Upgrading my old crappy computer [super low budget]

[qzyxya]

When you say fresh install, you mean just re install the whole windows 7/8 operating system? Also, windows 7 or windows 8?

 

[Eureka]

Ok, thanks. Then I'll check out the 560 ti and hopefully it will be in good condition. Wow $90 for a 120gb ssd. nice price.

That's 160gb, not 120. My rule of thumb is never to pay more than $.6/GB.

And I mean a full install of Windows (whatever version came with your computer, you should have a reinstall DVD). If you get a SSD, you'll be doing that anyway. If not, it means wiping your hard drive clean and reinstalling.

Win7/8 is pretty immaterial. Windows 8 is actually a little bit faster than Windows 7, if you can get past metro.

 

[Hubb1e]

Your computer manual will have instuctions on how to reinstall the OS from scratch. It is probably an image on that 500GB drive rather than a DVD which is uncommon now. There are probably guides out there telling you how to reinstall your OS onto an SSD directly from that image on the old drive. Use the SSD as the main OS drive and the old drive for documents but you should scan the old drive with some software to make sure it functions properly. Find out who makes it and then google for diagnostics from that manufacturer. They all have their own software to check their drives out and I find them easy to use.

Then clean that sucker out. That thing is dirty and could be causing instability.

That video card isn't a 56XX. The heatsink is too small. It's gotta be a 4350 or 5450 and which is fine for desktop stuff but it too could be getting hot because that fan looks like it blows only dust.

And show some respect for your computer. People are still building machines that fast today. They are budget builds, but that's still a respectable machine.

 

[qzyxya]

Oh wow 160 is even better. So Then I'll get the 660 and that 160gb ssd for $90. When installing the SSD do you have to like buy a new copy of windows? Will it be able to sync the files from your old hard drive (or at least like load the operating system onto it, or some specific files?)

I'll look up some youtube videos on installing ssds i guess

 

[Eureka]

Oh wow 160 is even better. So Then I'll get the 660 and that 160gb ssd for $90. When installing the SSD do you have to like buy a new copy of windows? Will it be able to sync the files from your old hard drive (or at least like load the operating system onto it, or some specific files?)

I'll look up some youtube videos on installing ssds i guess

If you have the install DVD for windows for your computer, you do not need to buy a new copy? You just plug in the SSD (unplug the hard drive temporarily so you only have one drive connected). Pop the install DVD and install it onto the SSD. Windows is linked to the motherboard so as long as you don't change that you're fine.

You want to remove the windows files and bootloader from your old hard drive, and use it to store music/videos/install files, since the SSD is pretty small. Use the SSD only for windows and programs.

If you don't have an install DVD, I believe you can create a recovery one using Windows Vista and use it to install it on the SSD, but I'm not sure of this. Someone else can chime in on this.

 

[Raduque]

Old and crappy?

Put a new GPU and 8gb ram in it, and it'll put my PC to shame.

You don't know old and crappy.

 

[mfenn]

I don't really see why people are jumping down the OP's throat about the "old and crappy" line. It seems like a pretty fair assessment of the PC IMHO. It's a low end Dell, it was crappy the day it rolled of the production line, and 3 years is definitely well into middle age for a PC. That's not to say that it isn't a usable machine, but let's stop pretending like it was anything more than a budget box.

OP, your computer should have a sticker somewhere on it with the Windows license key. What OS does it have on it? I'm guessing 7, but it doesn't hurt to double check.

 

[qzyxya]

I don't really see why people are jumping down the OP's throat about the "old and crappy" line. It seems like a pretty fair assessment of the PC IMHO. It's a low end Dell, it was crappy the day it rolled of the production line, and 3 years is definitely well into middle age for a PC. That's not to say that it isn't a usable machine, but let's stop pretending like it was anything more than a budget box.

OP, your computer should have a sticker somewhere on it with the Windows license key. What OS does it have on it? I'm guessing 7, but it doesn't hurt to double check.

