Help Upgrading My Computer

[BakaMatt]

I'd really appreciate it if someone could help me figure out the basics on how to upgrade my computer. Reasons being to speed up my computer, as well as improving gameplay.

Acer Aspire M5641

Specs

• Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9300
• nVidia 9600GS
• 3GB DDR2 SDRAM DIMM 240-pin [4GB max RAM]
• LGA775 Socket

I have no idea what else is important, so here's the complete link to the computer specs.
Acer Support: Acer Aspire M5641 Desktop Series Specifications

What I'm planning to get:

• A new Motherboard (Preferably a 1155 DDR3)
• An 8GB DDR3 RAM
• A Better Graphics Card (Preferably a pretty good one)
• An Acer V243HAJBD Monitor
  Acer V243HAJbd 24" LCD Monitor: Details & Specs at NexTag
  Due to the price of $169, 2ms max response time, and 80,000:1 Contrast Ratio

Any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks a lot
My budget is approximately $600

[ShyguyXPC]

I'd only grab 4GB of RAM, no need for 8GB if your only going to be gaming.

you'll also need a new copy of windows if your going for a complete system overhaul.

For what your looking at upgrades, you might as well just BUILD a new custom PC and not even upgrade the current one.

All that your missing for a complete build from your list of parts is a CPU, hard drive, DVD Drive, Power Supply and a Case, besides the OS.


The OS is tied to your current system and not transferable to a new system with a new board and CPU.



But things you are missing is you will need a New CPU since your old Quad core isn't compatible with a Socket 1155 system,

Might need to swing a bit extra cash.

as this is what the list is looking like right now, a bit over the $600 budget, and no Monitor in the list. (though selling the current system as is, and making some money with it, could be used to buy the monitor)



Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model SH-222AL/BSBE LightScribe Support - CD / DVD Burners

Newegg.com - HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition ATX Mid Tower Computer Chassis Gaming Case w/ Front Blue LED 120mm Fan & Top 120mm Fan

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100338L Radeon HD 6770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Newegg.com - XIGMATEK NRP-PC Series ACXTNRP-PC402 400W ATX12V Ver.2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - Patriot Gamer 2 Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model PGD34G1333ELK

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-Z68P-DS3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg.com - Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz 2 x 256KB L2 Cache 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32100

Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems

$625.87 Not including shipping.

the CPU is a dual core, but its a FAST dual core and easily competes with AMD's lower range Quad cores.

Should also easily beat the current Quad you have now.

Even today most games are still not optimized for Quad cores, and mainly single/dual core, so a faster Dual core is valued more for gaming still.

Motherboard has Crossfire capability.


PSU is a good brand, and has more than enough power for the whole system.


The video card, Radeon 6770 is comparable or close to performance of the older Radeon 4870's, easily 2 to 3 times more than the current card you have now, and it only uses about 108W or so of power.

The case is a GOOD case, and cheap for what it is. I have the same case for another system, and JP Miller here also has used it, it is a Really good quality case, at a cheap price. Plenty of airflow and room for a mid size case, with nice fan options as well, 140mm and 120mm placements for high flow, quiet fans.

If you built something like this, and used your current monitor for now, sold the core of your current system, you should still be able to make a good $150-250 AT LEAST on the old system, and then use that money for the new monitor, then switch to it.

or if you could swing the extra cash for the monitor now, and then make that money back afterwards selling the entire old system WITH the monitor.


If you went with an AMD Socket AM3 system, you could probably cut some costs here and there, bringing the total price down a bit, but not really enough to get the monitor in with the rest of the parts.


the killer here is adding in the new copy of the OS, if that wasn't needed (even though it is needed) it would be easier to add in the monitor.

[BakaMatt]

I'd only grab 4GB of RAM, no need for 8GB if your only going to be gaming.


Newegg.com - HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition ATX Mid Tower Computer Chassis Gaming Case w/ Front Blue LED 120mm Fan & Top 120mm Fan

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - Patriot Gamer 2 Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model PGD34G1333ELK

The video card, Radeon 6770 is comparable or close to performance of the older Radeon 4870's, easily 2 to 3 times more than the current card you have now, and it only uses about 108W or so of power.

As I'll have to build my own custom computer, I thought I might as well invest a bit more into it. I'll just stick to my old one till I get enough money to build up this one!

But here are a few things that I adjusted:

1) An addition of $30 gives 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s.
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
I don't really tust Samsung that well, so I thought of going with WD since it's a more reliable brand (for me, that is)

2) Investing in a good case..
Newegg.com - Corsair Carbide Series 400R Graphite grey and black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Gaming Case
From what I've read in the reviews, the fans belonging to the HEC are quite bad, not working effectively.

3) 8GB RAM
Newegg.com - Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model PGD38G1333ELK
I actually multi-task quite a LOT, not just with games, so I thought getting a 8GB ram would help.


But, I would really like your opinion on this as to whether or not it's worth it for the changes that I've made.
Thanks for the quick and detailed reply!