I need advice! I want to know if this will be worth it.

[Wormhammer]

On my local Kijiji, I am seriously considering purchasing a Dell Vostro 220s slim ($100), to modify for playing video games. currently, I am playing video games on my ASUS S300CA laptop with Intel I5 3317u and Intel Integrated Graphics 4000. My laptop is absolutely terrible for gaming. I was wondering if I could buy this card for the Vostro 220s: MSI GeForce GT 730 N730K-1GD5LP/OC 1GB 64-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card. To make it suitable for gaming. Also, I was thinking about getting a new CPU for the Vostro, since it probably needs it. Will the Vostro 220s with the MSI card significantly outperform my ASUS? if not, how could I modify it to? Thanks in advance, Wormhammer.
Note: I am totally new to building/modifying computers. Also, I realized that this graphics card will cost more than I expected. please feel free to suggest a new card.

 

[CTurbo]

No. Why don't you just build a regular desktop? I would not bother with something as weak as a GT730 as it's only barely stronger than your i5's igpu.

 

[delaro]

Don't waste your money on a SFF Business end piece of crap, This is not or will it ever make a decent gaming system. Save you money and wait for the Sales to start, we are about to hit the Season for great deals on PC parts.

Yorkfield Quad Core Q8400 2.66GHz
Wolfdale Dual Core E8600 3.33GHz

Ether of these + a 730 GT might get you 720p and low to Medium settings but I doubt most current AAA Titles will be playable at all without overclocking which you lack. There is also the SFF 250W power supply which is to weak to run anything of decent performance. SFF supplies above 300W are not plentiful or cheap.

 

[Wormhammer]

No. Why don't you just build a regular desktop? I would not bother with something as weak as a GT730 as it's only barely stronger than your i5's igpu.

Thanks for telling me. I am working on a tight budget, and cannot really afford to spend upwards of roughly $250 CAD on a computer. I will continue searching for something more powerful on kijiji. I already came across a $200 gaming computer with very impressive specs, but it was taken down before I could respond.

 

[Wormhammer]

Also, I am wondering if it would be possible to increase my laptop's performance by attaching an eGPU to it. Being an S300CA, it does not have a thunderbolt port, or an expresscard port. I did a bit of research, and am still unsure if I can attach an eGPU through the USB 3.0 slot. I don't think any other slots on it can handle an eGPU, but the other slots include:
SD card reader
2 USB 2.0 slots
Headphone/microphone slot
HDMI slot
VGA port
Ethernet slot
Kensington Security slot.
Also, I saw there was a disassembly tutorial online for this laptop. after looking at it, I realized that there is a very good chance that my underwhelming CPU is soldered to my motherboard (it was a slightly different model). I was wondering if it would be at all worth it to replace the motherboard and CPU (I highly doubt this one is in my budget).

Thanks, Wormhammer.

 

[delaro]

That laptop is not anywhere near a Performance machine and it did not offer many CPU's so Replacing the motherboard for the cost will gain you next to nothing.

eGPU on USB 3.0, Could you get this to work? Maybe but with that CPU you wont gain much and it will cost more than your Budget "Adapter, External Power Supply + GPU" Plus it will not just magically work, you will have to spend some time with it to get the bugs out.

Or you could just save your money and Build or Buy something decent.

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/buy-sell-trade/

Good place to Barter used hardware in Canada.

 

[Wormhammer]

Thanks for the advice. I guess I will continue searching for a decent used computer. thanks again, Wormhammer.

 

[Wormhammer]

Okkay... Now, I purchased someone's five-year-old gaming setup, but haven't started it up yet. I would like your opinion on what it is and if it will be able to handle WoT (not a very demanding game) on high graphics settings. The seller claimed that this setup could run games. Also, he is moving out and can't bring his computer with him, so it only cost me $50, so I am totally fine with spending more money to upgrade it. Specs:
Intel core 2 duo 6300, at 1.85 ghz
AMD HD 6850 1gb with Accelero S1 cooler
Kingston 4gb RAM
Wifi card
500 GB hard drive
Intel DG965WH motherboard
Lots of dial-controlled fans.

 

[delaro]

GPU is a little better but the CPU is pretty slow, What do you expect in performance? 768p and less and Low to medium settings. The Max CPU available for that Board is a Q6700 "Ebay $25" With that Overclocked to around 3.3ghz you could probably push 1050p and Medium in quite a few games. Higher res games will want more memory down the road.

 

[Wormhammer]

Thanks. I watched a youtube video where this processor ran bf4 at ultra settings at roughly 25fps. If this processor can run bf4 That high, I don't know why it would bottleneck the system. Please explain, but thanks again.
Wormhammer

 

[delaro]

In most titles this is what you expect

800x600 Ultra to High 25fps Average
1028 X 768 -15% fps
1280 x 720 -15% fps
1368 x 768 -15% fps
1440 x 900 -15% fps
1650 x 1050 -15% fps
1920 X 1080 -15% fps

Each step in resolution drops playable FPS by 15% or more depending on how bad the Port is. Pay close attention to those Youtube Vids claimed Resolutions. With FPS lower than 30 you get signs of Stuttering and input lag which is only dramatically increases as you apply any kind of multiplayer aspect.

You will not enjoy 800X600 with 25fps, consider that Q6700 and overclock it above 3ghz, matched with the GPU you have your going to start with a Resolution between 1368 X 768 and 1650 X 1050 plus average above 30fps. You have to consider that a Dual core is running everything on the system + the game which also wants to use both cores.

 

[Wormhammer]

Thanks again, Delaro. I Will defiantly purchase the Q6700; sounds like a much-needed improvement. Thanks for all of your help, I really appreciate it.

Wormhammer

 

[Wormhammer]

In most titles this is what you expect

800x600 Ultra to High 25fps Average
1028 X 768 -15% fps
1280 x 720 -15% fps
1368 x 768 -15% fps
1440 x 900 -15% fps
1650 x 1050 -15% fps
1920 X 1080 -15% fps

Each step in resolution drops playable FPS by 15% or more depending on how bad the Port is. Pay close attention to those Youtube Vids claimed Resolutions. With FPS lower than 30 you get signs of Stuttering and input lag which is only dramatically increases as you apply any kind of multiplayer aspect.

You will not enjoy 800X600 with 25fps, consider that Q6700 and overclock it above 3ghz, matched with the GPU you have your going to start with a Resolution between 1368 X 768 and 1650 X 1050 plus average above 30fps. You have to consider that a Dual core is running everything on the system + the game which also wants to use both cores.