Need advice on upgrade

V

Verva

New Member
Right now I'm looking at upgrading my old (and getting older) Dell Dimension e520 into something I can built upon further in the future (when I get more funds). I want to use as many parts from my e520 as I can while upgrading my MoBo, CPU, and RAM. I'm also getting a new case, but that will be bought for me. I'd appreciate suggestions on cases, but it doesn't need to factor into the cost relevant to this post.

Right now the specs of my e520 are as follows:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 @ 1.86GHz
RAM: Crucial 8GB (4x2GB) DDR2
Motherboard: Dell Inc. 0WG864 w/ Intel P965/G965 chipset
PSU: Dell H305N-00 (305WATTS)
GFX card: AMD Radeon HD 6670 (XFX Pine Group)
HDD: 250GB Seagate ST3250820AS (RAID)
Optical Drive: PBDS CDRWDVD DH-48C2S

My budget is 260$. This computer will mainly be used for long gaming sessions in both linux and windows(on a 1620x1280 monitor), general multitasking, and will have triple-boot Windows, LinuxMint, and Ubuntu installed.

I would like to know what MoBo, CPU, and RAM you guys suggest, and what further parts would need to be replaced due to any incompatibilities with those parts.

Thanks in advance!
 
Could do cpu/mb/ram for 260. But,
Can you install Windows after the upgrades?
And a new power supply is highly advisable, or mandatory, to safeguard your new components.
 
Benny Boy said:
Could do cpu/mb/ram for 260. But,
Can you install Windows after the upgrades?
And a new power supply is highly advisable, or mandatory, to safeguard your new components.
Click to expand...

I can definitely install windows once I have the parts, as well as linux.

I figured a new power supply would be necessary, but would I be able to use the one I have temporarily until I can upgrade it? What are the risks of doing so?
 
Do you plan to upgrade the gpu at some point?
Before psu, what is the budget for the case that someone is gifting you?
If any $ is left over from the case, maybe you can use it towards a ps.
 
Benny Boy said:
Do you plan to upgrade the gpu at some point?
Before psu, what is the budget for the case that someone is gifting you?
If any $ is left over from the case, maybe you can use it towards a ps.
Click to expand...

I will not be upgrading my GPU soon. The one I want is too expensive at this point in time, but I will be upgrading my PSU asap in preparation for when I do get around to the gpu.

The case will be bought and shipped to me when I pick it out as a late birthday present, so there won't be leftover money unfortunately.

With all that cleared up, do you have any suggestions for actual parts? I'm pretty hopeless with hardware.
 
You could be underpowered as it is. Assuming you have a 250-300w ps.
You could take a look at it and see. It's age has degraded it some too.
A ps, for temporary use, that comes with a case could be better than the one you have. (:eek: did I just say that?) Just hate to see your new platform powered by that old oem ps.

Still need to know the budget for the case. Is it, pic and see?

Edit:
Z5 Case. Already has 2 fans, good cable management.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811235037
Dependable ps. Plenty to run your upgrades and 6670. You might still need more amps when you move up on the gpu. If you had another $20 now, you wouldn't have to go another $70 later.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026
The rest of this is 250 shipped.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131873
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231468
^ w/case & ps = $325 shipped and $30 in mir.
 
Last edited:
Benny Boy said:
You could be underpowered as it is. Assuming you have a 250-300w ps.
You could take a look at it and see. It's age has degraded it some too.
A ps, for temporary use, that comes with a case could be better than the one you have. (:eek: did I just say that?) Just hate to see your new platform powered by that old oem ps.

Still need to know the budget for the case. Is it, pic and see?

Edit:
Z5 Case. Already has 2 fans, good cable management.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811235037
Dependable ps. Plenty to run your upgrades and 6670. You might still need more amps when you move up on the gpu. If you had another $20 now, you wouldn't have to go another $70 later.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026
The rest of this is 250 shipped.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131873
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231468
^ w/case & ps = $325 shipped and $30 in mir.
Click to expand...

Nice picks... i didn't realize how cheap FX's were. I was looking at intel before I came here and that would probably have been a mistake. The MoBo has plenty of features and room for expansion which is perfect, and the RAM is definitely RAM.

I'll probably look a bit more into cases, find something more around 70-80$ that would look good in a top hat, but I'm happy with what you've suggested.

Uber thanks man.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top