upgrade my PC to a gaming Rig, will it run high end games?

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dirkadirka666

New Member
I'm planning on upgrading my Dell Dimension C521 to be a gaming Rig, and was wondering if this would work. I'm About to enter High school, so i obviously have a small budget to get parts, but im pretty sure this should work, and id like some agreement from others.

I'm getting a new processor, Graphics Card, and RAM.

An AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor at 3.2 GHz

An ATI HD Radeon 1GB DDR2 PCI-E 2.0 x16 Video Card

4GB of DDR2 SDRAM

These are their links respectively:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103228
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150390
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144157

in all this should cost me about $170-$180

P.S. I have a small form factor computer, so this seems to be about the best i can get. will it run prototype or hawx, or anything like that? Crysis?
 
bomberboysk

bomberboysk

Active Member
If you plan on gaming...i would keep your current cpu depending on what it is, get a new power supply(stock dell power supply is weak), case(to fit a fullsize card), memory, and a good cpu like a 4830 or 4670. What is your current cpu?
 
StrangleHold

StrangleHold

Moderator
Staff member
Well the X2 6400 is out of stock, plus you better contact Dell about support for it. The 6400 sucked power, 125W processor. Alot of lowerend boards didnt support them.

If the motherboard supports them you would be better off getting something like the Athlon X2 7750/ Athlon II 250

And the 4350 is not all that good of a card. What wattage Power Supply does it have.
 
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dirkadirka666

New Member
bomberboysk said:
What is your current cpu?
Click to expand...
my current CPU is an AMD Sempron 2.2 GHz. I dont trust myself enough to change cases or anything, and also, i keep my current case sideways under my monitor, and both fit perfectly within my desk, the screen fits in the compartment, hitting the top and sides of the area it gives me. I'd just like to know if these would work for gaming, i dont want to drastically change my computer, just the hardware

this is my current PC

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/dimen_c521?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh

its a Dell Dimension C521, its a small form factor, and i dont know much about things basing around motherboards, cooling systems, and wattage limits. I got it just before Vista came out, so it has Windows XP Media Center and an AMD Sempron 2.2 GHz processor. I've already upgraded the original 526MB of RAM to 2.5GB of RAM, and upgraded the Video Card to and ATI Radeon HD 3650 512 MB. If you guys could help me to know whether or not the previously mentioned hardware will work in my computer - without frying it of course - it would be much appreciated. If not, could you give me any tips on what i could use to make it work like cheap cooling systems. also, if i could get tips on how to install a hard drive, that would be nice, since as a stock Hard drive they gave me a 75 GB SATA Drive, and i currently have a 500GB drive sitting next to my desk, but there is not room for a second drive, so any ideas on backing up about 60GB of memory.
Again, i am only 15, so please dont yell at me about not knowing this kind of stuff, i know quite a bit, but not everything
 
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Itanda

Itanda

New Member
From what parts you showed, it wouldn't really be able to run "HIGH END" games, I understand your on a budget but i can tell by the ram you picked out already that it wont be able to.
 
Aastii

Aastii

VIP Member
dirkadirka666 said:
then how about 4 GB of this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134637
Click to expand...

that is DDR3, you can't run it.

Does your motherboard deffinately have 4 memory slots and can it support 4GB of memory? If it can support 4GB of memory it may only be 2 slots, so you would have to get 2x2GB.

For decent 4x1GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227189

2 lots of them, PC6400 is good enough for any gaming at high settings and 4GB is good enough for most games on high to mid-high settings, for brand new games maybe only medium, but still good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199

that is good for 2x2GB. I have 2 of those in my system and had issues getting it working with 8GB (mobo voltage issue, not memory) so while i was sorting it I was using only one set, so 4GB, that exact kit and could run CoD4, the orange box games, WoW, crysis etc on it so it is good for all of that.

What is your budget for all of this by the way? You will have to get a power supply aswell as memory, CPU and video card because the stock power supply won't be any good for any better than what is already in the system
 
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dirkadirka666

New Member
Aastii said:
that is DDR3, you can't run it.

Does your motherboard deffinately have 4 memory slots and can it support 4GB of memory? If it can support 4GB of memory it may only be 2 slots, so you would have to get 2x2GB.

For decent 4x1GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227189

2 lots of them, PC6400 is good enough for any gaming at high settings and 4GB is good enough for most games on high to mid-high settings, for brand new games maybe only medium, but still good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199

that is good for 2x2GB. I have 2 of those in my system and had issues getting it working with 8GB (mobo voltage issue, not memory) so while i was sorting it I was using only one set, so 4GB, that exact kit and could run CoD4, the orange box games, WoW, crysis etc on it so it is good for all of that.

What is your budget for all of this by the way? You will have to get a power supply aswell as memory, CPU and video card because the stock power supply won't be any good for any better than what is already in the system
Click to expand...

