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Verison IV

Verison IV

Verison IV

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Joined
31 Mar 2012
Posts
24
Need advice on hardware.

I have just found out all of my Computer hardware details and am now wondering what should I get? What's the cheapest hardware that I can get that will be able to run DotA 2.

These are my Specs:

Operating System
MS Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 @ 2.80GHz 32 °C
Wolfdale 45nm Technology
RAM
1.00 GB Single-Channel DDR2 @ 333MHz (5-5-5-15)
Motherboard
MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO.,LTD MS-7528 (CPU 1) 47 °C
Graphics
W1942 (1280x960@60Hz)
Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family
Hard Drives
156GB Seagate ST3160318AS (SATA) 26 °C
Optical Drives
Optiarc DVD RW AD-5200A
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

I think all I need is a new Graphics card and 1GB of ram. I was able to run DotA 2 with no problem and was able to get in the client, but then I tried watching the game and the Graphics were horrible and I couldn't see most of the stuff. There was a bit of lag but this wasn't enough to play the game.

Please help me out here, the cheapest you can find that will run DotA 2.
Replies and help will be appreciated.
Thank You
Version IV
 
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You're spot on, RAM and a graphics card will give you a bit of movement.

Check your PSU is up to the job.. I worry that it isn't.

It's up to you how much you spend on them. I'd suggest going for 2x2GB of RAM and getting rid of what you have already. I don't imagine DOTA 2 is too demanding, as it's a RTS, so you could probably get away with this....


YOUR BASKET
1 x Asus HD 6670 1024MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card £53.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C5 800MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLS2CP2G2D80EBS1S00CEU) £39.95
Total : £103.84 (includes shipping : £8.25).



I've picked that graphics card as it represents the most bang for buck around at the moment, if you wanted to spend more then go for a 6870.
 
The Halk said:
You're spot on, RAM and a graphics card will give you a bit of movement.

Check your PSU is up to the job.. I worry that it isn't.

It's up to you how much you spend on them. I'd suggest going for 2x2GB of RAM and getting rid of what you have already. I don't imagine DOTA 2 is too demanding, as it's a RTS, so you could probably get away with this....


YOUR BASKET
1 x Asus HD 6670 1024MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card £53.99
1 x Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C5 800MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLS2CP2G2D80EBS1S00CEU) £39.95
Total : £103.84 (includes shipping : £8.25).



I've picked that graphics card as it represents the most bang for buck around at the moment, if you wanted to spend more then go for a 6870.
Click to expand...

I've only got 1 Ram slot left. And what power supply is cheapest but decent. Thank you for replying.
 
The Halk said:
I was suggesting you get rid of the 1GB of RAM you have already. Using 2 2GB sticks is what I'd suggest.

As for a cheap PSU that would do it...
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-062-OP

I'd rather spend more money than that on a PSU, but it will do the job, and OcUK wouldn't sell a really nasty PSU.

If you could find more money...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-172-AN&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=
Click to expand...

I would be looking at these

YOUR BASKET
1 x OCZ ZS Series 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £46.98
1 x XFX Pro 450W Core Edition '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £38.99
Total : £85.97 (includes shipping : FREE).

 
I'd be happier with those PSUs yes, but the guy is asking for as cheap as possible.

He's going bare minimum on things, it's bad advice to tell him to invest in a good PSU, when a mediocre one will do the job admirably. These aren't the days of exploding PSUs, OcUK won't be selling PSUs designed for 3.3V Athlons.
 
The Halk said:
I'd be happier with those PSUs yes, but the guy is asking for as cheap as possible.

He's going bare minimum on things, it's bad advice to tell him to invest in a good PSU, when a mediocre one will do the job admirably. These aren't the days of exploding PSUs, OcUK won't be selling PSUs designed for 3.3V Athlons.
Click to expand...

My choices also have longer warranties
 
It's not me you need to convince :)

Remember what he's going to be using it for though... an obsolete dual core, obsolete motherboard, an entry level graphics card.... that doesn't warrant a great deal of spending on the PSU, especially when he's asking for cheapest but decent options.
 
I'm just pointing out options. You suggested the Antec PSU yourself for more money. It's slightly more than the XFX and has a shorter warranty.....that is why i made my suggestions
 
hi guys thanks for the advice, just to clear things up our budget is between £80-150.

i actually have a power supply thats just laying around from a system i bought here which later i upgraded.
the power supply is listed as OcUK Value 500W PSU
and on the side of the psu it says ATX p4

would this power supply be enough? if not please take into consideration of our budget
 
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and here are the recommended specifications for dota 2

* OS: Windows® 7 / Vista / Vista64 / XP
* Processor: Intel core 2 duo 2.4GHz
* Memory: 1 GB for XP / 2GB for Vista
* Graphics: DirectX 9 compatible video card with Shader model 3.0. NVidia 7600, ATI X1600 or better
* Hard Drive: At least 2.5 GB of free space
* Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
 
The value PSU is the equivalent of a Tesco Value thing... it should do the job.

The recommended specs aren't too tough, so what I've suggested will do the job.

You're at £103 with the graphics card I suggested and the memory. I'd still want to change the PSU, but it's really your choice.
 
YOUR BASKET
1 x **B Grade** OcUK GeForce GTX 560 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £99.98
1 x Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C5 800MHz Dual Channel Kit (BLS2CP2G2D80EBS1S00CEU) £39.95
Total : £150.73 (includes shipping : £9.00).



You a gaming at low resolutions so a topend GPU isn't necessary. The one Halk used is rumoured to be in the next xbox so it's hardly terrible.

I went with that 560 as it adds cuda support, I would have favoured a 460 SC but that's out of your budget. Cuda can assist some software (eg adobe or video encoders), think of the GPU being used as a turbo for the CPU. Seeing as you have an outdated socket CPU, getting cuda and gaming performance is a double whammy upgrade from one item ;) I really would upgrade the PSU though, the XFX is good thats £40ish for a part covered for 5 years!!
 
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If you were going to spend the whole budget then go for the XFX PSU and think of it as doing you through the inevitable next upgrade, get the memory and then buy as good a graphics card as you can with what's left. The b-grade 560 would be a cracking upgrade and do you even if you went for a new motherboard and CPU.

One word of warning with the memory though... it will NOT be compatible if you do upgrade in the future, the graphics card and PSU will, but DDR2 is near obsolete and it's now (cheaper) DDR3 for everything.
 
thank you for the help, i was thinking about a new motherboard to support some newer ram but unfortunately we cannot afford it, so ddr2 will have to do.

as for the b grade graphics card it is a bit pricey for us so we will be going with what the halk has suggested, and quite possibly the XFX psu.

if we were to use the standard psu i currently have would there be any risk involved? such as power failure or exploding psu? i have already had one power supply blow up on me here at overclockers.

again thank you for the advice!
 
Usually PSUs just quietly fail. Sometimes the 'magic smoke escapes'. Sometimes there's a pop or a bang or a flash. Rarely they take out other components when they die.

If it's the Packard Bell PSU then it won't be an absolute dog, but it won't be very good. Often box shifter type manufacturers will use a **** poor PSU but make sure they don't push it very hard, it'll be operating way under it's rated spec and because of that it doesn't show problems. However if it was to be pushed to what it's rated at as far as wattage goes, it could fail.

Sadly I just don't know if it's going to cut it or not. My advice is to get the new PSU, but it's your choice, and you could well get away with it.
 
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