the quest continues for a PSU and GPU

[Nyphrodel]

After a very smart forum member informed me that I have a 300w PSU not a 350w (I was too lazy to open it up and look) I broke down, took a look, and yes, he was correct. I have a 300w psu in my DELL Inspiron 530.vSo I am once again shopping for a new graphics card and and PSU upgrade.

I can spend $200-$300. I plan to use this system for nothing but gaming in the future. I have a standard 21" monitor and a 42" flat screen for my primary. These are what I am considering:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=02G-P4-2660-KR

Are these good choices and will they both fit my DELL Inspiron 530? Anyone with any advice is welcome. Thank You in advance.

 

[jdowdy10]

Overkill for a Core 2 Duo processor at 2.4Ghz is my opinion, however, if you want to go that route anyway I would go with these parts...

http://m.slickdeals.net/f/6004964-Asus-GeForce-GTX-660-2GB-192-bit-GDDR5-PCI-Express-3-0-Video-Card-Free-Metro-Last-Light-Coupon-168-99-after-Rebate-Free-Shipping-More-at-Newegg?
(follow that link for Asus 660 and use the promo code)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productaspx?Item=N82E16817182066&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo
(I like Gold rated power supplies. They are usually made of higher quality components.)

As I said probably overkill, but you come in around $250 and both these parts can be moved if you ever decide to upgrade.

Personally, I would buy the power supply you listed and a 7770/650 and save up to build a whole new computer.

 

[Nyphrodel]

OK now, as I mentioned before, I am not very computer literate, but I am trying to learn and I have replaced a video card before. But my question is this: Do you mean that my processor is not capable of allowing this particular card to run at optimum? So in other words it won't look as good as it should because of my processor? If so, how about the gtx650ti boost? Or even just the gtx650? I kind of wanted at least a 660 or above because they're giving away Metro Last Light which I was going to purchase anyway. As a result, I can technically take the $60.00, the rebate and free shipping off and pay about the same price for the 660 as I would for the 650.

So, can somebody set me straight? Someone please help me, I want to hurry up and order, I have so many games to play that could look so much better!
Thank you in advance.

 

[jdowdy10]

And they will look better than what you are running them at now if you order the 660. As I told you in private messages, your processor will not push this graphics card which creates a bottleneck. Games that are CPU bound will not look anywhere as good as games that are GPU bound because of the fact that your CPU is slow.

Think of it this way...

Let's say you have an Audi chassis and parts with all but the engine. Instead of paying the mark up for an Audi replacement engine you drop a 3 cylinder engine from one of those old minivans in it. Your graphics card is the chassis and your CPU is the 3 cylinder engine. While the chassis is very capable of hauling *** the 3 cylinder engine is not. That is an extreme example because the parts inside that PC are probably not something I would equate to an "Audi".

As I stated in PM's, you can build a new PC slowly. Use this deal site (slickdeals.net) and acquire the parts slowly until eventually you have a new machine. That is what I did for the PC I am currently running and it is respectable in gaming, has no glaring holes, and is built for everyday use.

Not all of use can drop $1500 on a new PC, so you have to plan better and ask questions. The community here and at slickdeals will help if you explain your situation. I personally look at almost every PC part deal on that site and try to answer questions when I have the knowledge.

In summary, if you plan on building a more modern PC, or even buying a newer model Dell, before the end of the year I would go ahead and get the two parts in question and then transplant them when the purchase is made.

 

[Nyphrodel]

Firstly jrowdy10, thank you so very much for the response and the wonderful explanation in layman's terms. These forums have been a boon to someone like me and I've never received a condescending attitude, not once.

So, I really do plan on getting a whole new system before 2014. It turns out that my mobo has a short in one of the USB ports but I didn't want to replace it yet be cause I just installed a new copy of WINDOWS 7 on it. That means that it's tied to this mobo and not transferrable, correct? Otherwise, I would have replaced that first. So my next question is this: couldn't I just buy a new mobo, PSU and graphics card? No, I still need a better processor and that's the CPU, right? I think I just answered my own question. Well, when the time comes (and the money), I'll be on here looking for advice I'm sure. I hope your still around rowdy.

Thanks again,

Nyphrodel

 

[jdowdy10]

If you

Firstly jrowdy10, thank you so very much for the response and the wonderful explanation in layman's terms. These forums have been a boon to someone like me and I've never received a condescending attitude, not once.

So, I really do plan on getting a whole new system before 2014. It turns out that my mobo has a short in one of the USB ports but I didn't want to replace it yet be cause I just installed a new copy of WINDOWS 7 on it. That means that it's tied to this mobo and not transferrable, correct? Otherwise, I would have replaced that first. So my next question is this: couldn't I just buy a new mobo, PSU and graphics card? No, I still need a better processor and that's the CPU, right? I think I just answered my own question. Well, when the time comes (and the money), I'll be on here looking for advice I'm sure. I hope your still around rowdy.

Thanks again,

Nyphrodel

You can deactivate a Windows product key to use on another machine. Google it and you can find instructions.

Yes, you would need a new processor and even if you wanted to keep your old processor finding an old board would be hard. If you live near a Microcenter you can find good deals on mobo/processor combos . If not, an internet retailer where you don't pay tax is your best bet.

Check out this site (pcpartpicker.com). It allows you a build for new computer from there database and track prices.

PM me when you get closer to building or buying a new PC and I'll gladly help. Or just make a new topic in the proper forum on tom's and I'm sure you'll get some great advice.

 

[Nyphrodel]

After careful consideration and a little tutoring from jdowdy I went ahead and purchased a new GTX 660 and a Corsair 600w psu.

Just to clarify something; after recommending the above listed GPU and PSU, jdowdy stated:

"As I said probably overkill, but you come in around $250 and both these parts can be moved if you ever decide to upgrade".

This is exactly what I did just one month later; I purchased a new XPS 8500 and replaced the stock GPU and PSU with these parts. I then took the stock GPU and PSU and installed them in my Inspiron 530 and I am extremely happy with my choices.

Close enough anyway, you get the picture. Thanks again dowdy!!!