[OVERSOUL]

I have an HP H8 1010 that a bought a few months ago and it runs most games decently, but I want more. It has an intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512MB DDR3 Radeon HD 6450 dedicated memory graphics card. I've never modified a computer before and would like some tips on what i should upgrade first to increase the power I get out of the machine. At the point its at now I can run Portal 2 on high graphics with no problems, but fallout new vegas has framerate issues, I'm guessing because that has more it has to compute on the screen at once, even though its less detailed. I tried to run battlefield 3 in its beta but my comp couldnt handle it and went down to about 5 frames per second, I mean at least it didnt just error out, but id like to be able to play games like BF3 or Skyrim even if it must be done on low graphics. And I know I might have to basically buy a completely new computer, but none the less I'd like to know what I'd have to do.

[LiveBrianD]

OVERSOUL, on 22 January 2012 - 08:59 PM, said:

I have an HP H8 1010 that a bought a few months ago and it runs most games decently, but I want more. It has an intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512MB DDR3 Radeon HD 6450 dedicated memory graphics card. I've never modified a computer before and would like some tips on what i should upgrade first to increase the power I get out of the machine. At the point its at now I can run Portal 2 on high graphics with no problems, but fallout new vegas has framerate issues, I'm guessing because that has more it has to compute on the screen at once, even though its less detailed. I tried to run battlefield 3 in its beta but my comp couldnt handle it and went down to about 5 frames per second, I mean at least it didnt just error out, but id like to be able to play games like BF3 or Skyrim even if it must be done on low graphics. And I know I might have to basically buy a completely new computer, but none the less I'd like to know what I'd have to do.

You already have a good sandy bridge CPU, so that's definitely not the bottleneck. However, your ati 6450 is only a low-end dedicated card. Something like a geforce 550ti or radeon 6770 can play most games at 1920x1080 well. I have a last-gen i5 750 and a evga geforce 550ti and can play most games at 1920x1080 and fairly high detail while maintaining a good frame rate. If you go nvidia get an evga or msi card, or if ati get a sapphire or msi one. However, you will need a better power supply, as the stock 300W unit (probably a Lite-ON) can't handle much of a dedicated card. An Antec Earthwatts 380W is enough if you only plan to go for a card like the ones I mentioned, but if you want some upgrade room for the future something like a seasonic S12II 520W would be good (that's exactly what I have). DON'T get a power supply like a Raidmax or Cooler Master, as those are junk. (look into Seasonic, Corsair, Antec, PC Power & Cooling, or Silverstone)

[OVERSOUL]

thanks a lot I wasn't sure I would get the help i needed but you seem very knowledgeable. so if i were to make that simple change would it let me run everything i want?

[LiveBrianD]

OVERSOUL, on 23 January 2012 - 05:29 PM, said:

thanks a lot I wasn't sure I would get the help i needed but you seem very knowledgeable. so if i were to make that simple change would it let me run everything i want?

Pretty much. Generally, newer CPUs like yours aren't a bottleneck in games. Your CPU probably has a similar amount of power compared to mine, and I can play NFS World at maximum detail, 1920x1080, at 60fps. I would definitely recommend the evga geforce 550ti. One little thing - do you think you'll upgrade the graphics later on or not? A Antec Earthwatts 380W PSU is enough for a geforce 550ti, but if you later end up wanting a higher-end graphics card you may need more power. Personally, I would go for that Seasonic just to make sure I had upgrade room. (I should mention that it has a lot of cables though, and the antec might not have as many.)

Graphics cards and power supplies generally aren't hard to upgrade. Unplug the connectors from everything, remove the four screws on the back of the case holding the PSU in, and then screw in the new one and plug in all the cables. For the GPU, you just need to remove a screw, push the latch on the PCIe slot, pull it out, and put the new one right in (and put the screw back), and connect the cable from the power supply.

[OVERSOUL]

I probably will get a new power cable then, just asking what do you think is the highest end graphics card i could get for my computer without upgrading anything but that and the power cable and not have it suffer from a bottleneck? thanks a ton, you are just who i needed.

