Question Upgrading old PC to be a gaming PC?

[Zapensal]

I need help identifying parts so I know what to upgrade and for compatibility. I know I have one of the basic prebuilt HP/Compaq desktops. It currently holds:

CPU: Intel i5 3570 3.4Ghz
Intel(R) HD graphics
RAM: 8GB (unknown brand x2 4GB)
64-bit sys
2TB HDD
Windows 10 home
Motherboard: Says it’s an HP 3397
PSU: 250W

I would like to upgrade the RAM as much as possible, at least to 32GB and add a GPU to have a budget build gamer. I’m willing to upgrade the PSU, although I am aware this may not be supported on this board, and case as well as remove the disk drive to add a fan if I end up keeping the case. There seems to be built in speakers somewhere I can’t find as well?

Biggest issue I’m having is that I don’t have much knowledge on Intel boards and compatibilty. Any suggestions for RAM AND GPUs? If I could just get some direction on what this motherboard is, I could research.

 

[USAFRet]

If looking for a GPU worth of gaming, you also have to change the power supply.
Which, on a prebuilt HP/Compaq system, may not be possible.

 

[NedSmelly]

What games are you hoping to play, and what resolution?

That’s an old system With several upgrade limitations.

 

[Zapensal]

What games are you hoping to play, and what resolution?

That’s an old system With several upgrade limitations.

Not many titles. Maybe FN, Sims and that’s probably it. Likely no AAA titles or heavy hitters. I don’t need anything beyond 1080p. I understand there are major limitations and honestly just want it to be a little more capable.

 

[Zapensal]

If looking for a GPU worth of gaming, you also have to change the power supply.
Which, on a prebuilt HP/Compaq system, may not be possible.

I’m willing to replace/upgrade any parts I need to as long as there are parts I can reuse like a rebuild with the CPU?

 

[USAFRet]

I’m willing to replace/upgrade any parts I need to as long as there are parts I can reuse like a rebuild with the CPU?

You're trying to change a 12 year old low end office level PC into a current gaming system.

This will not work.

A new GPU will require a new power supply.
Which would require a non=proprietary motherboard.
And a new case.

If you're going to change the motherboard to accept a standard ATX PSU, you might as well get something newer. Which means a new CPU and RAM.

Hey...you just build a new PC!

Sell the old HP, and apply that money to a whole new system.

 

[35below0]

Do you have a motherboard manual? Check what upgrades are possible. Maybe you can stick in a NVMe.
A SSD would help improve things right away.

You could install snappy G.Skill Ripjaws 2x8 RAM
https://www.gskill.com/product/165/176/1532078792/F3-1600C9D-16GXM

F3-2400C11D-16GXM - Overview - G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd.

The Ripjaws classic has returned! This time, the G.SKILL RipjawsX Series is raising the bar for computing experience and performance expectations across the board. Equipped with XMP profiles and dual-channel capable, your Intel and AMD systems will easily tear through all your games and programs!

www.gskill.com

If you can find it for a fair price.

I’m willing to replace/upgrade any parts I need to as long as there are parts I can reuse like a rebuild with the CPU?

Your problem is that for about $800-1000 you can build a modern PC that will completely overwhelm anything you upgrade your old PC to.
So, if your upgrades start to inch towards $400 or more, abandon your plan and save up for a new computer.

I have an old 3570K PC running, and it's still fine. But the new one i bought this year is monstrously more capable.

 

[Zapensal]

Do you have a motherboard manual? Check what upgrades are possible. Maybe you can stick in a NVMe.
A SSD would help improve things right away.

You could install snappy G.Skill Ripjaws 2x8 RAM
https://www.gskill.com/product/165/176/1532078792/F3-1600C9D-16GXM

F3-2400C11D-16GXM - Overview - G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd.

The Ripjaws classic has returned! This time, the G.SKILL RipjawsX Series is raising the bar for computing experience and performance expectations across the board. Equipped with XMP profiles and dual-channel capable, your Intel and AMD systems will easily tear through all your games and programs!

www.gskill.com

If you can find it for a fair price.


Your problem is that for about $800-1000 you can build a modern PC that will completely overwhelm anything you upgrade your old PC to.
So, if your upgrades start to inch towards $400 or more, abandon your plan and save up for a new computer.

I have an old 3570K PC running, and it's still fine. But the new one i bought this year is monstrously more capable.

I have no manual. I did not build this PC and I am struggling to find all the info I need on the board - likely because of it’s age and limitations.

I do have plans to build two PCs for what I want. One on the 1k end (A FN machine) and the other a little heavier hitting (Gaming, streaming, editing, art). In the meantime, I do plan on using this one mainly as the office computer, but I want it to be capable of at least more than bare minimum. I don’t mind sinking in a few hundred to have a spare for minimal gaming.

 

[35below0]

I don’t mind sinking in a few hundred to have a spare for minimal gaming.

That PSU will limit you. I don't think you should spend any money with the exception of an 2.5" SSD. That will speed things up.

As for RAM, i did recommend fast DDR3, but unless you know the limits of the motherboard, do not buy it.

 

[DaleH]

I need help identifying parts so I know what to upgrade and for compatibility. I know I have one of the basic prebuilt HP/Compaq desktops. It currently holds:

CPU: Intel i5 3570 3.4Ghz
Intel(R) HD graphics
RAM: 8GB (unknown brand x2 4GB)
64-bit sys
2TB HDD
Windows 10 home
Motherboard: Says it’s an HP 3397
PSU: 250W

I would like to upgrade the RAM as much as possible, at least to 32GB and add a GPU to have a budget build gamer. I’m willing to upgrade the PSU, although I am aware this may not be supported on this board, and case as well as remove the disk drive to add a fan if I end up keeping the case. There seems to be built in speakers somewhere I can’t find as well?

Biggest issue I’m having is that I don’t have much knowledge on Intel boards and compatibilty. Any suggestions for RAM AND GPUs? If I could just get some direction on what this motherboard is, I could research.

Google HP 3397 - you'll find some sites with a manual.

 

[stonecarver]

[SOLVED] - Computer noob here, I have a 3397 motherboard from HP and I'm wondering if the GT 1030 is compatible?

I know nothing about computers, have almost no idea what I'm doing other than some guidance from friends. I wanna get a graphics card and I was told to get the GeForce GT 710 since it's cheap, kinda bad, but better than nothing. But I've also found the GT 1030 also in my price range and I've...

forums.tomshardware.com

So I am assuming you have a SFF.

 

[thestryker]

With what you have I think you'd be better off starting over even if it's just getting a more modern low end/business desktop and putting a PCIe slot powered GPU in it. Depending on where you live this may or may not be an option, but here in the US it'd be pretty simple to spend $200-400 on a complete new system and then add a video card in and end up with something significantly better than any upgrades you can do on what you have. It's not so much the age of the components as it is the proprietary nature and how much you would likely have to change out while still ending up compromised.

 

[NedSmelly]

Agree with the others. I wouldn’t waste money trying to make this a gaming PC. Keep it for office productivity and light internet use. The most I would do is replace the boot drive with a SATA SSD and chuck in some cheap used DDR3 RAM sticks - and even then I wouldn’t spend actual money on these parts, I’d trawl my e-waste for these.

This is one of those situations where an obsolete generic ’clone’ PC with ATX specifications gives you a much better foundation than the brand-name systems.