System I am trying to upgrade:
Pavilion a1267c, Specs on HP website (see CPU below) http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...oftwareitem=pv-39428-1&os=228&product=1847035
General Specs:
Motherboard: MS-7184. It's a 939 socket with 1 PCI-E slot. 4 Slots for ram (2 used). Upgradeable to AMD 4800+ X2.
CPU: Despite the above link, the CPU is a AMD 3800+ 64 XP, single core
RAM: 2x 512 PC 3200 184 pin, DDR SDRAM (2 slots available)
GPU: ......internal!
Power: 300w, single 12v, 19A
Monitor: HP flatscreen Max Rez: 1280 x 1024
Also have: 2 optical drives and 2 HD's (one Sata)
Goal: A PC that will respectably play Starcraft 2 (assuming Q4 of '08 ish). AKA give me one year of decent service.
I have read the "Is Your PC Ready for a System Update?" article and I will post the setup I have taken from that, but the key differences to mention are: 1) I likely need a new power supply, but not a new hard drive. 2) Keeping the monitor, and it clearly handcuffs my resolution, so take that in to account when talking about a card.
Upgrades:
AMD 3800+ --> AMD 4200+ X2 ($78.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103053
+ Arctic Silver 5 ($5.99)
2x 512 Ram --> 4x 512 Ram ($49.98)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820161615
Total so far: $134.96 ($165ish of the $300 budget left).
Now this is where I have trouble, the Power Supply and the GPU. Let me just state that I can push my budget another 30 to 50 dollars if need be and I have some flexibility to "absorb" rebates by going over budget.
My "IMO" GPU/Power option is this:
Rosewill 600w +12V1@22A, +12V2@22A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817182088
+
7600GT (seems to keep pace with the 8600 GT, no Vista Plans for this PC)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130062
Total $162.98 (without $15 rebate), and with a -$15 discount for purchasing them together, keeping me under budget. Then, if need be next fall, I could look into a new card to run Starcraft 2. A GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB or the like should drop in price by then. Or just cave on a new computer.
So, is this worth it? Could I get away with my existing power supply with a 7600GT (it asks for 350W's)? I appreciate all comments!
Pavilion a1267c, Specs on HP website (see CPU below) http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...oftwareitem=pv-39428-1&os=228&product=1847035
General Specs:
Motherboard: MS-7184. It's a 939 socket with 1 PCI-E slot. 4 Slots for ram (2 used). Upgradeable to AMD 4800+ X2.
CPU: Despite the above link, the CPU is a AMD 3800+ 64 XP, single core
RAM: 2x 512 PC 3200 184 pin, DDR SDRAM (2 slots available)
GPU: ......internal!
Power: 300w, single 12v, 19A
Monitor: HP flatscreen Max Rez: 1280 x 1024
Also have: 2 optical drives and 2 HD's (one Sata)
Goal: A PC that will respectably play Starcraft 2 (assuming Q4 of '08 ish). AKA give me one year of decent service.
I have read the "Is Your PC Ready for a System Update?" article and I will post the setup I have taken from that, but the key differences to mention are: 1) I likely need a new power supply, but not a new hard drive. 2) Keeping the monitor, and it clearly handcuffs my resolution, so take that in to account when talking about a card.
Upgrades:
AMD 3800+ --> AMD 4200+ X2 ($78.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103053
+ Arctic Silver 5 ($5.99)
2x 512 Ram --> 4x 512 Ram ($49.98)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820161615
Total so far: $134.96 ($165ish of the $300 budget left).
Now this is where I have trouble, the Power Supply and the GPU. Let me just state that I can push my budget another 30 to 50 dollars if need be and I have some flexibility to "absorb" rebates by going over budget.
My "IMO" GPU/Power option is this:
Rosewill 600w +12V1@22A, +12V2@22A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817182088
+
7600GT (seems to keep pace with the 8600 GT, no Vista Plans for this PC)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130062
Total $162.98 (without $15 rebate), and with a -$15 discount for purchasing them together, keeping me under budget. Then, if need be next fall, I could look into a new card to run Starcraft 2. A GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB or the like should drop in price by then. Or just cave on a new computer.
So, is this worth it? Could I get away with my existing power supply with a 7600GT (it asks for 350W's)? I appreciate all comments!