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When using this resource, please read FragKrag's opening post. The Tech Support forum regulars have helped create countless of desktop systems without any compensation. The least you can do is provide all of the information required for them to help you properly. |
On August 02 2010 16:42 akevin wrote:
Hi, so I'm customizing a dell desktop (I'm a pretty big computer noob), and had 3 questions. Note: honestly this computer is mostly for school/general purpose stuff, maybe occasional gaming.
1) I can upgrade to an i5-670 or an i7-860 for about the same price. I figured I would just go for the i7, or is the i5 better for what I'm using the computer for?
2) I am planning to upgrade the graphics card to 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 330; however, I noted it only has 1DVI + 1DP. Will I still be able to hook up dual monitors? I will probably just get a single monitor but I was just wondering in case. There is also the option to upgrade to dual 256MB ATI Radeon HD 3450, or dual 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4550. All 3 upgrades are within similar price range. Is there any advantage of having dual 512MB vs 1 1GB?
3) I'm going to have some RESnet internet at school (but I know nothing about it). I figure I will need to buy a router so I can get internet on my laptop as well. The desktop doesn't come with a wireless lan but I can upgrade to 1394 FW Controller Card + Serial Port Adapter. I figured this is useful to have or is it useless?
Thank you very much. I apologize if some questions sound lame/retarded.
1) i7
2) If you have more cash to spare like 60 dollars get a gtx 460 1gb or so. It's worth the investment compared to your other choices though it's a galaxy. Myself, I'd just buy something better off newegg like an msi gtx 460 and install it myself. The gt330 is for a mobile so I'm kinda confused unless you are asking about laptop and desktop?
3) You can buy a wireless card for your desktop when you pickup your router. Going same brand helps a lot.
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I believe that Nvidia rebranded some GT200 core cards as a 3xx series at the request of companies like Apple/Dell so it is probably just a rehashed GPU, but not a mobile GPU.
(Though Apple has been known for using mobile GPUs on their desktops and hiding it).
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On August 02 2010 17:15 FragKrag wrote:
I believe that Nvidia rebranded some GT200 core cards as a 3xx series at the request of companies like Apple/Dell so it is probably just a rehashed GPU, but not a mobile GPU.
(Though Apple has been known for using mobile GPUs on their desktops and hiding it).
Yeah doesn't surprise. They use the same cpus for 2 years on systems so why not gpu etc? Which is why I wouldn't buy accessories from them and make sure what I'm getting is fairly new in the 18 month window.
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IEEE 1394 is the standard behind FireWire. Unless you have a device that connects through only FireWire, you don't need it. Its transfer rates are around what USB 2.0 gives anyway, though the newer FireWire standards are a little better than that. That option is probably an expansion card with those ports, like this:+ Show Spoiler +
Like FragKing says, pretty much any campus or business bans rogue routers not operated by them (i.e. yours). It's a PITA to handle for them, it can cause problems with existing infrastructure, etc. In most cases you can only lease one IP address from each Ethernet port in the wall anyway, and adding another NAT behind their network may not be the greatest thing to do anyway, even if it works. Your school is just going to have wireless coverage wherever they feel like it, which may or may not include some areas including all of the dorms. Wireless is not difficult to add later, so just see how it turns out when the time comes.
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Most campuses are becoming fully wireless anyways
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Newegg.ca is evil  I can't find any good combos. But overall your build looked as optimal as possible for the parts you're going for, except your power supply. It's a bit excessive. 450-550 is a good range to look around.
Rosewill R102-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case
The updated version of your case is $5 more on the MSRP, but there's a $15 promo code for it right now, so you would save $10. CEMCYVNW29
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111
$25 CAD
SILVERSTONE ST50F-ES 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256061
$62 CAD
Also, can you purchase from ncix.com? I've found some pretty good deals there that might lower your price.
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Looks good to me, but you really don't need that 650W! Could easily downgrade to a 550W or 450W.
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I don't like micro atx cases but I do like your gpu price
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On August 02 2010 15:50 FragKrag wrote:
A certain i5 (the 661 I believe), has a higher clocked gpu, but it really wouldn't make much of a difference. The HD 5450 should outperform it on everything, though I don't know why you wouldn't spend a bit more to get an HD 4670 or an HD 5570.
