Upgrade help wanted

[magpie01]

I'm looking onto updating my wifes HP Pavilion t540.uk with better RAM (easy enough) and a new graphics card to help her play new games i.e. Sims 3 etc.

 

How do i go about it and which is the best card for the job? (cheap as well)

 

What other items will i need as i heard the power supply will need upgrading? (currently 240v max)

 

Thank you for any help.

[Jelly Bean]

Hello and welcome.

 

I see the computer is a little older.

 

I just found the system specs.

 

You can add:

 

Memory typeDDR

Memory speedPC 3200/2700/2100/1600

Memory socketsTwo DDR DIMMs (184-pin)

Maximum HP/Compaq approved memoryTwo x 512 MB DDR-DIMMS, 1024 MB total (1 GB)

 

As this is an older computer you do not need to purchase memory from HP I would just buy Kingston value RAM/Memory from somewere like Amazon.

 

Do not fit 1 gig stick you need to insert 2 x 512 mb of RAM/Memory.

 

Your graphics card is:

 

Graphics connector (AGP)AGP-8x

 

So you would have to purchase a GPU that is PCI slot x 8 AGP and not higher like x16.

 

I note the computer either runs win 95/98 or XP.

 

Which operating system is your wifes computer running?

 

If 95/98 I would personaly upgrade the RAM and install XP.

 

As for the power supply I think you should be fine with it.

 

Normaly we update the power supply due to fitting a high ended graphics card but as you will be fitting a lower grade less power consuming one I belive there is no reason to upgrade the PSU.

 

If you intend to upgrade the GPU then you would be paying around £30 for a x 8 AGP card or even pay less.

 

Here is your computer specs and other information:

 

Motherboard Specifications, K8N8X-LA (Diablo) 

 

JB.

[magpie01]

would this one ok without the need to update the power supply, ATI RADION 9800XT 256MB FAST AGP X8 GAMING.

[Jelly Bean]

Nope.

 

I was thinking more of a 128 mb x8 AGP PCI card,not PCI E.Plus that card needs its own power supply to run so you could end up buy a newer PSU.Plus your processor is not upto par its older and slower.

 

I am searching for a card maybe others can input as well.

[magpie01]

ok, thank you JB i'll await your reply but i'll look as well.

[Jelly Bean]

I am now looking on eBay for a card.

 

Could you look in device manager and see what card you already have installed please?

[magpie01]

I found this

Inno 3D 128MB GeForce FX5200 GRAPHICS CARD AGP 8X

will it work? Easy to install

[Tootech]

Forget an FX5200 - its too old to spend money on and I don't think its up to the job.

 

As JB said, something 128MB or even 256MB but slightly more up to date will do just fine.

 

Check out the minimum spec for SIMS 3 here

 

System Requirements - The Game - Community - The Sims 3

 

 

Here's three AGP cards I found

 

Graphics Card | Graphics Cards | AGP Graphics Card | ATI Graphics Card - Ebuyer.com

 

By the way - what spec is your CPU?

[magpie01]

Thanks mate here are the specs Motherboard Specifications, K8N8X-LA (Diablo)*

I'll look at the suggestions for sims and other good games i need a good pixel shader 2.0+ but will i need a new power supply with these

Edited August 10, 2009 by magpie01

[magpie01]

RAM & Graphics card.

 

If i install a new graphics card do i still have to upgrade the RAM?

[Tootech]

What other items will i need as i heard the power supply will need upgrading? (currently 240v max)

 

 

I've struggled to find the spec of your power supply - we need either the part number or the maximum watts output to be sure of its capabilities - open your case and have a look.

 

JB posted the best solution for RAM, and looking at the minimum specs for SIMS 3 it's spot on, so take that as yes you do have to upgrade your RAM.

 

Something like an nVidia 6200 card would do the job - rated at about 165W max power consumption. I'm not so familiar with these cards, but on paper it looks ok. Maybe someone else can double check.

 

PNY Verto 6200 256MB DDR VGA DVI TV out AGP Graphics Card - Ebuyer

 

A more up to date ATI HD 3650 is rated at about 185W, a little bit higher but much faster.

 

All said, we do still need your PSU specs.

[magpie01]

Apon looking inside it says on the psu its

BESTEC

model ATX -250-12zREV.:C

INPUT 100-127V 6A 200-240V -3A 50/60HZ

OUTPUT 250W MAX.

 

I hope this helps we seem to be getting closer

Edited August 11, 2009 by magpie01

[Tootech]

Yeah that helps alot.

 

I've done a quick calc using an online calculator and I reckon you need somewhere between 280 and 300W depending on your exact config.

 

If I was upgrading it I'd swop the supply to be on the safe side as yours is quite old. Have a look at this one, it would do the job for you.

 

Compucase Green Earth 350W 80plus Certified PSU - 20+4pin 2x SATA 1x PCI-E - Ebuyer

 

The calculator I used is here - I think it is actually the Antec calculator.

 

eXtreme Outer Vision - eXtreme tools for computer enthusiasts

 

Settings I used are:

 

1 CPU, Athlon 64, 3400+, 60 and 85% utilisation, 2 sticks DDR, 1 7200rpm drive,1 DVD RW, 1 additional PCI card, system load 90%, capacitor aging 50%.

 

If you take out the capacitor aging you are down at 220W required. Thats means a supply in good condition and fairly new would be ok - see the notes on the calculator page.

[magpie01]

If i went for the Nvidia 6200 would that eleviate buying a PSU and would it give me the decent performance i'm after.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Magpie, looking through, I sense you may be on a tight budget, to save us some time what is the maximum you would like to spend?

Knowing that will help us find something within the price range you want.

Nev.

[magpie01]

Hi Nev,

 

I think i'll go for PNY Verto 6200 256MB DDR VGA DVI TV out AGP Graphics Card with

Compucase Green Earth 350W 80plus Certified PSU - 20+4pin 2x SATA 1x PCI-E to boost the power supply.

Do you agree that'll work?

 

Will it be easy enough to install i've looked into it and it seems straight forward.

To answer your qustion though about £60.

 

Thanks for your help

[snow]

My suggestions:

 

Antec Basiq Power 350W ATX 12V PSU - Ebuyer

£25.73

 

Sapphire HD 3650 512MB DDR2 DVI HDCP HDTV out AGP Graphics Card - Ebuyer

£44.52

 

Total: £70.25

 

I know this is £10 more than you would like to spend, but the card will provide far more punch, and is 4 years newer than the one you listed.

 

I wouldn't touch a no-brand PSU, or once made by 'e-z cool' or whatever with a barge-pole. A thing as important as a PSU needs to be of acceptable quality, and Antec are a good brand who won't do you wrong there.

[magpie01]

It says on the graphics card specs that it requires a 550w powers supply, the PSU you suggested is 350w or am i confused?