I've upgraded this computer in the past, so i know my way around the interior, and i know that the current power supply will be able to withstand the video card i have chosen, since i already use a GPU with the same 300W requirements, and my motherboard has 4 slots, three of which are being used by 2 1gb chips and a 512 MB chip. I'm not entirely sure about the CPU, but i know that dell has upgraded their stock model since i bought mine, and it is running a 2.6 GHz version stock, while im still using the AMD Sempron 2.2 GHz CPU they gave me a couple years ago. they both use the same motherboard, so im sure it will work in the motherboard, im not entirely sure about the power supply though, but im only going to use one of my PCI-E slots, and my 4 RAM slots, so i assume it will all run.

My budget is in the range of High $100 and low $200 ($175-$210). I've chosen pieces that i know will run with the computer, not so sure about heat issues, but im basically wondering if this will be able to run games like left 4 dead, fallout 3, and prototype. I'll be fine if its able to run lower end games like lost planet. I mostly play WoW, so I'm also doing this to be able to run ultra video settings on that.

PS. the pieces ive chosen are in my 1st post, and most of my basic info is in 1st and second

PPS. would the 1st RAM link you gave me run in non-vista machines? I'm running XP MCE
 
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Fatback

Fatback

VIP Member
First of all You will need a new power supply there is no doubt about it the power supply you have is only 280watts and if you plane on getting a decent graphics card then you can forget about that.

Here is the CPU I picked out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103686
Here is the graphics card I picked out[/COLOR]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829
[Here is the RAM I picked out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227189

All of that comes to $151.01 counting shipping so that leaves you around $50 for a power supply which you will have to have I suggest you get a 400watt or better with a PCIe 6 pin connector.

You get all that and you should have a decent gaming rig that will play most games on medium settings.

I think I solved your extra hard drive issue if you remove you memory card reader then you can put you hard drive there but its up to you.

Let me know what kind of form factor your power supply is and I will help you pick one out.
 
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dirkadirka666

New Member
I've noticed that Nvidia is not very good at low profile cards, but they are very good otherwise, i would not go for one at the moment, because all the low profile Nvidia cards are trumped by the one i found, in every field except self-cooling
 
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dirkadirka666

New Member
Fatback said:
First of all You will need a new power supply there is no doubt about it the power supply you have is only 280watts and if you plane on getting a decent graphics card then you can forget about that.

Here is the CPU I picked out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103686
Here is the graphics card I picked out[/COLOR]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829
[Here is the RAM I picked out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227189

All of that comes to $151.01 counting shipping so that leaves you around $50 for a power supply which you will have to have I suggest you get a 400watt or better with a PCIe 6 pin connector.

You get all that and you should have a decent gaming rig that will play most games on medium settings.

I think I solved your extra hard drive issue if you remove you memory card reader then you can put you hard drive there but its up to you.

Let me know what kind of form factor your power supply is and I will help you pick one out.
Click to expand...

I am currently using a Sapphire Radeon HD 3650, whic is pretty much the same, except it has 1/3 the amount of stream processors, and im not sure what the core clock is since it doesnt list it

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102754R&Tpk=sapphire radeon hd 3650

and id rather go with the 2.8 GHz CPU i chose, since it is same cost, and is the same in almost every way but the operating frequency,

i cant find the form factor of the PSU anywhere, but this is it
http://www.discountelectronics.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2764

it seems to me that there is no upgrade for it, since it has a very unique and odd shape/size
 
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Fatback

Fatback

VIP Member
First of all the card you have right now does not use as much power as newer cards do and you power supply will not support any card that requires a 300watt power supply or more. Second the CPU that I picked for you is actually available yours is not. Your right about the power supply I can't find it anywhere either I guess you will just limited to what card you can get.
 
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Fatback

Fatback

VIP Member
By the way the graphics card you picked out you know the 4350 need a minimum of 300watts power and you power supply is only 280watts. I know you already run a video card that as the same requirements as the 4350 but your new CPU will use more power, and so will the extra memory you get. I very doubt you power supply will be able to run everything.
 
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2048Megabytes

2048Megabytes

Active Member
From what I have heard about Dell Computers you will likely not be able to update the BIOS and the motherboard likely will not support an Athlon 7750 Processor without a BIOS flash.

I would just get a whole new motherboard, processor, RAM and everything else you will need. If you want parts advice just ask and many will be willing to help you.
 
Fatback

Fatback

VIP Member
I 100% agree with megabytes you need a whole new computer case, power supply, motherboard, CPU, Graphics card. You can keep your RAM, CD/DVD drive, Memory Card reader, and Hard drives and install them in the new system thats what I did. You will never have a good gaming rig until you can have a better power supply and a good graphics card like a ATI 4850,4870,4890 or a 9800GTX, GTX 250, GTX 260.
 
2048Megabytes

2048Megabytes

Active Member
The Dell computer case you have will also not even fit a decent quality power supply. Original Equipment Manufacturers really stink when it comes to upgrades.
 
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dirkadirka666

New Member
okay, thanks for helping me guys, i'm not gonna be able to afford that much for a while though.i guess my computer is basically shit these days then roflol
 
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