$600 max PC build from old Compaq Presario CQ5814

[Bacchus211]

I have a Compaq Presario CQ 5814 and would like to upgrade it to a gaming computer. I mostly play games such as Skyrim, Mass Effect, 2K, Dragon Age, etc...
The specs are as follows http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=c02859370&ac.admitted=1412900678202.876444892.199480143

I would like to keep the old Hard Drive as I haven't used much of it at all. And already have the monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse, and OS. So really just looking to use the same case and hard drive and save a few bucks there. Thanks in advance.

 

[RazerZ]

You could go with something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($175.44 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: Mushkin Stealth 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($65.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: HIS Radeon R9 280 3GB IceQ OC Video Card ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($50.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $522.40
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-09 20:44 EDT-0400

 

[bliq]

if you're relying on recovery media that came with that computer, bad news- your OS license is tied to the motherboard. And that motherboard is not what you want for a gaming machine. plus CPU is probably soldered onto the motherboard and not upgradeable (not that there are any worthwhile choices anyways) plus the recovery media probably checks for a compaq motherboard and wont' really work with anything else.

The hard drive should still be good. Optical drive is good. supposedly the case is standard ATX, should be just fine for a relatively simple build. power supply is too weak. DDR3-1333 should be OK to use, though there are faster stuff out now. 3GB will at least get you up and running, but you'll probably want more eventually.

 

[Bacchus211]

if you're relying on recovery media that came with that computer, bad news- your OS license is tied to the motherboard. And that motherboard is not what you want for a gaming machine. plus CPU is probably soldered onto the motherboard and not upgradeable (not that there are any worthwhile choices anyways) plus the recovery media probably checks for a compaq motherboard and wont' really work with anything else.

The hard drive should still be good. Optical drive is good. supposedly the case is standard ATX, should be just fine for a relatively simple build. power supply is too weak. DDR3-1333 should be OK to use, though there are faster stuff out now. 3GB will at least get you up and running, but you'll probably want more eventually.

I get free Windows 7 download from my University. And yes, definitely want to swap out the motherboard.

 

[Bacchus211]

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wfZQLk) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wfZQLk/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54570) | $197.74 @ OutletPC
**Motherboard** | [ASRock H81M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-h81mhds) | $49.99 @ Micro Center
**Memory** | [G.Skill Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32400c10d8gtx) | $86.99 @ Newegg
**Video Card** | [MSI GeForce GTX 760 4GB TWIN FROZR Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-video-card-n760tf4gd5oc) | $219.99 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9) | $44.99 @ NCIX US
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $586.70
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-10 00:11 EDT-0400 |


Will the above work for my needs?

 

[RazerZ]

You're wasting money on 2400mhz ram. You could save money and go with my build and see similar or better gaming performance. Make sure to get a blower cooler if you're using the prebuilt pc case since a blower dissipates heat through the back of the card, rather than the front of it. This means hot air wouldn't be trapped in the poorly ventilated case, and would exit the case directly from the back exhaust of the blower cooled graphics card.

 

[Bacchus211]

Okay thank you very much!

 

[RazerZ]

Anytime.