PC upgrades help

[wully]

Hi all

Im looking to add a new graphics card and ram/2GB to my quite old comp im willing to spend 200/250 pounds and if there any other minor updates i would have to do let me know pls. And my comp overheats prity fast so if there anything that would help with that.

My specs:

Packard bell imedia H1509.
Windows xp home edition. (5.1, build 2600)
Intel pentium 4 cpu 3.6GHz. (2CPUs)
1GB ram.
Award medallion bios v6.00PG.
Direct x 9.0c.
Nvidia geforce 8600gt 256mb (PCI-E).

So if you have any recommendations of what i could get ofcourse with the pc being quite old graphics choice would be limited but just realy want one for my current games i play.

I play the 3 stalker games alot i can run them on high settings but on
static lighting mode with no lag except call of pripyat is a bit laggy.
And the two modern warfares run fine
MW1-high setting MW2 medium

So just want to run these games better and any newer games hopefully.

And i would like to stick with an nvidia geforce card if possible THX.

[wully]

Ithink al need to add a new PSU to its only 280watts so please give me some suggestions for a PSU and graphics card which would go well with my computer.

[JLK03F150]

Hi wully & Welcome to TechIMO

You'll need to open the case and check a few things.

Regarding the over-heating, what symptoms indicate it's getting too hot? Have you cleaned the dust out of the heatsinks, fans & grills? That is the #1 reason for a PC to run hot. Next verify all the fans are working.

Have a look at your RAM. Is the 1GB one or two pieces? Does your motherboard have two or four slots?

Since you said you have a 200/250 pound budget, I'm guessing you're in the UK. Correct?

[wully]

Hi thx for reply

Well my my case is full of dust due a clean i have to take the side casing off cause when its on the comp makes a buzzing sound for around 10s and with the caseing off it stops so thats how i thought is could be overheating. And fans look fine just the dust lol.

And for the ram there are four slots two yellow two red with two ram stick's in the yellow slots 512mb each.

And yes im from the uk.

[JLK03F150]

Download, unzip and run CPUZ.exe. Give us the details from the Memory and SPD tabs. That will help us pick RAM to add to your existing RAM.
CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting

I'm in the US & only know one UK online shop. I understand their prices are high too. Hopefully a UK member will help you pick a good place to shop.

Clean all the dust out, then try finding the source of the buzzing. Sometimes that's the sound of a fan about to fail.

[wully]

Memory=
Type=DDR2 Dram frequency=266.0 MHZ
Channels=Dual
Size=1024 FSBram=1:2

ras to cas delay=4 clocks
cas latency=4.0 clocks
ras precharge=4 clocks
cycle time=12 clocks


SPD=
Module size- 512Mb
Max bandwidth- PC2-4300 (266 MHz)
Manufacturer- Infineon
Part number- 64T64000HU3.7A
Voltage- 1.80V

[JLK03F150]

Something like this Corsair Value RAM should work, either as an add-on (3GB total) or or by itself (2GB). As I said earlier, there are better places to shop for saving money.
Corsair Value Select 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-5300C4 667MHz Dual Channel Kit [VS2GBKIT667D2 ]

What are the CPUZ details on your CPU? It seems to only have a 533MHz FSB, which is low for a 3.6GHz P4 unless it is a Celeron D.

[wully]

Thats were i usualy shop for computer and stuff thx.

cpu is a intel pentium 4 3.06ghz says my Bus speed is 133.mhz and rated fsb of 532.0mhz and core speed of 3059.0 mhz

[JLK03F150]

LOL You left the 0 out of your first post. 3.6 instead of 3.06.


The GTS450 might be a good video card, but that old P4 will probably bottleneck it to some point.
Components » Graphics and Video » NVIDIA GTS 450 Series - Overclockers UK

Corsair makes a really good PSU & this 500W should be enough for some time to come.
Corsair CX 500W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-500CXUK) [CMPSU-500CXUK]

Don't hit that Buy button yet! Give others time to add their input.

You want to start considering a major system update. That P4 is going to hold back any newer mid-range video card from performing at its best. An AMD CPU & DDR2 motherboard would let you reuse most of your other hardware. We have some really good system builders around here. They are great at spec'ing bang-for-your-buck systems.

[wully]

Ok thanks alot.

[ShyguyXPC]

Keep in mind, your CPU is a Pentium 4, so its not a Dual Core (2 CPU Cores), as you stated in your first post, the Pentium 4 you have is probably Hyper Threaded, which is not the same as a Dual Core, even though the Operating system see's it as 2 cores. its not.



As to the PSU, a Corsair 400W would run it perfectly fine with room to spare. with 28A on +12V. Even an Antec Earthwatts 380W puts out the same range in Amps for +12V.

or this Antec High Current Gamer 400W PSU: Antec High Current Gamer 400W Power Supply []

but I suppose if the Corsair 500W is the same price, might as well get that instead.