Thanks But I do feel kind of spoiled, i mean it was like $500 so its definitely not a piece of crap. Im sure people around the world who cant afford a computer would gladly take it.

Anyways its windows 7, but ill check on the box anyways. I'm 100% sure that when i booted it up at first it was windows 7, not like vista or w8 or something (not that windows 8 was out then haha).

 

[qzyxya]

got a pic of my psu label btw. doesnt mean anythign to me but could be helpful.

 

[mfenn]

Windows 7, that's good. There should be a sticker with the license key somewhere around the machine. Find it and write down the key and edition. Then download and burn the appropriate ISO from this page (64-bit). With the key and disc in hand, you should be able to do a fresh Windows install. That will go a long way to speeding up the machine.

 

[mfenn]

got a pic of my psu label btw. doesnt mean anythign to me but could be helpful.

385W of total 12V power output is not bad at all. You should be able to upgrade to a reasonable GPU with that. I tend to trust Dell's labels for the most part. They have no reason to lie to themselves about a PSU's rating.

 

[Eureka]

http://s20.postimage.org/9uedevk9o/IMG_2039.jpg[IMG]
got a pic of my psu label btw. doesnt mean anythign to me but could be helpful.[/QUOTE]

It tells you everything about that PSU... at least what the manufacturer wants to tell you.

You have 385W usable (on the 12V rails combined). As long as the PSU is still functioning, it will be enough power for your system, even with a GTX 660

 

[qzyxya]

I just foudn this article that compared render times in cs6 with cuda acceleration, apparantly there is little to no difference between even a gtx650 and a quadro 4000 or whatever other crazy expensive cards.
http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Adobe-Premiere-Pro-CS6-GPU-Acceleration-162

 

[Torn Mind]

385W of total 12V power output is not bad at all. You should be able to upgrade to a reasonable GPU with that. I tend to trust Dell's labels for the most part. They have no reason to lie to themselves about a PSU's rating.

The maker is AcBel, not Dell, so Dell might not have as much control over the innards. The main thing I'd worry about is the capacitors going bad eventually or this PSU being just a bit overspec'd. Right in front of me, I have an Acbel TFX PSU that died on someone's Dell 546s, and it is rife with bulging caps in the secondary. But if that's the case, he'll experience some system instability most likely.

 

[mfenn]

The maker is AcBel, not Dell, so Dell might not have as much control over the innards. The main thing I'd worry about is the capacitors going bad eventually or this PSU being just a bit overspec'd. Right in front of me, I have an Acbel TFX PSU that died on someone's Dell 546s, and it is rife with bulging caps in the secondary. But if that's the case, he'll experience some system instability most likely.

Dell specs the PSU from top to bottom, this isn't some off the shelf part. It's the same as when XFX asks Seasonic to make them a PSU, they tell Seasonic what to use to meet a certain BOM price.

 

[Torn Mind]

Dell specs the PSU from top to bottom, this isn't some off the shelf part. It's the same as when XFX asks Seasonic to make them a PSU, they tell Seasonic what to use to meet a certain BOM price.

Well, Dell doesn't exactly have the cleanest record then even with such control. The could have spent a little more money and put better caps on some of those components.

 

[Eureka]

Well, Dell doesn't exactly have the cleanest record then even with such control. The could have spent a little more money and put better caps on some of those components.

And my sidewalk could have been paved with gold. While these PSUs don't have the best track record, there's no point in throwing away a working unit. When it goes, just replace it with a reliable one. If it doesn't go, then you saved money.

 

[qzyxya]

Thanks guys. I'm gonna stick with my current psu then. I'm going to look at some used gpus. Would a gtx 580 for $195 be a good deal?

It says its been modded, i dont really know what the mods mean or if they're going to screw the thing over

1. The card has unlocked bios. 1.212V max on the Vbios
2. The heatspreader on the card has been removed, but still on the card because of the stock heatsink. Aka, Removing the nvidia heat spreader guide.
3. The card has a little cut out of the top of the cover for the Antec 620 mod.

