Improve my computer for gaming.

[EdoMedo]

I want to improve my pc for gaming.
After ever game i play i always end up going back to playing Counter Strike 1.6 or Left 4 Dead ( which doesn't run that well). Basically i want to make it descent enough to be able to play the new LFD2 game and maybe COD.
I think i want to stick to Intel because im planning to change these parts one by one over time.(Don't know if there is anything wrong with doing that)

Also what should i get first?


Here is all the imformation i could get out my computer.

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 CPU 6300 1.86 GHZ (2CPUs) 1.9 GHZ
MotherBoard: ASUSTek Computer INC. Buckeye 1.05
Memory: DDR2 2048 MB
Card: Nvidia GeForece 6600

[Aaron_8015]

Well from your information a graphics upgrade would produce better performance. the 6600 was good back then but is slow by todays standards. Do you have a budget?

[ShyguyXPC]

First, and foremost (will see the single biggest improvement) is a newer updated Video card.

You'll want something like a Geforce 9600GSO or 9600GT at the least.

for ATI cards, you'll want a Radeon 4670 or 4830 at the least.

just to check first, your system, does it have AGP or PCI-Express slot for the Video card?

also what is your Power supply units specs (Brand, Model, +12V Rails amp ratings, etc)

and as Aaron said your budget range for the upgrade.




next step would be to upgrade the CPU (or at the least Overclock it a bit), 2.4GHz at least should do fine.

[EdoMedo]

First, and foremost (will see the single biggest improvement) is a newer updated Video card.

You'll want something like a Geforce 9600GSO or 9600GT at the least.

for ATI cards, you'll want a Radeon 4670 or 4830 at the least.

just to check first, your system, does it have AGP or PCI-Express slot for the Video card?

also what is your Power supply units specs (Brand, Model, +12V Rails amp ratings, etc)

and as Aaron said your budget range for the upgrade.




next step would be to upgrade the CPU (or at the least Overclock it a bit), 2.4GHz at least should do fine.

Expansion Slots 1 PCI Express x16 - 1 PCI
300 watt power supply- which i know i have to change. How much would be a good amount?
I'll post more information on the power supply tomorrow when i open the PC.

Budget is about $500.

[ShyguyXPC]

Decent PSU should be in the $40-60 ish range.

PCI Express 16x (depending on the clearance in the case, you can get a pretty substantial upgraded card in there, with that budget too)

The Budget actually is enough to get a decent PSU, good GPU, and even a CPU upgrade all in there.

While you have the case open looking for the PSU specs, see if you can find the Model of the Motherboard, usually printed on the board somewhere.

it can help us determine what CPU's will be compatible with the board. and the Chipset the board uses.


but any of the cards I mentioned should work in there fine.

even some slightly more powerful ones too (but kind of need to know what we're working with before suggesting any of those).

if you have a decent digital camera handy, see if you can take a clear pic of the insides of the case to get an idea of what kind of room there is in it. upload the photo to the forums or another hosting site like Image Shack of Photobucket.

[ShyguyXPC]

A card like this may be possible... Newegg.com - HIS Hightech H485FN512P Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

but worried that their may be a slot next to it blocked or something in the slot area next to it to prevent the card from being used due to its fan design.

but something like that would definitely need a new PSU.

something like this would be sufficient, Modular too, so if space in the case is tight, you don't need to use cables you have no use for. cuts down on cable clutter and improves airflow in case as well.

Newegg.com - mushkin 550200 550W ATX12V SLI Ready Modular Power Supply - Power Supplies


CPU upgrade, this would be nice (new E6300 replacing old E6300, and ends up running almost a full 1GHz faster )

Newegg.com - Intel Pentium E6300 Wolfdale 2.8GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

question though is whether your Motherboard can support the newer 45nm CPU's. FSB of 1066 shouldn't be much of an issue as the older Conroe Core 2 Duo's (1st gen) ran at a 1066FSB...

But between that GPU, CPU, and PSU, thats only about half your budget range.

if your board limits you to older Core 2 Duo's only, then it shouldn't be much more for a newer motherboard (though you'll probably have to reinstall windows, but to get the performance increase you'll have, its worth it)

I'm gathering you have a MicroATX motherboard from the slot info you mentioned, unless you have a Full ATX board and are using up all the other slots...

but for a decent MATX board, this would work, Newegg.com - ASRock G43Twins-FullHD LGA 775 Intel G43 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

but if its full ATX choices and options are much better as are pricing (more board for your money)

but will have to wait till tomorrow to find out more about the system, before suggesting anything.

[EdoMedo]

Ok i have some pictures.

I was actually contemplating buying a new case, my is very ugly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...y/IMG_0183.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...y/IMG_0194.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...y/IMG_0195.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...y/IMG_0196.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...y/IMG_0197.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...y/IMG_0198.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...y/IMG_0200.jpg

Im also thinking about leaving this PC alone as it is. And building a new one from scratch with a new case, mother board and everything. Would that be a better option for a 500-600 price range?

[Cvcompany]

See which graphic card is compatible with your motherboard, just check something according to today's standard. i would suggest NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT.
We've got this card installed in all our office computers as it's good for Gaming and Graphical work.
CV

[KarmaKiller]

Im also thinking about leaving this PC alone as it is. And building a new one from scratch with a new case, mother board and everything. Would that be a better option for a 500-600 price range?

Although your CPU isn't really bad. I think your on the right track.
I'd leave that be, sell it, recycle it to a media/file server. With a $600 budget you can build a pretty nice system that will serve you good for a couple years IMO.
My suggestions:

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
$102 free shipping

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards
$110 free shipping

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ - Desktop Memory
$55

Newegg.com - XFX HD-487A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
$150 free shipping (double lifetime warranty on the card)

Newegg.com - Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies
$56 free shipping

Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
$53 free shipping

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners
$24

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER ELITE 335 RC-335-KKN1-GP Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
$50 Free shipping ($10 MIR also)

(I didn't include OS on purpose, I would recommend you download the RC for windows 7, it's free til 2010 and is great!)

__________________________________________________
Total comes to $600 on the dot with no shipping or rebates factored in. BUT, many items had free shipping. And that's getting you a very fast up to date gaming rig.

[tuppy]

i have a sony vaio fw21Z that id like to upgrade a bit for gaming. Maybe a new graphics card or something.i currently have an ati radeon 3650 32bit card

[ShyguyXPC]

First start your own thread, your question has nothing to do with the original posters questions, theirs is a desktop system yours is a laptop.


2nd Your running a Laptop, a vast majority of laptops are not upgradeable in the graphics processors. if you need or want a laptop for gaming, people need to buy one made for it. if your running a 3650 already in the laptop, you should be able to play many games on lower settings already. just won't be able to crank up resolution settings and extra Eye candy options. or run games like Crysis with acceptable frame rates.

but as I mentioned you really should make a new thread about your questions before continuing as its unrelated to the original thread here.