Upgrading Core 2 machine

bsheep9 · 26 Aug 2011 at 21:03

Hi, I recently received an old computer from a friend:

Compaq presario SR2129UK

Core 2 duo E6300 @ 1.86ghz, 1066mhz FSB
Asus Leonite MB
3GB RAM (2x1gb 2x512mb) @ 533mhz FSB
Nvidia GT430
1TB HDD
300W? Delta Electronics PSU
19" monitor @ 1440x900

With a small budget how would you upgrade it? I plan to play BF3, shogun total war, BC2. The mb bios is locked so with SetFSB I can only change the FSB from 266mhz to 299mhz until it locks up at 2.08ghz (needs hard reset)

Thanks

munz · 26 Aug 2011 at 21:08

define "small budget"

im guessing you will need to get beefier gpu(gtx 460 around £110-120), and possibly upgrade to a quad core processor?( im guessing amd but this will mean new ram new motherboard), might be cheaper upgrading to an old quad core if current mobo supports it.

delta psu not really heard of, so well worth getting psu upgrade aswell.

Once you've changed psu/ cpu/gpu/ram/mobo its pretty much brand new build.

If budget is really tight might need to look in MM or second hand (need 250 posts to access members market)

Give better idea once know budget.

could just stick with current build, upgrade gpu +psu, will give best bang for buck upgrade.

Grimley · 26 Aug 2011 at 21:10

There you go.

Your basket
Product Name Qty Price Line Total
OcUK GeForce GTX 460 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card - OEM OcUK GeForce GTX 460 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card - OEM £89.99
(£74.99) £89.99
(£74.99)
Gigabyte G41MT-S2P Intel G41 (Socket 775) DDR3 Motherboard Gigabyte G41MT-S2P Intel G41 (Socket 775) DDR3 Motherboard £37.99
(£31.66) £37.99
(£31.66)
Corsair Builder Series CX 430W V2 ATX '80 Plus' Power Supply (CMPSU-430CXUKV2) Corsair Builder Series CX 430W V2 ATX '80 Plus' Power Supply (CMPSU-430CXUKV2) £31.99
(£26.66) £31.99
(£26.66)
Cooler Master Elite 342 Case - Black Cooler Master Elite 342 Case - Black £23.99
(£19.99) £23.99
(£19.99)
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev 2 CPU Cooler (Socket 939 / AM2 / AM3 / 775 / 1155/ 1156 / 1366) Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev 2 CPU Cooler (Socket 939 / AM2 / AM3 / 775 / 1155/ 1156 / 1366) £15.98
(£13.32) £15.98
(£13.32)
Sub Total : £166.62
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.75
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £35.67
Total : £214.04

bsheep9 · 26 Aug 2011 at 21:16

With a budget of around £100-£150 I was thinking of getting:

Corsair Builder Series CX 430W V2 ATX '80 Plus' Power Supply (CMPSU-430CXUKV2)
OcUK GeForce GTX 460 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card - OEM
OcUK Value PCI Express 6-Pin to 4-Pin Power Adaptor for PCI-E Graphics Cards (RB-527)

but I'm not sure how much of a bottleneck an early core2 @ 1.86 will be.

My friend has an almost identical computer but with 2GB ram and got a ATI 5670. he said it was 'a lot better' than his x1650.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...0866144&prodTypeId=12454&prodSeriesId=3339270 shows that I don't think i can fit in a quad core.

mickyflinn · 26 Aug 2011 at 23:06

Your cpu is definately bottlenecking, but with the upgrade your sugesting, the gpu would easily handle the resoloution on a 19" monitor. Then when you can afford it , get a new case ,cpu mobo and ram,etc.

honosuseri · 27 Aug 2011 at 00:05

GPU and PSU are the best options. To be fair the only thing really worth salvaging is the HDD

Minimum budget gaming PSU i would use is the Bequiet 530W has enough power and all the connectors you'll need.

The 460 is an option for the GPU but you could consider a 6870. You will notice these cards are more expensive but perform better and are being sold with FREE GAMES.

There is a Dirt 3 and Shogun 2 option with the xfx 6870 if you dont already own Shogun 2 you might as well pump that cash into the GFX card

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/290?vs=313

The link compares the 460 to the 6870 but you can change them to suit whatever you fancy when doing your homework.

andy_mk3 · 27 Aug 2011 at 00:08

You are very limited in graphics card upgrade options on this PC, my step-dad has one exactly the same and it wouldn't even take a HD5450. I found an article about it on another forum, there was only a select few cards that will work on it.