Are those two mobile cards? I'm getting a laptop, and isn't there an actual HD 4670 and then a mobile version of the 4670? How much worse is it?
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Oh, they aren't
I'm not sure with laptops, but I know the HD 5650M is a decent performer in laptops.
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Hyrule19159 Posts
My computer has integrated graphics in addition to my card (couldn't afford the card at the same time as the rest of the computer :X). Radeon Mobility HD 4250. So yes, I'd assume that you can get specific mobility chips in a PC if you select the proper mobo.
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Oh, even some of the i7 mobile processors are dual cores with integrated graphics. All of the laptop versions of the Intel integrated graphics are clocked lower than the desktop versions.
Anyhow, the mobile versions of graphics cards may or may not be similar to the desktop versions. Just check here for a general ranking and details about different laptop graphics.
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I like this better actually. It just seems more reasonable to compare cards with each other.
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On August 02 2010 05:32 Myrmidon wrote:Pure.Calm: First off, please ID your processor more specifically. It might be a dual-core, but it might just be an older Pentium with hyperthreading and actually only one physical core. You can just run something like cpu-z. I'm guessing that your RAM is most likely DDR2, but you should check that to be sure. Regardless, your graphics card is the main culprit at the moment. Fortunately, the 7300 se seems to be connected with PCI-Express and not the older AGP standard, so you have more options for a replacement. Playing on high settings with no lag might require an entirely new system in the 500 USD range, even with that low resolution. An incremental upgrade to play smoothly on medium or low would just require a budget graphics card (~55 USD) and probably another 1 GB of DDR2 RAM (~25 USD). Hopefully the CPU won't need upgrading, but I'm not sure about that. This is a decent tier list for ranking graphics cards. Your card isn't listed, but it's weaker than a 7300 LE. Anything above is probably an upgrade, so you can get whatever cheap card you find that doesn't require an extra power connector. Something like a 8600 GT or a HD4650 should be more than enough for medium at those resolutions.
Hey thanks for your reply,
When i click on my device manager which shows all my componants i click on processers and it looks like this
(-) Processers
- Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz
- Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz
does that help any?
Also following your post i think playing Starcraft2 on it smoothly whilst on medium settings is the goal, ideally as cheaply as possible.
Also what is the difference between these two models? And would one be better than the other?
XFX Radeon HD 4650 Graphics adapter - 512 MB - DDR2 SDRAM
ATI Radeon HD 4650 Graphics adapter - 1 GB - DDR2 SDRAM
My current hardware is...
NVIDEA GeForce 7300se 1GB Ram Intel pentium 2.8GHz (not sure about this as two show up so i guess it may be duel core?) and my screen resolution is 1024x768 according to www.screenresolution.org/and i run on windows xp.
So i guess im looking for the cheapest way to upgrade to play sc2 smoothly on medium.I can give any more details if they are required.
Thanks
Edit: Thanks RO4R
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Try [url=insert link here]text anything[./url]
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Hi! I just bought these parts to upgrade my PC.
CPU Intel Core2Duo E7600 3.06GHz 1066MHz S775 3MB 65W BOX
Motherboard ASRock P43DE I-P43 S775 ATX
CPU Cooler Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro REV 2 S775, 1156, 1366, 939, AM2(+), AM3
What I kept from my old PC:
460 Watts Power supply
XFX ATI Radeon HD 4650 512 MB
4 GB DDR2 RAM
I plan to play on a 1600x1200 resolution. Im a bit worried if my GPU can play at High/Ultra settings. Should I get a new one? If so, which?
Budget 100€.
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-What is you're resolution first of all? Assuming its 1920x1080?
Swap out the velociraptor for a spinpoint f3 or WD cavier black
Swap out the gtx 465 for a 460 or 470
Get the OS from a school for ~30$ if that's an option for you.
Probably get a better psu if you switch out for a 470.
Am i doing it right fragkrag/semantics??
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EPT![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/IEEE_1394_Firewire_PCI_Expansion_Card_Digon3.jpg/800px-IEEE_1394_Firewire_PCI_Expansion_Card_Digon3.jpg)
