MotherBoard Upgrade - Tech Support Forums

CackoWacko · October 5th, 2008, 03:31 PM

Hi, I want to upgrade my computer. Here are my current specs, so can some one recommend me the stuff that would run most games these days on atleast medium.

Intel 2.4 Ghz Pentium 4
512mb DDR Ram
256mb Nvidia Geforce 6200
80+40 gb IDE Hard disk

I have already checked a few mobos and cpus(dual core 2ghz). However my problem is the gfx card. Are onboard cards better than the one I have right one ? And If need to get a card ( say a 7 series card) what waat power supply do I require atleast. ( I think I have 250W atm, will check that)

Cheers for any help. Sorry if this is in the wrong section.

KarmaKiller · October 5th, 2008, 04:55 PM

What's your budget. Depending on that, you may be able to swing a whole new tower..

CackoWacko · October 6th, 2008, 08:20 AM

I would say around $400 maybe. I dont want a very good pc really, just an better than average one. I just want to know mainly if onboard cards are better than my current one (6200 geforce) and also do i need to change psu.

pullmyfoot · October 6th, 2008, 08:26 AM

You can build a pretty decent system with $400. Because of the budget you will have to cut some corners but in any case it will be way more powerful than your old system. What will this computer be used for? I put together a basic gaming rig for ya below.

CPU: Newegg.com - Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
mobo: Newegg.com - ASUS P5QL PRO LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
Ram: Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
HD: Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
Graphics: Newegg.com - MSI R4650-D512 Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
PSU: Newegg.com - FSP Group SAGA+ 450R 450W ATX12V Power Supply - Power Supplies
DVD burner: Newegg.com - LG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech - CD / DVD Burners

Thats $410 before taking away another $10 or so for rebates.

Alternative graphics if you can spare another $20: Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100255L Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Sell your old machine for $150 to $200 (depnding on where) and use that money to get a case and an operating system.

CackoWacko · October 6th, 2008, 09:23 AM

cheers for the help, really appreciated

pullmyfoot · October 6th, 2008, 09:37 AM

Yeah. Are you going to sell your old system if you get a new one? If not you may have to cut out the grapics and get a motherboard with some onboard graphics instead. Which really kinda sucks. The card I linked, which is pretty low end, is litereally 2 or 3 times faster than the best onboard solution (maybe even 4). In any case, what are you gonna use it for?

CackoWacko · October 6th, 2008, 09:41 AM

I am not sure, I might sell it if some one actually wants it lol. Anyway I want to know also if most onboard cards are better or worse than my current 6200.

pullmyfoot · October 6th, 2008, 09:50 AM

Well, yes of course they are going to be better. But onboard in general is all the way down there if your gaming. For a non-gaming computer it will be sufficient though.

CackoWacko · October 6th, 2008, 10:58 AM

Well, I will prob buy a gfx card later on (1-2 months maybe) but at the moment an onboard card should do ? Atleast for games like fifa etc yes ?

pullmyfoot · October 6th, 2008, 11:02 AM

you could jsut get what I listed. It will work with ffa fine. And play slightly more intensive games too while your at it. But it has good value