Hey guys.So I received a computer from a relative who got it from work. So, naturally, it's not the speediest devil out there. It's alright, but I'm looking to upgrade some parts so I can play some games and animate while staying at a low budget of around $200.
It's a Dell Vostro 220s. Here are the currently known specs:
Processor: Intel Pentium E2220 Dual-Core 2.40Ghz
Motherboard: Unkown. It uses DDR2 RAM, however, which I don't like too much. It's also got an LGA775 socket for the cpu.
Video card: Intel integrated graphics.
Harddrive: 160gb, 7200 rpm. Works great!
Power supply: 250W
Now, I'm looking to upgrade some parts to do medium levels of gaming, such as Skyrim on low settings. The processor, although a dual core, should work fine for most games. I'm thinking of replacing the motherboard with one that supports DDR3 RAM, and while I'm at it getting a processor that doesn't use the dying breed that is the LGA775 socket. Of course, I'll also upgrade the RAM to DDR3, and I plan on getting a new video card.
My main concern is whether the power supply would be an issue? The computer is in Micro-ATX form, so it would likely be difficult to swap the psu out.NOTE: I'm trying to keep the cost of upgrades to under $200, so that's why I'm not going for the high-end components.
If anyone has any ideas for cheaper and/or better upgrades, please let me know!
Thanks in advance! I appreciate any help you guys have to offer! -PAandW
Yeah, I can understand where you're coming from with that, but I'm adding these parts so they'll come in handy down the road. At the moment I've got 2 gigs of DDR2 RAM, and I really want to upgrade to a motherboard that supports DDR3 as DDR2 seems to be on its way out. If I had DDR3 already I'd just get a good gpu, but I'm thinking I'll swap the mobo, processor, graphics, and RAM so that I have parts I can easily upgrade in the future... If that makes any sense. XD
Yeah, I can understand where you're coming from with that, but I'm adding these parts so they'll come in handy down the road. At the moment I've got 2 gigs of DDR2 RAM, and I really want to upgrade to a motherboard that supports DDR3 as DDR2 seems to be on its way out. If I had DDR3 already I'd just get a good gpu, but I'm thinking I'll swap the mobo, processor, graphics, and RAM so that I have parts I can easily upgrade in the future... If that makes any sense. XD
imo the upgrade from ddr2 ram to ddr3 is not needed. However, it would be good if you can put in 4-8gb of ram. If thats not possible then you have to change your mobo
It's not worth buying a gt 620 or similar level gpu, the performance you get for the price simply isn't worth it. Use that $50 on upgrading the processor to an A10 or something if you really want to upgrade the processor as it's probably the best way you're going to spend your $200.
I would get the A10 7850k. It actually has pretty good integrated graphics that can play BF4 on medium settings at 1080p. Might be better than the graphics card you listed, though I wouldn't know for sure. And the A10 7850K is only $185.
I would get the A10 7850k. It actually has pretty good integrated graphics that can play BF4 on medium settings at 1080p. Might be better than the graphics card you listed, though I wouldn't know for sure. And the A10 7850K is only $185.
If OP gets a an A10 7850k that leaves no room for a motherboard. You can't just slap in a CPU into a motherboard and expect it to work. You have to make sure that the sockets are matched up and the chipsets support the CPU.
On that note, if I were OP I'd get something like this:
I really would suggest that you save up more money but if you really want a gaming ready computer ASAP then this would be the parts I'd recommend that you get.
Lol, 250w power supply is more than enough to power it. He doesn't have to get ddr3 if his motherboard supports 4x2gb ddr2 ram. Thats more than enough. Makes no reason to upgrade.
You know, I was so focused on getting a dedicated graphics card that I completely forgot that APUs can handle most games. Heck, I play Skyrim on my laptop with an A8-3520M. If I did get an APU, mobo, etc. could I still install a dedicated card in the future if I wanted to?
Edit: Also, after some Googling it would seem that replacing a psu in a Micro ATX case is rather difficult. Is this true? I feel like it shouldn't be that hard. :T
Lol, 250w power supply is more than enough to power it. He doesn't have to get ddr3 if his motherboard supports 4x2gb ddr2 ram. Thats more than enough. Makes no reason to upgrade.
You don't get it, do you?
Here's an image I found in a five second search on Google that makes it easier to understand:
As you can see, the notches are in different places.
All motherboards that support APUs don't support DDR2 memory, because the notch is in a different location.
OP can not keep the DDR2 memory is he upgrades to an APU.
You know, I was so focused on getting a dedicated graphics card that I completely forgot that APUs can handle most games. Heck, I play Skyrim on my laptop with an A8-3520M. If I did get an APU, mobo, etc. could I still install a dedicated card in the future if I wanted to?
