Upgrade Son's Computer

[BigRed CC Dually]

Less than a year ago we bought a HP Pavilion A847C, big mistake I have come to find out from reading the forums. He wants to use the machine for playing Counter Strike Source and it can't cut it. Without scrapping the whole system can I upgrade the system by replacing the motherboard to one that accepts AGP GPUs and buy a decent video card?

I had seen a link in another thread that listed all the info for a system but can not find it and foolishly did not bookmark it. He has an Intel 540 chip that is 3.2Ghz with 1 mb L2 and 800mhz FSB. He has 1 gb PC3200 DDR memory, a 250gb SATA 7200rpm Maxtor HDD. The PSU is a 300w Bestec model ATX-300-12Z REV BD. Probably junk but what came in the system...it does have a 24 pin connector to the mobo.

My question is can this be done rather inexpensively? Say around $300. Will the case accept another mobo? We would be reusing the existing optical drives, monitor, key board etc. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have no idea of the GPU it takes to run Counter Strike Source decently.

[MakeYourslf2012]

I highly doubt it.

Companies like HP, Dell ect. use propietary parts - meaning they're specially made for them.

So when you go to buy a new motherboard to upgrade an old Dell for example, you'll fine the 20-pin PSU connector doesn't fit in the regular ATX motherboard.

Now you might be able to upgrade through HP, but it would most likely be very expensive.

Your best bet would just to try and save up for a new build.

[blue60007]

Dang...that has no PCI-E slots...

That's defintely a good start, no need to replace the other stuff! You'll need a PCI-E motherboard with LGA775 socket (<$100) and maybe an Xclio 450W ($55) and then maybe a X800 GTO ($150)...that's going to be boatloads better than intergrated graphics.

I'm hoping you can reuse the case...not totatly sure though.

[Panama Red]

I'm gonna say it is possible. I've done this with a couple of Compaq Presario's and they're not much different than the HP Pavilion (same outfit actually). You'll need to check the I/O shield area and see if the one in it now is removable. I think they use a screw retention on some. Measure the existing mobo. I think you'll find it's a microATX form factor (about 9.6" x 9.6"). Good AGP vid cards are going to require a minimum power supply size of 350watt so plan on replacing that Bestec. Keep it for a spare/test unit tho. Those are pretty good units. I'll take a look at some parts to suggest and post back.

edit: Just looked over your specs at HP and there's a couple other areas of concern. The HP front panel connectors, as well as the usb connectors are proprietary. No way to get front usb ports to work with a standard mobo. You'd be better off buying a new case with a quality power supply and transferring your salvaged parts to it. Another issue is the XP operating system. The one on that hard drive is licensed to that HP machine and can't legally be used on a new build. You'd have to buy your own copy of XP and do a repair install to retain all your existing programs and files.

[BigRed CC Dually]

Blue,

So far from looking at Newegg:

ASUS P5GD1 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 915P ATX Intel Motherboard $100.00 from Newegg

XCLIO XClio 450BL ATX 450W Power Supply $52.50 from Newegg

SAPPHIRE 100139 Radeon X800GTO 128MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 FireBlade Edition Video Card – OEM $149.00 from Newegg


Panama,

The board above is an ATX and the micro's were about $92.00

I'm starting to feel a lil' better already, loks like it may be do-able

[blue60007]

From what PR said it sounds like you might need a cheap case to go with it also...and of course a new copy of XP (I forgot to mention that).

Here, check this out:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129155

Includes case and a good power supply for $100.

[BigRed CC Dually]

Panama,

"edit: Just looked over your specs at HP and there's a couple other areas of concern. The HP front panel connectors, as well as the usb connectors are proprietary. No way to get front usb ports to work with a standard mobo. You'd be better off buying a new case with a quality power supply and transferring your salvaged parts to it. Another issue is the XP operating system. The one on that hard drive is licensed to that HP machine and can't legally be used on a new build. You'd have to buy your own copy of XP and do a repair install to retain all your existing programs and files."

Actually we already reformatted the hard drive and installed XP-Pro. This brings up a question though, will changing the motherboard cause the OS to freak out and have a hassle to re-regester? He got the copy of XP from the bookstore at BGSU and had it on a system that died. We called Microsoft and explained what had happened and they it was going in this machine. They gave me a code to use when I installed it different than the product key and it installed fine. I looked up the product key using jellybean and it listed the same one as on the CD.

[blue60007]

Oh ok, if you put your own OS on there you should be fine. If it's been 180 days since you activated it, you shouldn't have a problem reactiving over the internet after doing a repair install. Otherwise, you'll have to give MS a call again.

