Due to problems before, I didn't get to go through with upgrading this system and find that some of the suggested parts (key parts) are no longer sold on Newegg. If no one minds, could someone suggest a system build again? My budget is $400-700 (preferably lower end of the spectrum).
The PC I currently have, un-upgraded since being bought is, HP Pavilion Media Center a1473w Desktop PCÂ -Â Product SpecificationsÂ
Would it be cheaper to upgrade the current system (if so, with what?) or to build a new system entirely, possibly reusing the current tower and drive.
My aim is to use it as a gaming PC and hopefully run a few older games like Lord of the Rings Online and Hitman Blood Money at maxed settings. Hopefully, though it's more of a hoped-for bonus than necessity, perhaps run games like Eve Online and Crysis at medium to high settings.
If it helps, the system originally suggest by Trotter, in entirety was:
The PC I currently have, un-upgraded since being bought is, HP Pavilion Media Center a1473w Desktop PCÂ -Â Product SpecificationsÂ
Would it be cheaper to upgrade the current system (if so, with what?) or to build a new system entirely, possibly reusing the current tower and drive.
My aim is to use it as a gaming PC and hopefully run a few older games like Lord of the Rings Online and Hitman Blood Money at maxed settings. Hopefully, though it's more of a hoped-for bonus than necessity, perhaps run games like Eve Online and Crysis at medium to high settings.
If it helps, the system originally suggest by Trotter, in entirety was:
Trotter said:The good news is that your motherboard can handle a better processor... the bad news is that is can only go up to a Pentium D dual-core, not a Core2Duo. But that is an improvement, anyway.
HP also uses off-the-shelf parts, so you could replace your PSU with no problem.
Your motherboard can also handle 2 gigs of RAM (2 x 1 gig).
Basically, you could pop in a better CPU for $125:
Newegg.com - Intel Pentium D 930 Presler 3.0GHz 2 x 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Dual-Core Processor - OEM
Newegg.com - Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER RR-LIE-L9E1-GP 95mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
Grab 2 gig of RAM for $40 (no need for performance RAM):
Newegg.com - Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - OEM
Snag a better PSU for $70:
Newegg.com - FSP Group AX500-PN ATX2.2 500W Power Supply 110-120/ 220-240V UL, CSA, VDE, NEMKO, TUV, CE, CB, FCC - Retail
And, of course, a faster card for $180:
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N862-AR Superclocked GeForce 9600GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
With shipping you'd be around $400, so you could spring for a hard drive and a case fan, too.
The problem is, some of those parts are no longer sold.