Edit: Also, after some Googling it would seem that replacing a psu in a Micro ATX case is rather difficult. Is this true? I feel like it shouldn't be that hard. :T
All motherboards will have at least 1 8x/16x PCI express slot. All modern ones at least. So yes, you will be able to slap in a dedicated card to x-fire with the iGPU on the APU.
As for PSU installation, it really shouldn't be that hard. Just disconnect the cables from your old PSU and plg in the cables from your new one.
Alright, so I took all of your input and looked around on PCPartPicker for an APU, motherboard, DDR3 RAM, and a power supply.
Now, I know that this computer seems very weak for someone who likes to play video games and animate, but I'm not going for some stellar build that will knock the socks off any game. I'm content with playing games on low to medium settings, just as long as they're enjoyable at that. With this and my $200 budget in mind, these are the parts I selected for the time being:
I decided to go with the dual core APU not just because it was cheaper, but I didn't feel I needed too intense of a processor, and I can upgrade it in the future if I so desire.
I also plan on buying a decent graphics card in the future, after I've saved up a bit more of the moneys...
So what do you guys think? Should this work out? (Keep in mind this is for casual animating, watching movies, and playing games at low to medium settings)
You don't get it, do you?
Here's an image I found in a five second search on Google that makes it easier to understand:
As you can see, the notches are in different places.
All motherboards that support APUs don't support DDR2 memory, because the notch is in a different location.
OP can not keep the DDR2 memory is he upgrades to an APU.
You know, i purposely didn't throw my meaning to you just to see if you can actually read. I have been talking about upgrading to a 750 ti without replacing the mobo or cpu all the while. If he took that route, he could simply upgrade his ram to 8gb. I never told him to buy 8gb ddr2 for a NEW mobo
The thing is, the A8 apu also has a stronger gpu since they are combined into the same chip as the cpu. So with that extra money not only are you getting a more powerful quad core cpu, you're also getting a more powerful gpu.
Also, is your case one of the slimline ones? Because that might explain why people are saying it's hard to replace the psu.
EDIT: @hai1godmc, 8gb of ddr2 ram would cost an arm and a leg, not worth buying it - ESPECIALLY since it's pretty much certainly going to be discarded in a future upgrade. It's not worth investing that much into a dead platform IMO.
The thing is, the A8 apu also has a stronger gpu since they are combined into the same chip as the cpu. So with that extra money not only are you getting a more powerful quad core cpu, you're also getting a more powerful gpu.
Also, is your case one of the slimline ones? Because that might explain why people are saying it's hard to replace the psu.
EDIT: @hai1godmc, 8gb of ddr2 ram would cost an arm and a leg, not worth buying it - ESPECIALLY since it's pretty much certainly going to be discarded in a future upgrade. It's not worth investing that much into a dead platform IMO.
ddr4 would probably be released next year. That would make your point irrelevant since ddr3 would also be a dead platform.
Won't really be DEAD until ddr4 reaches reasonable prices which will take a while. Plus the next gen cpu's might still support ddr3 while they most definitely will NOT support ddr2. Also, have you seen the price for ddr2? Not only is it slower, it's more expensive than ddr3. Really no point buying it.
Also, is your case one of the slimline ones? Because that might explain why people are saying it's hard to replace the psu.
Yeah, the case is a slimline. Here's a picture of the case:
And here's a picture of the interior:
And that's my main concern. I've read that the power supply can be rather tricky to replace in a slimline case. Also, if the motherboard is a non-standard part, is it possible to modify the case to make it fit? (i.e. Ghetto drilling space for it. XD)
Sorry for not noticing this earlier, but your current power supply appears to be a TFX unit - it's a slightly different form factor, Your linked an SFX unit, but you'll need the TFX one instead. Everything else looks fine, though I would agree with XSSheep that the A8 may be worth considering for the performance increase (though given it's $30 more, it does require you to save up a bit more).
Oh, thanks for catching that. I never would have noticed.
Do you think that would fit in the slimline case easily?
It's a Dell Vostro 220s. Here are the currently known specs:
Processor: Intel Pentium E2220 Dual-Core 2.40Ghz
Motherboard: Unkown. It uses DDR2 RAM, however, which I don't like too much. It's also got an LGA775 socket for the cpu.
Video card: Intel integrated graphics.
Harddrive: 160gb, 7200 rpm. Works great!
Power supply: 250W
Now, I'm looking to upgrade some parts to do medium levels of gaming, such as Skyrim on low settings. The processor, although a dual core, should work fine for most games. I'm thinking of replacing the motherboard with one that supports DDR3 RAM, and while I'm at it getting a processor that doesn't use the dying breed that is the LGA775 socket. Of course, I'll also upgrade the RAM to DDR3, and I plan on getting a new video card.
