenue to pursue.

It's for an 11 year old.
Give him an X2 5400+, an 8800GT, and the 1000 best games of the last 14 years, and let him upgrade when he's done at age 40.

 

[blckgrffn]

It's for an 11 year old.
Give him an X2 5400+, an 8800GT, and the 1000 best games of the last 14 years, and let him upgrade when he's done at age 40.

lol, well, that's one way to do things

I'll stand by my assertion that selling that entire PC as a unit (especially as he has a case, PSU and video card at the ready) he may as well get a platform that's worth spending the time on.

I mean, he needs a mobo, CPU and RAM? Arguably the easiest components to find deals on these days.

As in something with DDR3 support and the ability to use a quad core so that he doesn't need to come back and post the same questions a year from now - or a couple months from now, when the PC is obviously not cutting it. Especially if BF3 is actually going to get fired up on that guy.

 

[Revolution 11]

OP, you said your kid is 11 years old. Not meaning to harp on you, but shouldn't he be playing outside. That's what I did at his age. :awe:

If you are set on corrupting your kid's soul with video games (before his natural time), sell the PC. You can try upgrading it but it is old enough that newer games will stress it again....and again. You will end up spending more money by upgrading one component at a time instead of building/buying a medium-tier gaming PC.

 

[Magic Carpet]

OP, you said your kid is 11 years old. Not meaning to harp on you, but shouldn't he be playing outside. That's what I did at his age. :awe:

If you are set on corrupting your kid's soul with video games (before his natural time), sell the PC. You can try upgrading it but it is old enough that newer games will stress it again....and again. You will end up spending more money by upgrading one component at a time instead of building/buying a medium-tier gaming PC.

+1. Ditto.