Upgrading from my Alienware X51...where to start??

Low end/mainstream gaming Coolermaster PSUs are basically at best mediocre.
Older/cheap enough designs with not so great electrical performance.
And of course capacitors are even cheaper than standard Chinese ones makers use when they don't want to use caps from high quality manufacturer.
If other components are properly sized to handle load put on sticker and there's no construction weaknesses quality of capacitors largely defines how well PSU handles age and especially powering load.
(that's also break down timer in cheap monitors/TVs)
And at least original introduction/release pricing was expensive for quality.

That PSU is bascially made to be treated as ~400W PSU.
Cheap PSUs count on not being put under advertised load to maintain reliability.
 
Fixed/modular cables would affect price if you have reference.
(of course inside price variations, like when stock was bought in how big quantity etc)

There actually aren't that much of cheap 80+ Bronze PSUs with high quality capacitors when they can get away with cheaper parts for higher profit.
And there's simply limit in how much cheaper other components used in lower efficiency PSU are so makers look at what ever part they can swap.

Also most of the PSU brands aren't real makers but just brands who can even often do new "revisions" of model when some other manufacturer makes them good enough offer.
For some same marketing name PSUs models there have been even 4 different versions from different manufacturers.
That's common especially in cheaper models.


https://www.overclockers.co.uk/seasonic-s12ii-520w-80-plus-bronze-power-supply-ca-038-ss.html
Seasonic is one of the surest makers to use high quality caps instead of what ever caps are available for cheap enough.
Though that tends to show in price.

From "modern" efficiency PSUs Seasonic built Antec is quite well priced.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/antec-truepower-classic-550w-80-plus-gold-power-supply-ca-202-an.html
After that other known high quality capacitor using PSUs go to around £80.
(though Super Flower Leadex Gold and XFX XTR are modular)
 
@EsaT thanks for that advice, ill look at both those options.

Last question for now... If I can get a very decent price on a repackaged high spec card, is it worth it over a brand new one?

Im looking for the MSI NVIDIA GTX 980 4 GB but struggling to find it new, its also over my budget brand new.
 
Bald and Beardy said:
After doing a bit of research i am almost there with my upgrade spec, but opinions would be good before i order.

NXZXT 330 case
MSI B350 GAMING PLUS AMD Socket AM4 Motherboard
Cooler Master G550M 550W Modular 80+ Bronze PSU
MSI Nvidea GTX 980

With the graphics card, there are 'used' ones available for half the regular price. Is it too risky going for used, or a great deal and worth snatching up?

**edited to remove links to other sites
Click to expand...

The i5-4460 CPU you've got at the moment needs a socket 1150 mobo. MSI make some, but this isn't one of them^. Look for ones that say they're socket 1150 or that say they're B85, H97, H81 or Z97 chipset.

If you want a new CPU instead then let us know what CPU you're thinking so we can be sure you've got the right mobo :)
 
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theres a lot of good suggestions, but personally if your on a tight budget the cpu and gpu upgrade for your x51 will far more be beneficial to you and still cheaper than a new system, it doesnt seem logical to just replace unless theres something else about that x51 that warrants being replaced.
 
I had not really thought about getting a new CPU, and would not know where or what to look for.

I am pretty sure i need to upgrade my system, those reasons are 1) i have 7GB left of my 1TB hard drive.and no additional space for an additional one, im uninstalling games to make space for new ones or just not buying new games because i have no space and don't want to uninstall the ones i have. This makes me believe that i need more space for an additional hard drive, maybe a SSD. 2) i am struggling to run new games on high+ graphics and not getting the most out of the games because of that. So a new video card. 3) i only have two RAM slots on the mini motherboard in the X51, no room to expand there either.

Computer is running a lot slower than it used to, and i have got 3 years out of it, feel its time for an upgrade and make it a big more future proof.

Open to recommendations on parts, heres my budget from doing some research

motherboard £100-£130
Video card £250-£300
SSD £200
PSU £50-£70

CPU, if recommended, not sure on budget.

I may get all at once and finance it or i may prioritize and spread them out.
 
There are the K processors in that list for your x51 for reasonable prices used, just depends where you look and the storage problem can be solved by a simple external add on.

I'm not trying to tell you how to spend your money, but if I didn't just sell my pc Id of upgraded it with a 4770k despite having a desktop as it's still a good processor to have, I just think you could improve your current system for half the price of a whole new one.
 
@ExoMale your going to have to explain that some more, everyone is quick to help which is great, but i am not famiular with the terminology or parts/makes yet. "K processors" - what's that? And "4770k" - again what is that?

I am happy upgrading in stages, just not sure where to start, and in all honestly it would be good if someone did say "this is what you should do", as i am stuck.
 
4770k is one of the best i7 processors for haswell(1150 socket) and the K means it's overclockable, but looking back at the spec you can only have the locked 4770, however it does support the faster 4790k which I believe is the highest cpu for haswell.

I would upgrade the system as it is if it's been doing fine, it's not obsolete yet and be cheaper, however for a new build with a potential guess of £700 from your pricing then something like this maybe?

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £690.09
(includes shipping: £13.20)



​

I chose the 1060 as it's in stock, if you find a 570/580 for less then would be better, I chose a 275gb m.2 as it frees up sata ports, plus for any single drive of over 400gb is nearing the 500gb ssd + 1tb WDB bundle for £198 and the only way to get that deal without going over the potential budget is by getting a cheaper graphics card and perhaps a cheaper motherboard
 
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