[Panama Red]

You may need to call MS again to activate. When you first boot up with the new configuration, boot to the XP disk and do a repair install. Then have the new mobo disk ready so you can install all the new drivers.

[BigRed CC Dually]

Blue,

The SONATA II case is one that I was originally looking at for the build that appears in my signature. (sometimes it shows sometimes it doesn't, I have no idea why) it's very quiet too. Went away from it to the P180 and TruepowerII TPII-550 because I want to go SLI at some point so needed more power.

So it looks like I'll be at around $350, will this be a fairly robust system then?

[nicolaus corelius]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130258

this one is more powerful
ill say that 6600GT is decent for CS:S. but 6800GT is more future-proof.

[BigRed CC Dually]

nicolaus corelius,

That one would blow the $300 budget big time. So far I'd have $268.50 using these items.

ASUS P5RD1-VM Socket T (LGA 775) ATI Radeon XPRESS 200 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $67.00 from Newegg

XCLIO XClio 450BL ATX 450W Power Supply $52.50 from Newegg

SAPPHIRE 100139 Radeon X800GTO 128MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 FireBlade Edition Video Card – OEM $149.00 from Newegg

I'd try it in the existing case first and if it didn't work out buy another.

[blue60007]

How about this one?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131543

It's got more RAM slots, which may aid in upgradability in the future. Doesn't have a PCI-Ex1 slot, just a PCI-Ex16...but I highly doubt you'll need that.

[BigRed CC Dually]

Blue,

Why not, it's only a $1.00 more LOL and it does make more sense to go w/more memory slots.

[nicolaus corelius]

well if u still have room in your budget then get a better vid card.
BTW is your CPU lga775?

[blue60007]

Well he's almost maxing out the budget... And it's a LGA775 CPU.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by nicolaus corelius BTW is your CPU lga775?

Yes, the Intel Pentium 4 540 is a LGA775 processor.

Cricket

[MaxRat]

PR is right about the case config....If you could shell some coin for a case..do so...you'll be happier in the end...so will the son....

www.amamax.com and www.pricewatch.com are good places to find good deals on cases $25-35.00

I would use everything out of the old case except the M/B and psu...I just modded a HP 512w and I have to re-wire the front usb pins to use them...but I have plenty of those pin adapters...so it will be easy for me...

[BigRed CC Dually]

Well for $299.48 with shipping here is what I wind up with with out having to screw around with the old case:

ASUS P5GL-MX Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 915GL Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $68.00 from Newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131543

Antec Solution SLK1650B Black Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply $61.99 from Newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129150

SAPPHIRE 100139 Radeon X800GTO 128MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 FireBlade Edition Video Card – OEM $149.00 from Newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102620

It lets me stay within the arbitrary $300 budget and solves most the problems....I think. Will this provide a decent system with the reusable parts from my earlier post?

Thanks for everyone's help and insight especially Blue and Panama to help over the hurdles.

[Cricket]

Looks good...the only issue you may have is with the RAM since you're pulling them from a name brand computer. But I think HP's just use normal (non-proprietary) RAM and they should work.

Cricket

[BigRed CC Dually]

Originally Posted by Cricket Looks good...the only issue you may have is with the RAM since you're pulling them from a name brand computer. But I think HP's just use normal (non-proprietary) RAM and they should work. Cricket

Boy I hope so Cricket, I did add a stick from the local computer store back in May and it had no problem with it, for a total of 1gb.

[nicolaus corelius]

you think the PSU has enough juice?

[BigRed CC Dually]

Originally Posted by nicolaus corelius you think the PSU has enough juice?

I'm hoping, I don't see sinking any more money into this machine in the future.

[blue60007]

Yeah the 450W should serve your needs.

[BigRed CC Dually]

Blue,

It's only 350W, look at post #13, got a case PSU combo.

[blue60007]

Oh, I thought you were going with the XClio.

[BigRed CC Dually]

Well I was at first but then Panama said I needed a case too and I agree, so it kinda shot the $300 budget to keep the XCilo. The Sonata II case was only 350W too.

in edit the Sonata is 450W my bad

[nicolaus corelius]

just buy a cheap case and a seperate PSU. the thermalkate is only 40 bucks.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023

[BigRed CC Dually]

nicolaus corelius,

Thanks for the advice and link.

[blue60007]

Thermaltake power supplies are OK, but not that great - and Antecs are a lot better.

450W sounds better...I was a little concerned with 350W.