California Kid Computer Upgrade

[Schlup]

Alright folks so Cali emailed me a few days ago wondering how he can get MW2 to play better on his PC.  He sent me his Dxdiag report so I looked through it, I thought he had a dual core already until I did some more research, turns out he had a single core with hyperthreading which shows in the report at 2 cores.  Dxdiag is attached.  He currently has a 2.8GHz single core Pentium 4 with hyperthreading, 1.5GB of RAM, 9400GS video card.  I asked him his budget and he told me between $500-$700.  So I recommended the following components to upgrade to...

Ok, all this should be compatible with your motherboard and PC.

Get this for video:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130433 = $225

Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115131 = $190

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 = $100

You’ll want to get a bigger power supply too…since yours probably isn’t very big.  I’d get this one with room for growth…
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 = $115 (there’s a rebate on it to make it cheaper)

Total = $610

This will be one heck of a system.  Quad core 2.66GHz, 4GB DDR2 RAM, awesome video card.  I don’t know what size monitor you have but you might think about getting a 22” LCD  this ones $150 after rebate…
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236050

If anybody has any other recommendations or sees something here that won't be compatible with his motherboard please reply and let us know.  I looked it all over but it's always possible that I missed something.

[CoCoCountyKiller]

looks good
nice work schlup

co.co.

[tehfunk101]

im not 100% sure, but i think he might have a problem fitting a gtx260 in a btx dell

[Schlup]

im not 100% sure, but i think he might have a problem fitting a gtx260 in a btx dell

Any way to figure that out?  If he can't fit a 260 I'm not sure he can fit anything worthwhile...

[tehfunk101]

I found the dimension 4700's motherboard layout on dells website.  Im not sure if everything is to scale in the pic, but it looks like any modern PCIe graphics card will collide or come very close to the ram.

California Kid Computer Upgrade

might have to get california kid to take a picture of the case layout to see if a worthwhile card (i measured my 260 at about 10.5") will fit his comp!

[Schlup]

Ok, well we'll need to trade out the RAM I listed for some low profile stuff (same performance)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148214

Then it would probably be easiest to just call EVGA and ask them, they've been very helpful in the past.

[Schlup]

Well I called EVGA, said they couldn't get specs on the dimension 4700.  So California Kid, I'm going to need you to measure inside your case to verify this card will fit.

He did however say that it is VERY rare for them to place RAM in a spot where the video card would be over it, he said it could be right up next to it but that it shouldn't hang over.  Which it looks close in this case, I would say that it probably won't hang over.  We have to remember that the thick part of the card is at the bottom or to the right if you are looking at the picture.  So if his existing card (if extended) wouldn't hang over the RAM then we don't have to worry about it.

[tehfunk101]

Well I called EVGA, said they couldn't get specs on the dimension 4700.  So California Kid, I'm going to need you to measure inside your case to verify this card will fit.

He did however say that it is VERY rare for them to place RAM in a spot where the video card would be over it, he said it could be right up next to it but that it shouldn't hang over.  Which it looks close in this case, I would say that it probably won't hang over.  We have to remember that the thick part of the card is at the bottom or to the right if you are looking at the picture.  So if his existing card (if extended) wouldn't hang over the RAM then we don't have to worry about it.

Ya, my guess is that the ram will hug the back of the card, and he might have to remove the video card to change the ram or something, nothing major though.  This computer is probably from 2004, i bet back then they never expected video cards to be 10"+ long >.<

[California Kid]

It's a 2005 (I think). I measured it and it looks like 10 1/2" will fit. Should I use the RAM you first told me about or the second? I appreciate all the help guys!!!!!!!!

[Schlup]

Use the RAM I listed second.