Help Upgrading system for first timer

kingBLAZE · 7 Mar 2011 at 14:07

Hi guys, this is my first post so please be gentle lol

I am looking to upgrade my graphics card, my PSU and also my monitor. Ive finally got around to put £300 on a side for upgrading my current system and would like your help in upgrading.

I would like a 1gb graphics card (not sure which one though :confused:

), a PSU (not sure which wattage :confused:

) and a 23" monitor (maybe LG or Samsung :confused:

)

Wondering if anyone could help and point me in the direct direction?

this is my current system:

Motherboard Model: DQ45CB
Intel Core 2 Quad 2.66
4GB RAM
Available Memory Slots: 2
Total Memory Slots: 4
500GB HDD x 2
Soundcard: SoundMAX HD

Currently have a standard graphics card

system not been overclocked in anyway.

kingBLAZE · 7 Mar 2011 at 14:18

95thrifles said:
Hi, welcome to forums, I'd recomend the below

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460 OC 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £124.99
BenQ G2222HDL 21.5" Widescreen LED Monitor - Black £114.98
BeQuiet Pure Power L7 530W Power Supply £42.98
Sub Total : £235.80
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.25
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £49.41
Total : £296.46

This keeps within your budget, if you can afford a little more, then change the gfx card to the following

XFX ATI Radeon HD 6850 Black Edition 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £149.99

thanks for the reply, sorry to be a noob but would the graphics card and psu fit in my current system?

kingBLAZE · 7 Mar 2011 at 14:33

i've got a standard Stone Computers case...

heres a few pics of my motherboard:

http://img63.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=imag0010vt.jpg

kingBLAZE · 7 Mar 2011 at 16:35

95thrifles said:
In the first picture, the long black slot on the right hand side, with the white retaining clip at the end, thats your PCI-E slot which is what the gfx card plugs into, measure the distance from the backplate (edge of case) along the black slot to as far back as it goes before it hits anything, likely to be your hard disk caddy, measure this in inches and as long as this is more than the length of the gfx card, youll be good to go

thanks, i have just measured it and there is well over 10 inches of space...i would just need to move some wires about but it should be fine...

kingBLAZE · 7 Mar 2011 at 22:28

would this be a decent enough graphics card to run majority of latest games?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-186-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=708

kingBLAZE · 8 Mar 2011 at 09:34

if you could that would be really appreciated, thanks

kingBLAZE · 10 Mar 2011 at 10:24

I should be getting the monitor later 2day, still deciding on the graphics card and psu...hopefully this decision will be made come the weekend....

Can anyone tell me how difficult it is to change the psu? I hear gfx card is simple, plug and play, but the psu looks complicated! :confused:

kingBLAZE · 10 Mar 2011 at 23:42

well i bought the LG W2361P, and been testing it...looks like a faulty screen...i have bleeding at the top and bottom of the screen when viewed on a black screen!

kingBLAZE · 10 Mar 2011 at 23:56

are there any tests i can do to check if i have a faulty screen?

kingBLAZE · 11 Mar 2011 at 09:26

guys, sorry for the stupid question but if i buy a better graphics card would it improve the quailty of my display? e.g. as i write this message i am finding it hard to read because of the grey on black textbox

kingBLAZE · 11 Mar 2011 at 09:28

also the blacks, dont feel like blacks...they feel/look more grey?

kingBLAZE · 11 Mar 2011 at 11:53

it is noticeable when watching movies, but apart from that...u cant really tell unless u are viewing something with a black screen...

kingBLAZE · 11 Mar 2011 at 11:54

and yes, ihave adjusted the colour/contrast/brightness and it si still the same...it is also the same when i was watching a blu-ray via hdmi cable...

kingBLAZE · 11 Mar 2011 at 17:36

looks like i'm getting problem after problem...

I have installed my new PSU but when i click Start > Shut Down, PC turns off but then restarts automatically? Only way i can switch the pc off is by holding the power button for a few seconds...

i believe i have connect the PSU correctly as everything seems to be working fine...

kingBLAZE · 11 Mar 2011 at 19:15

just noticed that when the PC is off...there is a red flashing light, which flashes twices on the motherboard :S

kingBLAZE · 11 Mar 2011 at 22:05

sapphire ati radeon hd 6850 toxic is the gfx card i got, installed it but my pc cannot detect any new hardware? this is getting worse and worse for me!

kingBLAZE · 12 Mar 2011 at 10:28

UPDATE: installed the gfx card and now working but ca nnot play steam demo's comes up with error messages and some games load up but start and stop... :confused:

kingBLAZE · 15 Mar 2011 at 13:08

sorry for late reply, was busy with work n stuff...basically i got the graphics card working fine...it runs smooth and A+++ but i have a problem... i think my system maybe overheating

using the SpeedFan 4.42 software, i get these results which has me worried:

CPU die: -57c
Motherboard: 36c
ICH: 56c
MCH: 40c
HD0: 33c
HD1: 43c
Core 0: 42c
Core 1: 38c
Core 2: 38c

kingBLAZE · 16 Mar 2011 at 11:35

cheers but sometimes it does go above them temps, i then switch off the PC cause i dont want it to fry the motherboard/CPU or anything...i think i might be paranoid but i felt warm heat coming base unit like a heater lol

i will post the other temps once it gets hotter