Upgrading a Dell Dimension 4700

[sgmuser]

Hello all,
Iam planning to connect a PC next to my X series Sony LCD which is a Full HD. I want to play all my HD/Full HD movies through my PC. I have a Dimension 4700 which is old box with Pentium 2.8MHz. Is it possible to add a better processor like Pentium DC E5400 with a ATI Radeon with HDMI output? Should I need to replace the motherboard as well?

i know for someone i may sound stupid! but its been since few years I modded my PC and with latest things, I am lost!

Thanks.

Regards
Sgmuser

 

[belial2k]

Your processor will not be able to handle Blu ray playback smoothly, and your socket will not take a core 2 duo (i think)....so you are probably better off looking for a cheap dual core machine that you can add a blu ray player to.

 

[joefriday]

Well, it won't be the most power efficient thing in the world, but with enough graphics offloading, even a P4 should be able to handle blue-ray video. The Dimension 4700 has a PCIe 16x slot, so if you use a radeon 4670, you should have enough graphics horsepower to play Blue-ray once you also upgrade to a faster P4, like a 3.2 or 3.4 GHz model, for example.

 

[sgmuser]

Thanks Belial2k and Joefriday.

Very useful replies both. I just couldn't explain the agony Iam going thru to replace my PS3 which I sold after frustrated with its limitation like not able to play mkv, some divx files, wmv, some MPx files. I also wanted little bit more intelligent box there rather than this non-expandable, customizable PS3 next to my LCD.

Since my PIII 2.8 is not that powerful, let me leave it as my kid's play pc.

I do not want to disturb my C2Duo T9600 Laptop as well. So, what is the best solution for my LCD where I simply want to do everything from download, dvd write, video capture from my Camcorder, play media of course, web browsing. I do not want to compromise on the HDMI movie and sound quality and I need to get what PS3 offered and if possible more. Budget is around $800. I can add BluRay driver later. Please throw in your suggestions including most suited Graphic Card. Lately I was inclined to buy Dell Dimension or Optiplex for their durability. Still undecided.

Surely there should be something for this requirement right?

 

[deadlockedworld]

Woa.. thats a big jump from where you were. $800 can buy a mid-high end computer complete with monitor etc.

If you have a loyalty to dell do you want us to suggest dell models in that price range? Or should we stay as cheap as possible?
A Dell Studio desktop, or mid-level Inspiron would be a good choice (not the slim ones though)

 

[saaiello]

dell studios are great for media PC id suggest that

 

[sgmuser]

Deadlockedworld : I do not need a monitor, since I need a graphic card with HDMI out so that I connect to my LCD. I also have a spare 20 inch and wireless kb/mouse, which I can use for this new media PC.

saaiello: im looking at that...as well. I prefer to have a discreet setup that is not so obvious at the drawing hall.

 

[deadlockedworld]

im looking at that...as well. I prefer to have a discreet setup that is not so obvious at the drawing hall.

Hmm.. that makes it more difficult. Most of the more attractive looking small form factor PCs that you see (dell zinio, etc) have crappy video cards because they dont have the space for a good one. I'll look around.

 

[deadlockedworld]

One idea is this slimline HP. The one below i configured to $799 with a blue-ray player. (I think having the player sort of makes up for it costing so much?) It also has a TV tuner option if you want to pay for it.

HP Pavilion Slimline s5380t PC

* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q8300 [2.5GHz, 4MB L2, 1333MHz FSB]
* 4GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM [2 DIMMs]
* 640GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from 500GB
* 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4350 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter]
* Blu-ray player & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner
* Integrated 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet, No wireless LAN
* 6-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, headphone port
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=desktops&series_name=s5380t_series&a1=Category&v1=Slim%20and%20sleek


EDIT: my earlier comment about slimlines was just because having a slim computer severely limits your ability to upgrade it, but if you want it to fit in with a home theater system its probably worth it.

 

[belial2k]

http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5557265&CatId=5140
pop in the video card of your choice,a blue ray drive, and you have a great HTPC/gamer that would be better than PS3.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106325

 

[deadlockedworld]

Yea that is definitely a good option if you want to get out cheap. The Asus computers are big but at least they are pretty. The other two more powerful refurbished ones would be good too.

 

[saaiello]

ok i put an HTPC together through newegg for an i3 HTPC for everything i got it to $819.00 but there are about $60.00 in rebates

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163117 $99.99 20.00 mail in rebate

Mother Board Gigabyte
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128420 $89.99

CPU i3 530
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115222 $124.95

Memory DDR 3 OCZ 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227495 $99.99 20.00 mail in rebate $79.99

Hard Drive Seagate Barracuda 750 gigs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148295 129.99

Video Card ASUS hd 5750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121356 $144.99

Power supply ANTEC 400 watt true power
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371029 $39.99

Blu Ray Drive LG Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136162 $89.99

total came to $819 and some change now u cld always go with cheaper video card and maybe go a little cheaper with AMD but this is what i would build if i had 800 to spend on a HTPC system

 

[sgmuser]

superb! esp the casing looks nice! of course the selection of comp. looking at these now.