Upgrading My Machine (HELP)

[Bjorn88]

Hello,

I don't know too much about computer hardware, or what to buy so I thought some of you techies could direct me in the right direction.

I am looking to upgrade my machine mainly for gaming, so I can save money rather than buying a whole new computer all together. Here are my system's specs. I hope they are enough to know what I should add -- My machine is a HP Pavilion Ultimate d4999t CTO.

Should I add more RAM? A faster processor? Both? I was thinking about going up to 6 GB or 8 GB ram, but I am not sure what kind of RAM to buy? Thanks for the help guys.


Model Information
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Model Name d4999t
Product Number KC836AV-ABA
Software Build 81NAv6PcA4
Serial Number MXG80500LJ
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating System
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Microsoft Windows Vista - Home Premium Edition (x64)
DirectX Version 10.0

Windows Update
Automatic Updates Automatic download and install
Last checked 2010-09-08 18:25:26

Operating System
Base Score 5.5
Assessment State Valid Scores
Assessment Date 9/8/2010 9:24:37 PM
Processor Subscore 5.9
Memory (RAM) Subscore 5.5
Graphics (Aero) Subscore 5.9
Gaming Graphics Subscore 5.9
Primary Disk Subscore 5.7
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
System Information
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer HP-Pavilion
Total Number of Logical CPUs 4
Total Physical Memory 3.00 GB
Total Number of Optical Drives 1
Total Number of Hard Drives 1
Total Number of Video Cards 1
Total Number of Memory Modules 4
Total Number of DIMM slots 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motherboard
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

System Board
Chipset Intel Q35/Q33/P35/G33
Southbridge Intel 82801IR (ICH9R)

Base Board
Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Product Burbank

BIOS
Vendor American Megatrends Inc.
Release Date 12/17/2008
BIOS Version String 5.21
ROM Size 1.00 MB

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz CPU:0
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
Size 64.00 kB
Size 4.00 MB

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz CPU:1
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
Size 64.00 kB
Size 4.00 MB

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz CPU:2
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
Size 64.00 kB
Size 4.00 MB

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz CPU:3
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
Size 64.00 kB
Size 4.00 MB
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

System Memory
Total Physical Memory 3.00 GB
Free Physical Memory 988.87 MB

1024 MB DDR2-SDRAM (PC2-5300 / 667 MHz)
Memory Size 1.00 GB
Memory Type DDR2-SDRAM (PC2-5300 / 667 MHz)
Memory Manufacturer MOSEL Vitelic/ProMos
Memory Manufacture Date Week 49, Year 2007
Memory Part Number V916765K24QAFW-F5
Memory Serial Number 6B3E0C12

512 MB DDR2-SDRAM (PC2-5300 / 667 MHz)
Memory Size 512.00 MB
Memory Type DDR2-SDRAM (PC2-5300 / 667 MHz)
Memory Manufacturer Samsung
Memory Manufacture Date Week 3, Year 2008
Memory Part Number M3 78T6553EZS-CE6
Memory Serial Number 802CDB38
Memory Revision Code 4553

1024 MB DDR2-SDRAM (PC2-5300 / 667 MHz)
Memory Size 1.00 GB
Memory Type DDR2-SDRAM (PC2-5300 / 667 MHz)
Memory Manufacturer MOSEL Vitelic/ProMos
Memory Manufacture Date Week 49, Year 2007
Memory Part Number V916765K24QAFW-F5
Memory Serial Number 36390C11

512 MB DDR2-SDRAM (PC2-5300 / 667 MHz)
Memory Size 512.00 MB
Memory Type DDR2-SDRAM (PC2-5300 / 667 MHz)
Memory Manufacturer Samsung
Memory Manufacture Date Week 3, Year 2008
Memory Part Number M3 78T6553EZS-CE6
Memory Serial Number 802CDB52
Memory Revision Code 4553
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directories
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Directory c:\windows
System Directory c:\windows\system32
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local Disk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

WDC WD5000AAKS-65YGA0
Model Number WDC WD5000AAKS-65YGA0
Serial Number WD-WCAS84552420
Firmware Revision 12.01C02
Total Capacity 465.76 GB
Buffer Size 16.00 MB
Temperature 44 C
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\disk.sys
Driver Version 6.0.6002.18005, 6-21-2006

HP - C:
Drive Letter C
Volume Name HP
Volume Serial Number 961F-3CC7
File System NTFS
Volume Capacity 454.13 GB
Volume Free Space 36.66 GB
Volume Used Space 417.48 GB

