Need help building a shelf PC into a "gaming" rig

[confuzedsushi]

Hey, so I'm hoping to rebuild a stock HP Pavilion PC into a "gaming" rig for my brother (I already have an overkill PC for what I play).
I have some extra money from my build, so I'm wondering what I should buy to get our family rig and turn it into a PC capable of playing Counter-Strike Source. Just figure I'd do something nice for him

The computer I'd be building up is the:
HP Pavilion a6242n (completely stock)

Here are the specs of it
Nettle2 Motherboard [1slot x16, micro-atx, DDR2 dual chan memory capabilities]
Athlon 64 X2 4800+ [Dual core up to 2.5 ghz]
3GB of memory (approximately) [PC2-5300 MB/sec]
nVidia GeForce 6150SE Integrated Graphics ["Uses up to 256MB of PC memory" apparently - Dunno what that means ]
320 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive [3gb/sec transfer rate]
250WATT POWER SUPPLY [obviously needs an upgrade if I get a GPU >:[)

Link for more info on the build/where I got all the info from

I'd like to keep the upgrades under $150-$200. I just want something so that he can play in 1680 x 1050 pixels (native monitor resolution - HP w2207) at 50-60 frames per second or so.
I'm 99% sure that'll require a video card, thus requiring a new PSU. Also it's in some lousy HP case so I'd assume I'll have to get more case fans.
I don't care if the video card is old/can find a used model, I just want something cheap so he can play with me and have a decent time

So, what do you think I should upgrade to make this a gaming rig?

[David M]

Unfortunately, not a whole lot can be done. The problem is that in order to have a noticeably faster computer for gaming, you need a dedicated graphics card. In order to get a half decent card for gaming, you will need a more powerful power supply, both of which would push you above your $150-$200 budget.

The best you could do is to buy a very inexpensive graphics card which does not draw much power but I think you might be disappointed with this card if you want it to run many of the new games at decent frame rates and game settings.

[confuzedsushi]

Originally Posted by David M The best you could do is to buy a very inexpensive graphics card which does not draw much power but I think you might be disappointed with this card if you want it to run many of the new games at decent frame rates and game settings.

I think you misread my post, he's looking to play Counter Strike Source only [well I'm saying thats all I've got in my budget...]. I'm thinking I'm going to get a 5450, 5550 or a 5570, since they can apparently run CSS at like 100-250 fps.
Probably the 5450, as I want a low priced power upgrade as well.
Any recommendations on a power supplies?
I'm thinking I'll go with the Corsair CX430 :P

[glc]

You might as well just play it on the onboard video. Have you tried it yet?

We don't recommend the CX series Corsairs.

[confuzedsushi]

Originally Posted by glc You might as well just play it on the onboard video. Have you tried it yet? We don't recommend the CX series Corsairs.

Bwahahaha yes, yes I have (not laughing at you :P I appreciate the help). However, this computer's graphics are laggy as hell on minecraft so I'm pretty sure a graphics card is a necessity here (He'll be playing Minecraft as well :P). I'm thinking I'll go the route of the 5550 or the 5570, whichever I can find in at a store near me. I'm told these will both run CSS just fine (@ around 200 fps?), this is true right?

Also, on that what would you suggest for around 400-500 watts?

[David M]

As I said, you are going to need a proprietary power supply that is designed to work with an HP. I think you would be wasting your money purchasing one in order to power a decently fast graphics card.

I don't know exactly what CS requires to get decent frame rates at decent game setting on a decent sized monitor, but I doubt onboard graphics would cut it for most people. You could experiment with a very low wattage graphics card but I don't think anyone could predict the results ahead of time. Have you looked up the minimum graphics requirements for the game?...this figure is usually a bit too low in reality so that the company that wrote the software can sell more games for low end computers.

You can only do so much with old factory made computers that is still cost effective. Other than RAM and the hard drive, they are not really engineered to be upgradable.

I see your only choice is to experiment with a low end graphics card and hopefully it will not overload an already barely adequate power supply. There is no way to tell if the results will be good enough other than making a stab in the dark at what the writers of the software claim is the minimum graphics requirements.

[glc]

That's not a proprietary PSU, it's standard ATX.

I would not buy a video card from a local store - they are almost always marked up excessively.

Newegg.com - Antec Basiq BP430 430W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - PowerColor AX5670 1GBK3-H Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

[confuzedsushi]

Newegg.com - Antec Basiq BP430 430W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

This look PERFECT for what I'm going to do

I don't know exactly what CS requires to get decent frame rates at decent game setting on a decent sized monitor, but I doubt onboard graphics would cut it for most people. You could experiment with a very low wattage graphics card but I don't think anyone could predict the results ahead of time. Have you looked up the minimum graphics requirements for the game?...this figure is usually a bit too low in reality so that the company that wrote the software can sell more games for low end computers.

I have decided that the Radeon HD 5550 would be fine for this. It's $20 more than the 5450, but it gets you apparently from 120 fps to like 260. According to a lot of people, any GPU can handle CSS as long as it's within the last year.

Thanks for the help

[glc]

Why not get the 5670? It's actually a very nice card for the price. 60 bucks shipped after rebate...........

[confuzedsushi]

Originally Posted by glc Why not get the 5670? It's actually a very nice card for the price. 60 bucks shipped after rebate...........

Didn't see that rebate, I'll definitely be going with the 5670 then! Thanks for pointing that out, got him loads of extra FPS for the same price