These are the parts I was looking to get:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: AMD A6-6400K 3.9GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.29 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI A55M-E33 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($44.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GT 620 1GB Video Card ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Total: $197.26(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-03 01:31 EST-0500)
My main concern is whether the power supply would be an issue? The computer is in Micro-ATX form, so it would likely be difficult to swap the psu out.NOTE: I'm trying to keep the cost of upgrades to under $200, so that's why I'm not going for the high-end components.
If anyone has any ideas for cheaper and/or better upgrades, please let me know!
Thanks in advance! I appreciate any help you guys have to offer!
-PAandW
Yeah, I can understand where you're coming from with that, but I'm adding these parts so they'll come in handy down the road. At the moment I've got 2 gigs of DDR2 RAM, and I really want to upgrade to a motherboard that supports DDR3 as DDR2 seems to be on its way out. If I had DDR3 already I'd just get a good gpu, but I'm thinking I'll swap the mobo, processor, graphics, and RAM so that I have parts I can easily upgrade in the future... If that makes any sense. XD
imo the upgrade from ddr2 ram to ddr3 is not needed. However, it would be good if you can put in 4-8gb of ram. If thats not possible then you have to change your mobo
It is needed. The FM2/FM2+ motherboards only support DDR3 RAM, the pins are different.
No. OP's power supply likely isn't enough to power the card.
If OP gets a an A10 7850k that leaves no room for a motherboard. You can't just slap in a CPU into a motherboard and expect it to work. You have to make sure that the sockets are matched up and the chipsets support the CPU.
On that note, if I were OP I'd get something like this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: AMD A6-5400K 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($54.28 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI A88XM-E35 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($46.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($47.99 @ B&H)
Total: $214.25
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-03 11:47 EST-0500)
I really would suggest that you save up more money but if you really want a gaming ready computer ASAP then this would be the parts I'd recommend that you get.
250w OEM PSU? Not a chance.
APUs benefit from very fast RAM. DDR2 is too slow for an APU. Also having a more up-to-date motherboard will let OP upgrade in the future.
Your 2nd point made no sense. He would need to upgrade motherboard to get an apu anyways. Why would he stay at ddr2? You ain't getting what im saying.
Edit: Also, after some Googling it would seem that replacing a psu in a Micro ATX case is rather difficult. Is this true? I feel like it shouldn't be that hard. :T
You don't get it, do you?
Here's an image I found in a five second search on Google that makes it easier to understand:
As you can see, the notches are in different places.
All motherboards that support APUs don't support DDR2 memory, because the notch is in a different location.
OP can not keep the DDR2 memory is he upgrades to an APU.
All motherboards will have at least 1 8x/16x PCI express slot. All modern ones at least. So yes, you will be able to slap in a dedicated card to x-fire with the iGPU on the APU.
As for PSU installation, it really shouldn't be that hard. Just disconnect the cables from your old PSU and plg in the cables from your new one.
Now, I know that this computer seems very weak for someone who likes to play video games and animate, but I'm not going for some stellar build that will knock the socks off any game. I'm content with playing games on low to medium settings, just as long as they're enjoyable at that. With this and my $200 budget in mind, these are the parts I selected for the time being:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks
CPU: AMD A6-6400K 3.9GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.19 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI A55M-E33 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($44.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($42.95 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: FSP Group 300W 80+ Certified Micro ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Mwave)
Total: $192.12
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-03 21:15 EST-0500)
I decided to go with the dual core APU not just because it was cheaper, but I didn't feel I needed too intense of a processor, and I can upgrade it in the future if I so desire.
I also plan on buying a decent graphics card in the future, after I've saved up a bit more of the moneys...
So what do you guys think? Should this work out? (Keep in mind this is for casual animating, watching movies, and playing games at low to medium settings)
You know, i purposely didn't throw my meaning to you just to see if you can actually read. I have been talking about upgrading to a 750 ti without replacing the mobo or cpu all the while. If he took that route, he could simply upgrade his ram to 8gb. I never told him to buy 8gb ddr2 for a NEW mobo
Also, is your case one of the slimline ones? Because that might explain why people are saying it's hard to replace the psu.
EDIT: @hai1godmc, 8gb of ddr2 ram would cost an arm and a leg, not worth buying it - ESPECIALLY since it's pretty much certainly going to be discarded in a future upgrade. It's not worth investing that much into a dead platform IMO.
ddr4 would probably be released next year. That would make your point irrelevant since ddr3 would also be a dead platform.
Yeah, the case is a slimline. Here's a picture of the case:
And here's a picture of the interior:
And that's my main concern. I've read that the power supply can be rather tricky to replace in a slimline case. Also, if the motherboard is a non-standard part, is it possible to modify the case to make it fit? (i.e. Ghetto drilling space for it. XD)
Oh, thanks for catching that. I never would have noticed.
Do you think that would fit in the slimline case easily?