Help me build my computer? PEASE

[zeturi]

Ignore this crap below. I'm trying to build a fresh rig. The parts in mind are listed on the next page.

I got a Dell Optiplex GX620 today for $140. Not too bad of a deal, it has:

3.0 ghz pentium 4 HT
1.5 gigs of ram
256 megs or integrated vram
80 gb hard drive
250 watt power supply

It has these slots:

Socket 775 processor slot
4 ddr2 ram slots, each can hold 1 gb of ram
1 pci slot, 1 pci express slot, and 1 pci express 16 slot

I wanna upgrade it so that I can play tf2 and some mmos and crap. What I'd like in this rig: Wireless internet (g is fine), a dual core processor, 3 gigs of ram, a 1 gig graphics card, and a power supply that'll hold out okay. And I'd like it to stay under $200. Anyone help me out here? I'll be looking on newegg in the meanwhile.

 

[J.D]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Shouldn't have bought that. You can build a rig that can run TF2 at medium settings for around $300.

 

[snowpenguin]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

J.d's actually kind of right.

You're pretty much going to change out every part in your machine for a new one, except the motherboard and disc drive.

Cept I don't know of this $300 build-links?

 

[zeturi]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Oh flaxtles, it looks right you're both right. My computer is only able to take about 3 different dual core processors in the first place, and they're not produced anymore. So unless I'm buying used, it ain't happening. Here's to hopin' my 3 ghz is enough...

 

[Twilight Wolf]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

A 3.0GHz Pentium 4 should be able to handle TF2. I wouldn't expect anything magical, but if you upgrade everything else, you should be able to expect smooth gameplay at medium-ish settings.

 

[zeturi]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Cool. I'm still going to get 3 gigs of ram, possibly four if I decide I want windows 7. I will prolly be getting this:

ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820134487 - $90

graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814121339 - $65

wireless card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product - $20

Still looking for a power supply. Probably getting a 700 watt. Right now I'm at about $175

And J.D., I haven't added in a power supply, new hard drive, case, or motherboard. I doubt at all that I could build a good rig for that cheap.

 

[J.D]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Some guy on BH successfully did it.

 

[zeturi]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Yeeeeah. I think I've made a mistake. My motherboard doesn't support pci express x 16 2.0. It only supports pci express x 16. The only graphics card I can get from newegg is this one then: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814162022

I have been fleeced.

 

[J.D]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Bad mistake on your part getting that POS machine, lol

 

[snowpenguin]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

I don't think that form factor case will take a full sized gpu either.

If I were you I'd sell it and start over.

 

[Twilight Wolf]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Unfortunately, yes, you'd be better off just building a new machine. It'd cost more, but it'd be worth it because you could choose all the parts yourself.

If you'd like any advice on parts, we're here.

 

[zeturi]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

How bout I just buy a low profile card for ~$50, and a wireless card and I'll just play some games. Heck, I'm not even looking for performance, just something that works without stuttering.

Oh, how I rage at myself right now.

System Labs tell me recommended settings for tf2 include: 3 ghz processor, 1 gb ram, and a 256 mb graphics card. Imma just go cheap right now till I can afford to build a real desktop. I'm not going to running into money for about another 6 months, so. flax.

 

[J.D]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Job get?

 

[zeturi]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Job have. 3 month vacation coming. Have debt for 3 more months.

 

[Twilight Wolf]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

The recommended requirements for TF2 are pretty outdated, I think. So much has been added to the game since the minimum and recommended specs were put together. It should still do the trick, but it won't run the game maxed out.

For the graphics card, how about a Radeon 5450? That's low profile, it has passive cooling, and it has DX11! Should work with TF2 all right, I think. Again, nothing amazing, but medium-ish settings should work.

 

[zeturi]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Dunno bout that. It's listed as a PCI Express 2.1 x16 card, while my specs are only pci express x16. Or does that matter?

 

[Twilight Wolf]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Ah, I forgot about that, Dangit.

Well, it should still work, but I can't speak for how performance would be affected. You'd only have half the bandwidth lanes as you would with a PCI-E 2.0 x16 slot (whatever that means), but from what research I've done on the matter in the past, performance isn't affected too terribly much. Probably not noticeably, anyways.

 

[zeturi]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Coolio. Will be buying my card very soon.

 

[zeturi]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

Awright, imma try to do this the right way. I'll try getting back my money by reselling the desktop, so I can fund a real computer rig. But I still need to go cheap. Here's the new list of parts I have together:

couple o' sticks of ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820134487 - $60

gpu/motherboard combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.366079 - $165

cpu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103714 - $53

case and psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811148046 - $46

wireless adapter: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product - $23

This'll run me $347. I'll probably go shopping around at a local computer shop, because some stuff is cheaper from them. I haven't included a hard drive or optical drive, because they'll probably be gotten used or whatever's on clearance. Prolly looking at $400 total. I think this'll run my stuff with no problems. Thoughts?

 

[snowpenguin]

Re: Help me upgrade my computer?

That RAM is expensive.

1 stick of 2 GB ram twice as fast as that ram is only $50.

Go for a faster processor with the money you save on that, I have the regor and I wish I'd gotten more.

Otherwise, looks good.