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OK, I got screwed on upgrade timing. I was going to get a new computer right about now, but it was delayed about 6 months. My current setup is a Dell Inspiron 531s, a slimline desktop (I bought it from my granpa 2 years ago for $100, I never chose slim TT), so there is no room for anything but pci cards, and there is only one pci express. There are 2 more RAM slots however
+ Show Spoiler +CPU
AMD Sempron LE-1300--- single core @ 2.3 Ghz
GPU
Integrated (LOL)
64MB GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 (Dell)
RAM
2 GB
Motherboard
Dell Inc. 0RY206 (Socket AM2 )
HDD
132 GB
OS
Win XP 32 bit
Basically, SC2 is really laggy whenever I try to play, and I would like to stop that. My idea is to upgrade the CPU and GPU with these
Video Card: Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD4350 512 MB PCI-Express Video Card
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800
Will these work with my current rig for another 6 months and let me play SC? Also, I've heard that there is some difficulty installing pci cards onto slimline desktops. Is there anything you know about this? Do I need to add anything else to avoid a bottleneck? Are there any better deals for pci video cards or processors? Any help is greatly appreciated :D
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That's a PCI-E x16 graphics card but you keep mentioning you need a PCI card? Are you sure you aren't just referring to a low profile card? These will most definitely fit in a slim tower.
Those upgrades won't make Starcraft II playable. You basically need an entirely new configuration.
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On June 25 2011 04:05 skyR wrote:
That's a PCI-E x16 graphics card but you keep mentioning you need a PCI card? Are you sure you aren't just referring to a low profile card? These will most definitely fit in a slim tower.
Those upgrades won't make Starcraft II playable. You basically need an entirely new configuration.
It might not be playable by our standards, but with those upgrades, I estimate around 15 POSSIBLY 20 FPS on all the lowest settings, and maybe 10 FPS during fights. If that.
So it may be a step up from what you're getting now.
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I opened up the back and there is no place for any additions to the computer except for 2 old pci and one pci-e x16 slots. Also, I wouldn't say that sc2 is unplayable even with the current CPU and GPU, its just that the FPS drops down considerably during battles, so basically I just cant micro or macro during a battle. Except for that and the occasional AVG scan, it runs SC2 just fine on lowest settings.
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I guess our definition of playable is a bit different. How much are you looking to pay for the graphics card?
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under $40 would be the best, as I'm going to be given $700 (graduation money, gotta love it) towards a computer in about December. I'd prefer spend what I already have to have a better computer in the future than have a less-shitty computer now, so I'd like to save as much as possible. Also, the cheapest I could find any dual core over 2.4 GhZ (for the min requirements) is $45 without a heatsink or fan, so that is quite a bit of my budget for now. Basically I just want something so that I can micro at a platinum level on minimum settings. Long story short, I'm looking for the best deal without going over $50, but $40 would be much better.
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OK Thanks a lot for that, just a couple of quick questions, does a 64-bit video card work with a 32 bit processor, motherboard, etc.? Also, I notice that it doesn't have a fan, which might be problematic because there are only 2 small fans in my computer and they turn on rarely because the people who made this rig wanted it silent (good for old people like my grandpa). Should I look into getting more fans or better ventilation? My CPU is only at 22 degrees C, but my HD is up at 45.
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The 64-bit you see for the video card is the width of the memory bus between the GPU and the video RAM on board. It's just one spec about the internals of the card and has nothing to do with any other part of your system.
Most HD 5450 do not come with fans because they use something like 12W (a low amount) when stressed in a game. It's generally fine by itself without needing some special cooling assistance.
However, improving airflow in the case may be a good idea, particularly since your hard drive is already up at 45C. If you can replace a fan or add another, that may help. It's hard to say without seeing the layout of your case.
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![[image loading]](http://reviews.cnet.com/sc/32486102-2-440-OVI-4.gif)
There you go :D
Anyways, thanks a lot SkyR and TadH, I'm very happy with the help you've given me. I am most grateful.
EDIT:
Didn't see that someone else had written that last little bit... Thanks to you too Myrmidon :D
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Where are there fans other than the CPU and power supply (or were those the two you were talking about)? Are there fan mounts anywhere? Maybe I'm hoping for too much in a slimline case.
Regardless, if it works now, it will probably work with a HD 5450 installed.
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the CPU and PSU are it for fans, and there are 0 fan mounts elsewhere... I'd like to reiterate that I got this second hand :D
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I used to use a Radeon 4350 and a Athlon X2 265 3.3ghz and its absolutely playable.
You cant stream or anything obviously. but it got the job done.
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On June 25 2011 06:06 Myrmidon wrote:
Where are there fans other than the CPU and power supply (or were those the two you were talking about)? Are there fan mounts anywhere? Maybe I'm hoping for too much in a slimline case.
Regardless, if it works now, it will probably work with a HD 5450 installed.
there's an exhaust fan above the cpu
here's some better pics:
http://www.techenclave.com/pc-peripherals/how-open-dell-inspiron-531s-case-155532.html
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I'm still not seeing it. x_x
All I see are ventilation holes above/adjacent to the motherboard I/O shield, vents in the front about where the hard drive is mounted, and those three strips of vent holes above (parallel to) the CPU fan, for intake to the CPU cooler.
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On June 25 2011 07:01 Myrmidon wrote:I'm still not seeing it. x_x All I see are ventilation holes above/adjacent to the motherboard I/O shield, vents in the front about where the hard drive is mounted, and those three strips of vent holes above (parallel to) the CPU fan, for intake to the CPU cooler.
Yea that fan. I just figured top exhaust seemed more likely than intake. So there's the cpu fan, psu fan, and the case fan. Still pretty poor cooling, but the 5450 isn't a heat monster either.
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EPT
