want to upgrade my slimline... help

**LSUdeuce22** · August 5th, 2010, 02:48 AM

So I am looking to get my HP Slimline to run games well. Specifically, Starcraft 2. HERE is a link to my CPU straight out the box...
The only changes I have made are the OS. I now have Windows 7 Enterprise. I also upgraded the RAM so I now have 4G of RAM instead of 2G.

I ran the test over at this website and it said that i needed a new video card. The results from that test are attached. I would like to have a setup with the recommended specs instead of just the minimum.

My suspicion is there are three options. Upgrade, Build, or Buy New.

I have been told that I cannot upgrade for lack of space in the slimline case and lack of power supply for the video card i would require for playing games. I have looked into it and it seems that there are VERY few video cards that would meet my needs in this case. And if I could get the right card I do not know if I can get a larger power supply.

If I were to build I do not have much of a budget so, (bear with me if I sound stupid because i do not know) Can I use the majority of my existing CPU. Basically take it all out minus the power supply and video card. Take all of those components and put them in a new case with the new video card and power supply. Is this even possible?

If neither of these are options for me please let me know. I really just want to play starcraft 2.

Please Help...

**osprey4** · August 5th, 2010, 07:40 AM

Hi LSUdeuce22,

Welcome to TechIMO.

Your board has a PCIe x16 slot, so you could probably upgrade with a low-profile video card, like this one.

**LSUdeuce22** · August 5th, 2010, 10:32 AM

Will this fit into the case? I get that it is low profile, but isn't there a difference with my case being not as wide as most other normal cases? Also, would I need to replace the power supply for my computer to run that card?

**JPMiller** · August 5th, 2010, 11:09 AM

I truly dont suggest upgrading that PC as is...
I feel you have 2 viable options...
Sell it as is and purchase new parts to build yourself...
or...
Take out the CPU, memory, hard drive and optical drive, COA, and possibly the motherboard, and reinstall in new case, with PSU and video card...

Other models close to this, used custom micro ATX motherboards with non standard standoff mounting holes, so a new Mobo is likely

Heres a short list of possibilities if transferring...
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $65
Newegg.com - Rosewill R223-P-BK 120mm Fan ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $35
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Elite 460 RS-460-PSAR-J3 460W ATX12V V2.31 Power Supply $30
Newegg.com - XFX HD-567X-YNFC Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit $90

Under $250 for a decent midrange gamer rig
Will run Starcraft 2 well from what I've seen

**RicheemxX** · August 5th, 2010, 11:37 AM

I'd second most of what JP said, and here's why:

You could add in a low profile card however from my understanding StarCraft 2 has some seriously high recommended specs. much higher than any of the low profile cards I see listed. So while you may be able to add in a low end card and get some game play its really not going to be anything great. If you swap everything over to a bigger case you can then add in a more powerful PSU and much better GPU.

Will this fit into the case? I get that it is low profile, but isn't there a difference with my case being not as wide as most other normal cases?

Thus the reason for the LOW PROFILE suggestion. They come with brackets that aren't as wide as normal cards.

**LSUdeuce22** · August 5th, 2010, 12:19 PM

I think I might go ahead and get one of these low profile cards and see what kind of performance I get out of it. I mean, if I can get Starcraft 2 to run full speed with low settings on I will be happy enough. I would LOVE to play it with the video settings to ultra but it looks like I will have to build or buy a new gaming PC.

Anyone have any suggestions on what is the best option for me with the low profile cards?

and thanks to all who have already helped.

**JPMiller** · August 5th, 2010, 12:28 PM

Thats just it, any card worth getting will either not work with your PSU, or it will eventually make it fail, most likely causing system hardware damage...
Replacing the PSU is a hassle, and most likely expensive as well.

**LSUdeuce22** · August 5th, 2010, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by osprey4

Your board has a PCIe x16 slot, so you could probably upgrade with a low-profile video card, like this one.

I was looking into this card and noticed that it required a 400 Watt power supply. How do I find out what my computer has?

**JPMiller** · August 5th, 2010, 01:34 PM

Yours is probably in the 250W to 300W range at most, and weak at that...
Its most likely drawing near its max now...
Eventually it will fail...
You've been warned, this isn't a viable option

(If you still want to know what it is, you'll have to take the cover off the tower, and look at the sticker on the power supply inside

**ShyguyXPC** · August 5th, 2010, 01:57 PM

that cards a piece of crap, the 8400GS, and won't run SC2 if at all.

