I require assistance(Please help) in upgrading My Graphics Card

[Xethion]

Hello, First of all, Let me give my PC Specs:

HP Pavilion p6600 Desktop PC series*-* HP Pavilion p6604y Desktop PC Product Specifications - c02524612 - HP Business Support Center

Power:250W
Graphics Card: HD Radeon 4200
Processor Speed:2.8GHz

I'm trying to upgrade my graphics to better suit my needs as a Gamer. Now that Guild Wars 2 Is coming out at the end of the month, I'd like to hurry this process up; But I have a few issues:
1. I'm not sure what Graphics Cards are compatible with my computer.
2.I understand that I must have a Power supply to go with a higher performance Card, Though I'm not sure What Wattage I will need to Purchase to go with a Card such as this:
Newegg.com - EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti (Fermi) FPB 1GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Please Help me out with this, I'd really like to be ready for when Guild Wars 2 Comes out on the 25th.

[JLK03F150]

Your newegg link has a link to the evga site. Here's their recommendation for a PSU.

Requirements
Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 24 Amps.)

Looking at your HP link, I see it has a mid-tower case. That's good because a standard ATX PSU should fit into the case. This Antec looks nice.
Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 400C 400W Continuous Power ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

That CPU meets the minimum requirement, but is far below the minimum recommended. You might find yourself looking for a quad-core CPU after getting a new GPU & PSU. Personally, I'd wait for the GW2 release & see how it runs before spending more on the PC though.

[Xethion]

Thanks,
Will this Card and PSU work with my computer?

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 11188-22-20G Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (OC Edition)

Newegg.com - Antec EarthWatts Series EA-750 Green 750W ATX12V v2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Continuous Power Supply

[Xethion]

According to Guild Wars 2:
Guild Wars 2 System Requirements and Guild Wars 2 requirements for PC Games

You're right, I might eventually upgrade my CPU aswell.

[ShyguyXPC]

I never pay much attention to sites like Game Debate, and Can You Run It for requirements, I usually do the more sensible thing by going to the game developers website.

But this time around GD has the specs posted right.

In any case, that 6950 will be more than enough to run the game, in fact will be overkill.

the big things with GW2, just like GW before it, is the CPU and RAM.

Your CPU is on the low end, and may need to be bumped up.

also the CPU may be bottlenecking the the GPU some, but I doubt you'd notice it unless you ran a game that could fully use the GPU to its best potential.

750W PSU is WAY WAY overkill for what you need.

Your current system only needs a good 400-500W PSU at best.

750W would be if you were running a pair of 6950 or similar cards.

its a total waste of money buying a 750W unit on your system, since its a low end prebuilt with limited upgrade options.

NO SLI or CrossfireX, limited to only Socket AM3 AMD CPU's (no AM3+ FX Series).

[Xethion]

Would this work if I upgraded my Processor as well?
Newegg.com - Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 Power Supply

And as for the Processor, Would this be suitable?
Newegg.com - AMD A6-3670K Unlocked Llano 2.7GHz Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6530D AD3670WNGXBOX

[ShyguyXPC]

SOCKET AM3!!!

As was said your limited to Socket AM3, the CPU you listed is Socket FM1.

So no.


As to the PSU that one is fine.


What is your total budget for these upgrades?

[Xethion]

I'm aiming to keep it under $400.

[ShyguyXPC]

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX

Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 11188-22-20G Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (OC Edition)

Subtotal: $369.97

[Xethion]

Thank you so much for the help.

[ShyguyXPC]

no problem.

[ShyguyXPC]

the video card due to its length might be a bit of a struggle to get it in there, so just a heads up.

And you will want to watch the video cards temps, since thats a stock HP case, cooling is rather crappy inside.

if you can see spending the $400 limit and then a tad over that, or if your fine with going with a slightly lesser Geforce GTX 560 or Radeon HD 6850, then adding a case like this, and transplanting the entire insides of your current one into it, would be possible as well.

And ensure quality cooling of the internals.

Newegg.com - Fractal Design Core 1000 Micro ATX Computer Case w/ 1 x 120mm fan

[JLK03F150]

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX

Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 11188-22-20G Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (OC Edition)

Subtotal: $369.97

Nice selection (as usual ).

Some HP cases aren't too bad for cooling. It depends whether they have a decent front intake and front fan mount. This case might be OK if that lower front opening is fairly clear & if there's a fan mount inside.

[ShyguyXPC]

Thats true, I keep forgetting some of the HP cases are decent, I'm still used to the Dell, HP and other cases that are usually pretty crappy. Some of Gateways newer cases aren't too bad as well, but depends on which ones.