Different Retailer from UK also: CMPSU-400CXUK Corsair CX 400W ATX2.2 Power Supply The CX 400W series power supply offers Corsair quality and reliability without the extra cost. : novatech.co.uk

CMPSU-430CX Corsair CX 430W ATX2.2 Power Supply The CX 430W series power supply offers Corsair quality and reliability without the extra cost. : novatech.co.uk

the 400 I think if I remember right had 30A on +12V, and the 430 has 28A. (the 400 is the older one, and the 430 is one of the newer "Builder" series)

here's the 500W Corsair: CMPSU-500CX Corsair CX 500W ATX2.2 Power Supply The CX 500W series power supply offers Corsair quality and reliability without the extra cost. : novatech.co.uk


For a bit more than on OcUK, you could get this 600W Corsair: CMPSU-600CX Corsair CX 600W ATX2.2 Power Supply The CX 600W series power supply offers Corsair quality and reliability without the extra cost. : novatech.co.uk


GTS 450, agreed will be bottlenecked by that single core P4.

so would a GTS 250, but less so than the 450 would be, since the 450 is easily better performing and costs around the same price.

but I saw this 250 for a bit less: GTS 250 1GB Novatech GeForce GTS 250 SLI 1024MB GDDR3 TV-Out/VGA/DVI PCI-Express -Retail with PhysX, CUDA & 3D Stereo 675MHz Core, 1404MHz Shader, 1024MB 1800MHz GDDR3 Memory, 128 Stream Processors, 1yr Warranty : novatech.co.uk



I'm just wondering why a Geforce card is desired and no ATI Radeon considerations?



I noticed you mentioned you tend to shop at OcUK so here's a break down list of core parts for a newer better performing system on a budget:

Motherboard: Biostar TA890GXB-HD AMD 890GX (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard [MBBIO-TA890GXBHD ]

RAM: OCZ Gold 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Low-Voltage Dual Channel (OCZ3G1333LV4GK) [OCZ3G1333LV4GK]

CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 250 3.00GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail [ADX250OCGQBOX]

All current hardware, latest AMD chipset series, AMD's cheapest out of box Dual core, and Current DDR3 Memory.

Combined with what ever Video card and PSU upgrades you grabbed now (which could easily be used in this newer hardware, in which case, the GTS 450 would be well worth it, if you saved up and grabbed some newer hardware like this to go with it down the road)

Novatech though I think is a bit cheaper in price, but you'd still probably need to save up at least 200 Pounds or so.



but for what you have to spend now, I'd just save up some more and do a complete system upgrade soon.


just as an example:

CPU: ADX250OCGM AMD Dual Core Althlon II X2 250 3.0GHz 2MB Socket AM3 - Retail Dual Core Technology, 3.0GHz clock speed, 2x512KB L2 Cache, 64-Bit Technology, HyperTransport Technology, 3yr Warranty. : novatech.co.uk

Mobo: 90-MIBB90-G0EAY00Z Asus M4A78LT-M LE AMD 760G (Socket AM3) Motherboard AMD AM3 CPU, Micro ATX, DDR3 (8GB max), 10 x USB, 6 x SATA 3Gb/s, 1 x DVI, 1 x D-Sub, 7.1 HD Audio. : novatech.co.uk

RAM: VS2GB1333D3 Corsair Value Select 2GB (1x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel Kit 1333MHz RAM Speed, CAS 9-9-9-24 Timings, 1.8-1.9v VDIMM, Lifetime Warranty with Corsair. : novatech.co.uk

New Hard drive: WD5001AALS Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 32MB Cache Hard Disk Drive SATAII 300MB/s <8.9ms 7200rpm - OEM 500GB Capacity, SATA-II Interface, 7200RPM Spin Speed, 32MB Cache, 5 Year Warranty. : novatech.co.uk

GPU: ENGTS450 DIRECTCU ASUS GeForce GTS 450 Direct CU 1024MB DDR5 Dual DVI HDMI PCI Express - Retail - With Free HAWX2 Game 783MHz Core, 1566MHz Shader Clock, 1024MB 3608MHz GDDR5 Memory, 192 Processors Cores, SLi Ready, Direct X 11 Support, 2 Year Warran

PSU: CMPSU-400CXUK Corsair CX 400W ATX2.2 Power Supply The CX 400W series power supply offers Corsair quality and reliability without the extra cost. : novatech.co.uk

Minus the Cost of a Case, and maybe new copy of Windows, you could reuse your existing Optical disc drive, keyboard, mouse, speakers, display, etc.

and the list of parts above only comes to 300-307 Pounds or so including VAT.

Something like that list of parts above, would run circles around your current system, even with just the minor upgrades you would of done, and not just run circles, but run circles at Warp 5 around it.

[wully]

Thanks for your suggestions i may just get that bunch of parts if its only costing 100 pound or more though i only know how to install ram and graphics cards so ill probobaly have to get someone in to put it together.

And why you were wondering why i only wanted geforce card i dont realy Know my self lol. probably cause ive never had a ATI card.

[ShyguyXPC]

If thats all, then there's no reason to exclude ATI card options from your choices either.

ATI makes some good cards in that price range of the GTS 450 as well, the Radeon 5750 can usually be had for a bit less, and performs a bit less, but is still a very capable card.

for a tad more the Radeon 5770 can be bought, and performs a bit better than the GTS 450.

[wully]

I think al just save a couple of hundred extra and get the complete upgrade you mentioned above.

[JLK03F150]

You will be happier doing that wully. Don't forget you will need to buy a copy of Windows. You won't be able to use the Hewlett Packard Win XP Home on a new build.

[wully]

Hi shyguyxpc or anyone else its just to double check if that biuld that full pc upgrade you mentioned above will work well together and on windows 7.