Restoring an old computer for low-end gaming

[NoCh33zy]

So after letting this paperweight collect dust for what seems like ages, I decided that I'll try and restore it.

This is the old computer.
http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00770214

And these are the parts I'm using to "rebuild" it.
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/NoCh33zy/saved/fmz8TW

• 
  - Changed from single core CPU to dual.
  - Added extra memory.
  - Same motherboard; the old one's battery is expired or something.
  - Added a GPU.
  - I put the OS as Ubuntu, but I may invest in getting Windows 7 or 10 at a future date.

Questions:
1.) Are any of these parts compatible? On PCPartPicker, it says it's compatible, but I want to know if someone actually knows whether these parts will work or not, if they're compatible, if there's any sort of bottleneck,

2.) What are some games I'm able to play, if this works? It's no $3000 high-end gaming PC, but something more for League of Legends, possibly CS:GO and Dota 2, Quake, etc. But what other stuff may i be able to play?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Parts are compatible, yes. But there is no gaming with GT 710.
Bare minimum even to consider would be GT 730 GDDR5.

 

[Mondoman]

Your big price item is the motherboard -- for not much more you can get a fairly current motherboard, and an Intel dual-core CPU to run on it. A modern Intel dual core will be MUCH more able to support some gaming, even at a similar clock speed to an AMD CPU.

This CPU runs about $50 USD: (and includes newer instruction sets and virtualization)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117449
This decent quality motherboard is $50 USD, or $40 USD after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128822
One 4GB stick of quality DDR3 RAM for $18 USD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148539
SSDs are SO much faster, don't use old slow mechanical hard drives except for archiving/backup. Here's a refurb Intel SSD for $35 USD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167391

With this foundation, you can see what games run OK on the built-in Intel graphics (probably not many), then pick an add-on graphics card when you want to.

 

[NoCh33zy]

Your big price item is the motherboard -- for not much more you can get a fairly current motherboard, and an Intel dual-core CPU to run on it. A modern Intel dual core will be MUCH more able to support some gaming, even at a similar clock speed to an AMD CPU.

This CPU runs about $50 USD: (and includes newer instruction sets and virtualization)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117449
This decent quality motherboard is $50 USD, or $40 USD after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128822
One 4GB stick of quality DDR3 RAM for $18 USD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148539
SSDs are SO much faster, don't use old slow mechanical hard drives except for archiving/backup. Here's a refurb Intel SSD for $35 USD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167391

With this foundation, you can see what games run OK on the built-in Intel graphics (probably not many), then pick an add-on graphics card when you want to.

Okay, so new question now: would the motherboard be compatible with these types of connections?

Because, as far as I'm aware, I think that's the only motherboard compatible with the case.

 

[Mondoman]

Those wires look like standard USB and/or audio jack cables. From your original computer's specs, there might also be a Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable or two. For current use, all that really matters is USB and audio in/out. The motherboard has USB and audio jacks in its backpanel I/O riser area, so you can get by without connecting any of the case's front panel USB and audio jacks to headers in the middle of the motherboard. However, it's nice to have front panel jacks -- USB connectors are pretty standard, but the audio might be trickier. The motherboard manual will explain each pin in the MB audio header and USB headers.
Hopefully your case in the back I/O jack area has a replaceable thin metal "shield" surrounding the I/O ports. This is a standard-sized metal panel that comes with each motherboard with holes in it to match that motherboard's output jacks. That way, a single case can be used with many different motherboard models, since the metal "shield" matching the motherboard is installed in the back to accommodate the motherboard's jacks.

 

[Mondoman]

PS - Size-wize HP lists your original motherboard as "micro ATX", which is also the size of the motherboard I linked to in my earlier post.