JP's advice aside (and its IMPORTANT advice) about the Power Supply unit.

if your going to try Low profile at least do your self a favor and get one that's worthwhile

Newegg.com - MSI N220GT-MD1GL/D3 GeForce GT 220 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card

or

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100293DP Radeon HD 5570 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Low Profile Ready Video Card w/ Eyefinity

the latter being the more powerful GPU.

**LSUdeuce22** · August 11th, 2010, 08:08 PM

ok, so here is what i got...
HP Pavilion Slimline s3320f Desktop PC
with the 4G RAM instead of the 2G.

went and got one of these XFX Radeon HD 5770

and these Rocketfish™ - 500-Watt ATX CPU Power Supply

and this case Thermaltake Soprano RS 101 VG7000BWS Steel ATX High Ventilation Window Case

so i want to move the guts out of the HP slimline minus power supply and video card and put it all in the new case.

how difficult will this be?

**LSUdeuce22** · August 14th, 2010, 11:25 AM

done and done

running Starcraft 2 on ULTRA settings...

effin AWESOME!

**JPMiller** · August 14th, 2010, 02:09 PM

Well if your lucky, you got a BFG rebadge...
If not, you'll have fun putting out the fire your likely to have when it finally fails...

Word of caution to all who read this thread....
DO NOT BUY HOUSE "BRAND" PSU's!!!!

**ShyguyXPC** · August 14th, 2010, 02:43 PM

In other words, Ultra (Tigerdirect), Rosewill (Newegg), Rocketfish (Bestbuy), etc

**LSUdeuce22** · August 14th, 2010, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by JPMiller

Well if your lucky, you got a BFG rebadge...
If not, you'll have fun putting out the fire your likely to have when it finally fails...

Word of caution to all who read this thread....
DO NOT BUY HOUSE "BRAND" PSU's!!!!

ok nay sayer. we will see how long i can play without starting a fire. and by "finally fails", how long do you expect it to last before blowing up in my living room and torching all of my belongings?

**JPMiller** · August 14th, 2010, 09:38 PM

Thats the fun part, you get to live in constant fear...
Will it go?
When will it go?
What will it take with it?
Did I forget to turn my PC off when I left the house?
Does my insurance cover "cheapness"?
Theres no gaurantee in anything, but your stacking the odds against yourself when you buy "who knows, who made this", house brands...

In most cases I find that cheap power supplies run fine for the first year or so... Then the capacitors overheat, dry out, and burst into flame, and since they cut corners and used low grade components and little if any safety features, you get all that "blow back" through your system...

Good luck and make sure you replace those batteries in your fire alarms

**LSUdeuce22** · August 14th, 2010, 09:54 PM

thanks JP...

you are so cool

**JPMiller** · August 14th, 2010, 09:58 PM

Why do I get the uneasy feeling you rolled your eyes when you typed that, and that you don't actually mean I'm COOL....

**ShyguyXPC** · August 15th, 2010, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by LSUdeuce22

thanks JP...

you are so cool

He's not joking dude.

Some go out like this: YouTube - HP D530 Power Supply BOOM

others can slowly smolder and then start burning.

I have one 450W PSU that was an "ok" brand at one time, actually have 2 of them, one still works the other is fried, and had a burning plastic smell to it.

wouldn't power anything anymore, would only get a constant burning smell from it as long as it was on, as well as a buzzing sound.

other power supplies can suddenly burst into flames,

Best Buy is known for marked up prices on items, and chances are if that Rocketfish PSU had been rebranded as any other name and sold elsewhere on line it wouldn't be any more than $20.

the only Quality brand unit I know of even Close to 500W in that price range is that one Coolermaster 460W unit, most other 500W or close to that Wattage start around $40-50 and go up from there.

Anyways, JP and some of the others here are serious when they're talking about these units having a MUCH greater chance of going up in smoke.

I've never had a system Fry from a bad PSU, but then again, I've only had one or so bad units in my time, just been lucky, and have been using Quality Brand units since my First AMD Athlon XP system 8 or 9 so years back.