Hardware Need advice with an upgrade.

[Edgedancer]

I have recently gotten a dirt cheap computer. $549 (Australian) with this and a 19"" monitor. I would like to upgrade it in the near future and these are the specs.

* AMD Sempron (M) 3800+ 2.2 GHz
* GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 Chip set
* 512MB DDR2 SDRAM PC2-5300 (Upgradeable to 4 GB)
* 80 GB SATA Hdd
* 16x DVD +/- R/RW LightScribe Drive
* Integrated Video Card
* Integrated High Def Sound (ALC 888S chipset)
* Integrated Network Port
* 56K bps data/fax modem
* Memory Card Reader (Supports Most Cards)
* Microsoft Windows Vista Basic Pre Installed
* Keyboard & Mouse

I have already gotten another 2GB of RAM (dirt cheap again) so that Vista would work properly. I was thinking of purchasing one of these AM2 x2 4800+/5000+/5200+ (105/124/133). I also want to upgrade my graphics card so any help will be thankful.

 

[Urza]

Ouch. Not a good deal by any definition of the word.

 

[Edgedancer]

What do you mean by that. It works quite well. I mean, I didn't buy it with a lot of dreams and aspirations for it but it looks like it just needs a processor upgrade and a videocards upgrade for it to work well.
Also, there is a shop in Sydney called MSY technology which offers the lowest prices you can find.

 

[Urza]

Here you can get a

ÂÂÂÂ* Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core E2160 (1.80GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 800FSB)
ÂÂÂÂ* Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
ÂÂÂÂ* Microsoft® Works 9. Does NOT Include MS Word - English
ÂÂÂÂ* Dell 19 inch Widescreen E198WFP Analog Flat Panel Monitor
ÂÂÂÂ* 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz - 2DIMMs
ÂÂÂÂ* Single Drive: 16X DVD+/-RW Drive
ÂÂÂÂ* 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
ÂÂÂÂ* Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
ÂÂÂÂ* No Floppy Drive
ÂÂÂÂ* No Modem Option
ÂÂÂÂ* Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio

For about 150AUD less than what you spent.

 

[Edgedancer]

I guess so but I still think that mine was a decent deal as it only needs a few upgrades. And as I said, I can get very good prices at MSY.com.au

REGARDLESS of my deal, what would be some upgrades you would recomend to make it more gameworthy.

 

[mojoex]

you got ripped off man, regardless of how little upgrades it needed. hell, you could've gotten one cheaper and not needed to upgrade.

you might need a new motherboard to upgrade your processor, depending on the model.
and you definately need a new graphics card.
the new ram is also good news.

tbh, thats nowhere near dirt cheap. the computer itself is dirt though.

 

[juggernaut911]

new processor, new card (major duh) needs like 1.5GB total RAM to be alright (not for like big DX10 modern games), you couldve just built a nice one...

how much is that in american bucks? (USD)

 

[SavageWaffle]

This is a laptop right? Or is it a desktop? I mean worst deal ever. Sell it back/get money back.

 

[notnarb]

You all seem to be ignoring the fact that he got a 19" monitor with it... You can't really upgrade the processor, instead I would suggest seeing if that motherboard would allow overclocking (especially since if you mess up, those processors are dirt cheap)

 

[Urza]

You all seem to be ignoring the fact that he got a 19" monitor with it.

Doubtful. I know I wasn't.


Is there a possibility of returning it? If so, I'd get to it asap.

 

[mojoex]

You all seem to be ignoring the fact that he got a 19" monitor with it... You can't really upgrade the processor, instead I would suggest seeing if that motherboard would allow overclocking (especially since if you mess up, those processors are dirt cheap)

wrong, didnt ignore it.

and yes, you can upgrade the processor. in fact, he should scrap AMD completely and get an intel based system. better bang for buck.
i imagine that it doesnt allow for overclocking as its a factory flashed bios.

 

[Tenshigure]

I have recently gotten a dirt cheap computer. $549 (Australian) with this and a 19"" monitor. I would like to upgrade it in the near future and these are the specs.

* AMD Sempron (M) 3800+ 2.2 GHz
* GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 Chip set
* 512MB DDR2 SDRAM PC2-5300 (Upgradeable to 4 GB)
* 80 GB SATA Hdd
* 16x DVD +/- R/RW LightScribe Drive
* Integrated Video Card
* Integrated High Def Sound (ALC 888S chipset)
* Integrated Network Port
* 56K bps data/fax modem
* Memory Card Reader (Supports Most Cards)
* Microsoft Windows Vista Basic Pre Installed
* Keyboard & Mouse

I have already gotten another 2GB of RAM (dirt cheap again) so that Vista would work properly. I was thinking of purchasing one of these AM2 x2 4800+/5000+/5200+ (105/124/133). I also want to upgrade my graphics card so any help will be thankful.

If I had to put a pricetag on that thing right off the top of my head, you probably shouldn't have paid more than $350 AUD for that thing, most of it going to the monitor. The majority of your pricetag went to a retail copy of Vista, which alone costs 300$ from sites I've looked up...so, yeah. As mentioned before, if you can return it, do so asap. The thing isn't worth upgrading because by the time you pump any decent money into it, the motherboard and processor will be taxed to it's max ability.

I suggest looking for 64-bit before spending any more on this thing, give yourself a little bit of head room first before bothering upgrading video graphics. RAM, okay...but 4GB is easily obtained at less than 100$ nowadays.