FACTORY_IMAGE - D:
Drive Letter D
Volume Name FACTORY_IMAGE
Volume Serial Number 8874-071C
File System NTFS
Volume Capacity 11.63 GB
Volume Free Space 1.58 GB
Volume Used Space 10.05 GB
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CD-ROM Drive
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATAPI DVD A DH16A3L
Model Number ATAPI DVD A DH16A3L
Firmware Revision 8H1F
Drive Letter E
Readable Media CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD+R DL
Writable Media CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD+R DL
Write Strategy TAO, SAO, RAW, RAW-MS
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys
Driver Version 6.0.6002.18005, 6-21-2006
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Display
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

HP w2207 (HP w2207 Wide LCD Monitor)
Mode 1680 x 1050 (32-bit) (60 Hz)
Manufacturer Hewlett Packard
Serial Number CND743072Q
Manufacture Date Week 43, Year 2007
Signal Type Analog
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video Card
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
Manufacturer NVIDIA
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys
Driver Version 8.17.12.5721, 6-7-2010
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sound Card
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Creative SB X-Fi
Manufacturer Creative Technology, Ltd.
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version 6.0.1.1374, 6-3-2009

 

[Trotter]

It all depends on your budget. A Q6600 is still a decent CPU; you would be looking at $150+ to upgrade it (by what NewEgg has in stock). A Q8300 is $150, a Q9300 is $230, and so on.

You can buy a 4GB kit (2x2GB) of RAM and replace the 2x512MB to give you 6GB. That should be plenty for any gaming.
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBNT
$75

Your best investment, as far as gaming goes, would be to upgrade your graphics card. Again it comes back to your budget. A 5770 will run around $150 and will require a 450W PSU. Here's a combo with both a 5770 and a good PSU:
* GIGABYTE GV-R577SO-1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
* OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Combo Price: $204.98 w/2 x $20 MIR cards

 

[Bjorn88]

Hello Trotter,

Thanks for the reply! Much appreciated. Do you think upgrading the processor with everything else would make a significant impact on game performance? I feel these prices are very doable, thanks!

It all depends on your budget. A Q6600 is still a decent CPU; you would be looking at $150+ to upgrade it (by what NewEgg has in stock). A Q8300 is $150, a Q9300 is $230, and so on.

You can buy a 4GB kit (2x2GB) of RAM and replace the 2x512MB to give you 6GB. That should be plenty for any gaming.
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBNT
$75

Your best investment, as far as gaming goes, would be to upgrade your graphics card. Again it comes back to your budget. A 5770 will run around $150 and will require a 450W PSU. Here's a combo with both a 5770 and a good PSU:
* GIGABYTE GV-R577SO-1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
* OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Combo Price: $204.98 w/2 x $20 MIR cards

 

[Trotter]

Normally i would tell you to just overclock the Q6600, but since this is a HP (a prebuilt) you don't have that option. You could replace the motherboard, but you wouldn't be able to reuse your copy of Vista as it is an OEM copy and legally tied to your present motherboard.

If, however, you are willing to take a plunge into a new OS, I would say grab a new mobo and a copy of Windows 7:
* Intel BOXDG43GT LGA 775 Intel G43 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
* Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Combo Price: $174.98

And an after-market cooler to handle the additional heat:
Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink
$49.99

With those you should be able to coax a bit more out of your Q6600 as they are great overclockers. But even if you opt to stay with the Q6600 stock, or order one of the other CPUs and stay with your current mobo, you will still be in great shape.

Would one of the other CPU's make agiant difference? Not so much that it would blow your socks off, but enough that you could tell it when running programs or gaming. Here's a breakdown of the CPUs in PassMark (CPU Benchmark):
Q6600 - 2977
Q8300 - 3501
Q9300 - 3563
Q9400 - 3797
Q9550 - 4354

But here's a comparison for you: my Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition cost $165 and rates a 4263 on PassMark, whereas a Q9550, which rates 4354, costs $279. For around $220 you can get a Phenom II x4 965 and a AM3/AM2+/AM2 mATX mobo (which can reuse your current RAM).

So, it comes down to a decision for you. Do you want to tie up that much money in your present prebuilt, or would you rather salvage what you can from your present system and built afresh with new and better parts? I just rebuilt my rig after my old motherboard died so I know it can be done. What say ye?