Need Help, Modifying a Compaq Evo

[J3werks]

I am looking to modify a computer i currently recieved. I am new to all this computer stuff, i know some, but not much. It is a newer Compaq Evo with xp, looking to upgrade it for doing designing and working with photoshop and adobe programs. I want to hook it up to my 32in 720p. Panasonic tv with a hdmi cable. The computer has a blown power supply, so i really don't know what it has. Intel celeron processor, 512mb ram, the rest is unknown. I am trying to do this for about $200. I need some help making choices on what to get.

So far i looked at this motherboard Newegg.com - Open Box: ASUS M3A78 AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard

or this one

Newegg.com - XFX MG63Mi7159 LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 7150 / nForce 630i HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

but idk if i have to get a processor still, or what kind.(AMD or Intel, which is better)

 

[Trotter]

Your case will only hold a mATX board. A new mobo will not use the CPU you current have (if your Evo is as old as the Evo's I know of). Here's a setup that would work for you.

Newegg.com - ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core black edition Processor - Processors - Desktops

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

$177 w/free shipping on the CPU.

You can use Sysprep to set up your hard drive to swap to the new hardware without having to reinstall everything.

 

[J3werks]

Thanks.

Would it possibly be easier to buy a new graphics card and get more RAM.( possibly a new processor?)

 

[Trotter]

I am going by the evo line I know, which were socket A machines.

If yours is like those, you have a crap power supply (200W at the most) and DDR RAM. DDR is dead and no modern motherboard can use it. Even a low-end graphics card will require more juice than what you have.

The setup I posted will use the onboard graphics and some of the system RAM, but the chip is a HD 3200 graphics chip. That's not shabby at all for onboard. Vern (one of the mods here) used it for quite a while and even gamed with it. the motherboard has built-in HDMI and so can hook up to your TV without anything additional.

A discreet graphics card would be better, but you would have to buy both it and the PSU to power it all. It won't fit into a $200 budget.

If you mean RAM to fit the Evo's board, that is doable.
Newegg.com - WINTEC 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
(If your system can handle 2GB of RAM... some can only handle 1GB or 512MB)

I cannot find an AGP card with HDMI.