 

[NoCh33zy]

Those wires look like standard USB and/or audio jack cables. From your original computer's specs, there might also be a Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable or two. For current use, all that really matters is USB and audio in/out. The motherboard has USB and audio jacks in its backpanel I/O riser area, so you can get by without connecting any of the case's front panel USB and audio jacks to headers in the middle of the motherboard. However, it's nice to have front panel jacks -- USB connectors are pretty standard, but the audio might be trickier. The motherboard manual will explain each pin in the MB audio header and USB headers.
Hopefully your case in the back I/O jack area has a replaceable thin metal "shield" surrounding the I/O ports. This is a standard-sized metal panel that comes with each motherboard with holes in it to match that motherboard's output jacks. That way, a single case can be used with many different motherboard models, since the metal "shield" matching the motherboard is installed in the back to accommodate the motherboard's jacks.

Those are also the same plugs for the front panel connections, though. Well, similar to those types of plugs.

 

[Mondoman]

Those wires look like standard USB and/or audio jack cables. From your original computer's specs, there might also be a Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable or two. For current use, all that really matters is USB and audio in/out. The motherboard has USB and audio jacks in its backpanel I/O riser area, so you can get by without connecting any of the case's front panel USB and audio jacks to headers in the middle of the motherboard. However, it's nice to have front panel jacks -- USB connectors are pretty standard, but the audio might be trickier. The motherboard manual will explain each pin in the MB audio header and USB headers.
Hopefully your case in the back I/O jack area has a replaceable thin metal "shield" surrounding the I/O ports. This is a standard-sized metal panel that comes with each motherboard with holes in it to match that motherboard's output jacks. That way, a single case can be used with many different motherboard models, since the metal "shield" matching the motherboard is installed in the back to accommodate the motherboard's jacks.

Those are also the same plugs for the front panel connections, though. Well, similar to those types of plugs.

Yes, the motherboard manual (or markings on the MB) should show which sets of header pins on the MB to plug a USB connector into, which would be for front-panel audio, etc. Often MBs have extra sets of headers; I usually only plug in one or two USB connectors from the front panel, and the audio jack connectors.

 

[NoCh33zy]

Those wires look like standard USB and/or audio jack cables. From your original computer's specs, there might also be a Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable or two. For current use, all that really matters is USB and audio in/out. The motherboard has USB and audio jacks in its backpanel I/O riser area, so you can get by without connecting any of the case's front panel USB and audio jacks to headers in the middle of the motherboard. However, it's nice to have front panel jacks -- USB connectors are pretty standard, but the audio might be trickier. The motherboard manual will explain each pin in the MB audio header and USB headers.
Hopefully your case in the back I/O jack area has a replaceable thin metal "shield" surrounding the I/O ports. This is a standard-sized metal panel that comes with each motherboard with holes in it to match that motherboard's output jacks. That way, a single case can be used with many different motherboard models, since the metal "shield" matching the motherboard is installed in the back to accommodate the motherboard's jacks.

Those are also the same plugs for the front panel connections, though. Well, similar to those types of plugs.

Yes, the motherboard manual (or markings on the MB) should show which sets of header pins on the MB to plug a USB connector into, which would be for front-panel audio, etc. Often MBs have extra sets of headers; I usually only plug in one or two USB connectors from the front panel, and the audio jack connectors.

I feel like I should have been a bit more descriptive. While both the USB and Audio jack headers are the same, it also applies to the Power Button, the LEDS, etc. I don't know about a reset switch, but the power button is also similar to the plugs and headers.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I don't know about a reset switch, but the power button is also similar to the plugs and headers.

http://www.findlaptopdriver.com/mainboard-a8m2n-la-front-panel-power-reset/

 

[NoCh33zy]

I don't know about a reset switch, but the power button is also similar to the plugs and headers.

http://www.findlaptopdriver.com/mainboard-a8m2n-la-front-panel-power-reset/

So if I was going to get a new motherboard, would the panel switches work with it? Or only for that motherboard specifically?

 

[SkyNetRising]

I don't know. Can you post picture of front panel connector of your PC?
If it has separate pieces for reset,power switch,hdd Led, power led, then you're fine.

If all of that is combined into one connector, then you're gonna have problems.

Edit: ah, you posted that picture earlier. Well - it's one piece connector. You'll need to make some alterations, if you want to use it on another motherboard (or get another case).