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Upgrade an old OEM Desktop

orion83uk

orion83uk

orion83uk

Associate
Joined
22 Jan 2016
Posts
4
Location
Kilmarnock, Scotland, UK
Hi

New to the forum and hoping someone can advise.

I have a 5 year old Packard Bell iMedia S3810 desktop computer which I'm hoping I may be able to tweak a little to let me run the following games:
  • Flight Sim X (I know this game was notorious for needing a rediclous amount of power for the time it was launched)
  • Train Simlator 2016

The computer currently has the following basic specs:

  • Intel i3-550 (1st gen i3) @ 3.2GHz
  • Intel integrated graphics
  • 8GB-DDR3 ram (1333MHz)
  • Motherboard with 1xPCIe 16 socket and 1xPCIe 1 socket (both free)
  • Windows 10 64bit (originally Windows 7)

I'm not looking to transform this into the ultimate gaming machine obviously, and I realise this machine was never intended to do as such. I was thinking an upgraded graphics card could do the trick, although I know myself I will be limited to what I can install in terms of space and the OEM PSU rating.

I was thinking the GeForce GT 720 (the MSI 2GB version with passive cooling). Not a powerful card I realise, but far better I'd imagine than the integrated one. (The likes of a GTX 750T will not fit as the PCIe 16 socket is right at the bottom of the motherboard, and there is only space for a single height card after that to the bottom of the case).

I've tried Flight Sim X on the computer which can run 'acceptably' at medium settings. I'm confident extra graphics power will make the biggest difference here. I doubt Train Sim 2016 will run at all without more graphics power however.

Could anyone advise if this sounds like a reasonable idea and if there is likely to be any issues getting this to work with the OEM motherboard? The computer itself is actually still pretty decent for the basic stuff (internet browsing, YouTube and the like) and for the sake of playing 2 games, I don't really want to buy an all new machine.

Many thanks
 
The 2 games you play rely heavily on the CPU and whilst a newer GPU will help, I would look to upping the CPU personally. The Geforce720 you mention is primarily just for media as well and not going to cut it for games sadly.
 
Personally I would be wary of the ability of the power supply in a Brand PC to run a decent GPU. However, if the location of the PCIE slot in the chassis is a limiting factor, google "pcie 90 degree" to see if those riser cards might offer a solution to that particular problem (sorry dont think ocuk sell these).

Howver, as Gregster points out, I would be looking to upgrade to a more recent i5 as well bios/psu permitting.

Good luck
 
That PC needs three things to get it running really well...

Firstly, grab a second hand 1156 motherboard on eBay
Secondly, grab a new power supply
Thirdly, grab a new graphics card

i3 530/540/550's overclock like champs, you will get 4.4GHz out of it easily! And it is hyperthreaded.
 
Thanks everyone for the very prompt responses.

Gregster:
Yeah I've read that too. Unfortunately the most this motherboard can handle is the first gen i5 and although this would give me quad cores, the 2 games don't support quad core and so will probably offer negligible performance improvement.

CapitalOne:
I worked out from a manual calc that the 250watt OEM PSU should be enough (despite nVidia claiming a minimum of 300W being required), but I won't deny I'm not going to claim 100% confidence. Sadly this computer uses an odd small form factor PSU as well. I know the GT 720 won't be anything special, but it's still more powerful than even the 4000 series integrated intel graphics on the late i3/5/7 processors so I thought it might still offer something (but perhaps not). Is there any reason you can think of that the motherboard won't allow this card?

Acme:
I admit this option does sound tempting, even just from a 'fun' perspective, but I think if that were to be the case, I'd just wait another year until we decide to buy a new system (we're hoping to go self build next time anyway). The idea of installing the GT 720 was to be like a short term, cheap solution (the 720 can be got for around £40-£45). I'll check if there are any BIOS updates for this motherboard - although highly unlikely, I've seen Packard Bell's before that have allowed overlocking!

varkanoid:
LOL yes a new case would definitely be required to go with Acme's suggestion. The Packard Bell iMedia case, although classed as "mATX" is more like a large ITX. It will only accept really small mATX boards with 2 expansion card slots rather than the usual 3/4.

Thanks again all.
 
Trouble is a 720 is not that much better than the Intel GPU's I tried World of Warships on it at work and it didnt give me any benefit over the HD4000 in my laptop.
 
There should be no reason the 720 won't work, but I would not like to say it would give you any benefit. Sounds like it is best to live with it as is if you are going to upgrade in the near future.

Best of luck
 
Bummer about the pci-e lane and the case, hate when that happens.

You should be still able to get a more powerful card in single slot though. I know I've seen r7 250's in single slot, and although they wouldn't be powerhouses, they would be excellent for your uses.

Or a single slot GT740, which would also run those games just fine.

Also replace your i3 with an i7, CEX sell Socket 1156 i7's for pretty small money.
 
Cheers again folks for additional info. Was interesting and helpful even if it doesn't look like I'll be able to achieve what I was hoping.