[coastie65]

OVERSOUL, on 23 January 2012 - 09:26 PM, said:

I probably will get a new power cable then, just asking what do you think is the highest end graphics card i could get for my computer without upgrading anything but that and the power cable and not have it suffer from a bottleneck? thanks a ton, you are just who i needed.

Hi. This Power supply should do just fine: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817139020

This would be an good graphics card : http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130629

This post has been edited by coastie65: 24 January 2012 - 12:21 PM

[OVERSOUL]

alright so then its decided ill get the geforce 550ti, but then i see it has overheating problems in the reviews, so what should i do about that?

[OVERSOUL]

OVERSOUL, on 24 January 2012 - 01:50 PM, said:

I think i might get this one in stead, its only a small price increase but it runs cool and quiet, unlike the other which from the reviews is loud and can overheat.
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130660

[coastie65]

OVERSOUL, on 24 January 2012 - 03:34 PM, said:

OVERSOUL, on 24 January 2012 - 01:50 PM, said:

I think i might get this one in stead, its only a small price increase but it runs cool and quiet, unlike the other which from the reviews is loud and can overheat.
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130660

You should be okay with that one.

[LiveBrianD]

I would get the standard version, just to be sure. In games, my regular evga 550ti @ stock speed doesn't get above 55C. Even with stock speed, I haven't noticed it bottlenecking games. Also coastie, that Corsair PSU is definite overkill (come on, his motherboard doesn't support sli/crossfire or anything), and the Seasonic should be enough. Besides, both are likely made by Seasonic anyway.

[OVERSOUL]

ok i think ill get that antec earthwatts, and the GeForce GTX 56o.

[LiveBrianD]

OVERSOUL, on 24 January 2012 - 08:59 PM, said:

ok i think ill get that antec earthwatts, and the GeForce GTX 56o.

Wait - you mean the 550ti right? If getting a 560, I would go for a higher wattage PSU than an Earthwatts 380W. If you're getting a regular 550ti, it's fine.

[waldojim]

The antec 380 will handle the 560 just fine.
Absolute peak load from the wall is 320 for a complete system with the 560. Now this does mean there isn't any room to oc, but the psu will work well for the situation.

This post has been edited by waldojim: 25 January 2012 - 11:58 AM

[OVERSOUL]

sooooo, ill be fine. right? and do you mean by oc?

[coastie65]

380w? That is puny. You want some headroom for future endeavors.

[LiveBrianD]

OVERSOUL, on 25 January 2012 - 05:46 PM, said:

sooooo, ill be fine. right? and do you mean by oc?

Overclock (running something at a faster speed than it's rated for, which isn't as dangerous as ti sounds).

What I say is that if you are getting a 550ti, a 380W PSU is fine. If going for a 560ti, I would go for something like that 520W seasonic just to be on the safe side. Coastie is known for power supply overkill around here.

[OVERSOUL]

ok. geForce 560 and 520w seasonic. got it.

[waldojim]

OVERSOUL, on 25 January 2012 - 05:46 PM, said:

sooooo, ill be fine. right? and do you mean by oc?

It will be fine, and sorry I was referring to overclocking.

[waldojim]

coastie65, on 25 January 2012 - 06:10 PM, said:

380w? That is puny. You want some headroom for future endeavors.

Like what Coastie? Do you somehow envision everyone dropping in $500 video cards, or overclocking the way we do?

[waldojim]

LiveBrianD, on 25 January 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

OVERSOUL, on 25 January 2012 - 05:46 PM, said:

sooooo, ill be fine. right? and do you mean by oc?

Overclock (running something at a faster speed than it's rated for, which isn't as dangerous as ti sounds).

What I say is that if you are getting a 550ti, a 380W PSU is fine. If going for a 560ti, I would go for something like that 520W seasonic just to be on the safe side. Coastie is known for power supply overkill around here.

500 watts is not needed until you get to something far more powerful than the 560Ti. Think more like GTX 570. By the time you get there, dropping in a $350+ video card into a prebuilt HP is no longer feasible in any situation. There is far more to worry about at that point than power. At that point, you have serious heat considerations for starters.

This post has been edited by waldojim: 26 January 2012 - 05:49 PM