 

[Torn Mind]

And my sidewalk could have been paved with gold. While these PSUs don't have the best track record, there's no point in throwing away a working unit. When it goes, just replace it with a reliable one. If it doesn't go, then you saved money.

I agree your logic here. If it handles the load, the it's all clear.

Thanks guys. I'm gonna stick with my current psu then. I'm going to look at some used gpus. Would a gtx 580 for $195 be a good deal?

It says its been modded, i dont really know what the mods mean or if they're going to screw the thing over

1. The card has unlocked bios. 1.212V max on the Vbios
2. The heatspreader on the card has been removed, but still on the card because of the stock heatsink. Aka, Removing the nvidia heat spreader guide.
3. The card has a little cut out of the top of the cover for the Antec 620 mod.

Performance-wise, it is a good deal as it should be more powerful than a GTX 660 and mods should result in even more performance. I don't have a clue about the mods and their effects though, so I'll let the more knowledgable take the stage.

 

[qzyxya]

I agree your logic here. If it handles the load, the it's all clear.

Performance-wise, it is a good deal as it should be more powerful than a GTX 660 and mods should result in even more performance. I don't have a clue about the mods and their effects though, so I'll let the more knowledgable take the stage.

Ok thanks.

 

[Eureka]

I agree your logic here. If it handles the load, the it's all clear.

Performance-wise, it is a good deal as it should be more powerful than a GTX 660 and mods should result in even more performance. I don't have a clue about the mods and their effects though, so I'll let the more knowledgable take the stage.

In his other thread...we need to consolidate these...the 580 is already pushing 82C under load. Any mods and that thing is going to melt down. Plus it doesn't seem like it was taken care of.

At the same price as a GTX 660, the new card is a better deal.

 

[qzyxya]

Ok I'll just get a new one then, probably a 560 or maybe a 660 if i can find the money

 

[sm625]

If you can live with the performance of a non-ti GTX 650, you'd have a much better chance of success. It is only a 60 watt card whereas the ti version uses twice as much power.

 

[Smoove910]

Wow, I can't believe you people are recommending keeping that powersupply... then once it fries and takes the mobo or gpu with it, there will be the influx of 'you should've used a better powersupply' responses.

My thoughts... Your powersupply is the backbone of your system. If you go with a crap, 3rd tier brand name powersupply, you should expect the potential problems that come with it (as well as the financial risk tied to it). Good luck op, but I wouldn't want my house foundation built out of mud rather than concrete (if you catch my drift).

 

[Torn Mind]

Wow, I can't believe you people are recommending keeping that powersupply... then once it fries and takes the mobo or gpu with it, there will be the influx of 'you should've used a better powersupply' responses.

My thoughts... Your powersupply is the backbone of your system. If you go with a crap, 3rd tier brand name powersupply, you should expect the potential problems that come with it (as well as the financial risk tied to it). Good luck op, but I wouldn't want my house foundation built out of mud rather than concrete (if you catch my drift).

I would expect an increase in system instability if the PSU can't handle the load. If that occurs, then a replacement would be performed well before the PSU dies.


Just as an anecdote, the dead TFX PSU I have is actually not a bad unit on the primary, having the X and Y caps, bridge rectifier, metal oxide varistor, blah blah blah, the indicator LED even lights up when plugged in, it's just that the capacitors failed, they were bulging, and the unit wouldn't power on at all.


If the OP feels comfortable doing this, he could crack open the PSU and inspect the internals to at least confirm no visual evidence of caps bulging( yes, I know caps can fail without any outward signs, but at least one thing we can check for is scratched off the list. I think the warranty expired anyway and it just takes a screwdriver and a little care disconnecting the cables from the mobo. It's best if he doesn't touch anything; I don't want to be held liable for not telling someone to be careful. XD