Terrorfirmer:
I'll have a look into the R7 250 and the GT740 and see what's out there. Sadly I don't think the motherboard will accept anything above an i5 based on what info I can find. These games also don't support quad core so I don't think I'd see any advantage.
 
this would be a good start depending on what you was looking to spend, what board do you have because you might be able to upgrade the cpu or at least see what options you have and work out the cost of that upgrade compared to a new motherboard/cpu/ram upgrade.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £127.44
(includes shipping: £10.50)
​
 
He doesn't need the power supply. The GTX750 will run on a 180-200w power supply just fine.

Also he's already stated it has to be a single slot cooled card, normal card won't fit.

OCUK don't seem to really have much but you will get a single slot GTX740 or R7 250 elsewhere easily.

I think KFA do a single slot GTX750Ti as well which is a great budget card but probably overkill for this setup.
 
Terrorfirmer said:
He doesn't need the power supply. The GTX750 will run on a 180-200w power supply just fine.

Also he's already stated it has to be a single slot cooled card, normal card won't fit.

OCUK don't seem to really have much but you will get a single slot GTX740 or R7 250 elsewhere easily.

I think KFA do a single slot GTX750Ti as well which is a great budget card but probably overkill for this setup.
Click to expand...


i didnt see what he wrote prior to me posting and i know the 750 doesnt need that power supply(i own the same card), but it be better than the original unit. i have upgraded many OEM machines and while the power supplies have been fine there have been odd ones that cant handle decent graphics, mean ive got an emachines tower on my desk i was trying to fix that has a bestec 300w power supply and this computer came with a P4 and a gt 610 which were great, but the moment i tried my gtx 750 it killed the power supply for a moment and would only work after leaving it and then using lower powered cards.


get the r7 250, it be the better card more so if you can get the X version.
 
It will be fine.

A p4 machine with a Besttec would have been from a different era and probably didn't have enough power on the 12v rail, older psu's focused on the 3.3 or 5v.

A psu from five years ago would be totally different. He can look at the PC to see, but I'd be completely confident that it would be perfectly fine.

I've never had to replace a PSU in a machine for a GTX750, even a HP one that was just 180w with 12a on the 12v.
 
And yes I agree the R7 250 is the better card, was just giving options in case he preferred either camp. I've only seen the non-X in single slot though, and I think some 250's and all 250X's require a six pin connection, which he most likely won't have.

Nvidia are much more power friendly.
 
Terrorfirmer said:
It will be fine.

A p4 machine with a Besttec would have been from a different era and probably didn't have enough power on the 12v rail, older psu's focused on the 3.3 or 5v.

A psu from five years ago would be totally different. He can look at the PC to see, but I'd be completely confident that it would be perfectly fine.

I've never had to replace a PSU in a machine for a GTX750, even a HP one that was just 180w with 12a on the 12v.
Click to expand...


ive never had a card like the gtx 750, best card ive had untill now was a 6670 which i ran off a 14/15a bestec and a dual core athlon, having 8500/8600gt and high 7 series gtx cards amongst lower cards not really that special in this day and age, mean i sport a 7200gs in my computer im building lol, but i think in this instance this bestec is failing or has failed as it doesnt turn on just get a surge type sound.


older psu units do seem more robust, ive never had one take out other parts of the computer, but you still have to be couscous of what you power with them.


yeah i know you was giving options, thats always a good thing, i only said the 250 because reviews ive read said it was better than the 740 and i think only the 250x requires 6 pin, but dont quote me on that as its like the ti version to a gtx lol, but no other 250 requires extra power and i suppose depending on version they may or may not be single/dual slotted.
 
You're just polishing a **** when turning an old OEM system into a gaming rig. No decent gpu will fit because of the psu and case.

Get a new case and power supply (600w) then a cheap card such as a second hand 7870, these will tide you over. Definitely don't get any of the sub £100 cards, second hand is much better value.
 
You didn't even read the OP at all. He wants to play two specific games, and that's where it starts and ends. A single slot 250 or gt740 will suffice. Cost? About 60 pounds, job done and he's happy.

However you're advising a full system overhaul at the cost of several hundred pounds?
 
Hi All

I realise this was ages ago that I originally posted this, but thought I should report back after taking on board all the advice offered.

I ended up going for the Zotac GT 730 2GB DDR3 graphics card with passive cooling. I unfortunately couldn't find a 740 that would fit and would be ok with the OEM 250W PSU. I've had the GT 730 in for a while now, and despite not being a great card, it has made a huge difference!

Flight Sim X loads a lot faster and runs a lot lot better, and is far more reliable now (it use to crash on integrated graphics from time to time). Frame rate seems to hold at 30fps in all but complex scenery areas. All in all, very playable. Got a few other games from Steam running nicely as well. Not bad for an old banger Packard Bell :D:rolleyes:

Definitely a custom build in future though! We built my we brother in law a computer a while back using the i3-6100 and the GTX 950 and as an 1080 HD Steam machine, it is just luverly for a budget build!
 
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