Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice.
I’m currently running on a four year old computer and I’m looking to improve my gaming experience. What I’d like to know is would it be better to upgrade my components in the old one, build a new one from scratch, or just buy one. I’ve done a little looking online and I’ve found a few prebuilt systems that I think would suit me just fine. I’m pretty competent with tools and putting things together, but I’ve never done anything with individual components before. I should probably mention that what I’m looking for is inspired by the Feb issue of PCGamer.
Under the cut are specs from my current comp, along with some builds offered by Dell and HP, and my minimum specs. If the prebuilts don’t match those, its either because they had a free upgrade or didn’t offer what I wanted. I’d like to not go over $1000 if possible.
Thanks in advance!
Old Computer
• OS: Windows XP
• CPU: 516 Intel Pentium 4 Processor
• Hard Drive: 160 GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA
• Memory: 512MB PC2-3200 DDR2 SDRAM
• Motherboard: Unsure. Whatever came with the HP Pavilion a1102n
• Video Card: Unsure. Whatever came with the HP Pavilion a1102n
What I’m Looking for Minimum
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600
• Video Card: 512MB
• Hard Drive: 250GB 7200RPM
• Memory: 2 GB
HP a6560t series for $689
• OS: Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
• CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E7200 (2.5GHz, 3MB)
• Memory: 2GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024)
• Video card: 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9500GS, DVI-I, HDMI, VGA adapter
• Hard drive: 320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
• Primary CD/DVD drive: LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
• Sound Card: Integrated 5.1 Capable Sound w/ front audio ports
HP s3500t series for $940
• OS: Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q9300
• Memory: 2GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024)
• Graphics card: 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9500GS, DVI-I, HDMI, VGA adapter
• Hard drive: 320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
• Primary CD/DVD drive: LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
• Front Productivity Ports: 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, headphone port
• Sound Card: Integrated 5.1 Capable Sound w/ front audio ports
Dell Inspiron 530 for $739
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8MB L2 cache, 2.4GHz, 1066FSB)
• OS: Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1
• Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2DIMMs
• Hard Drive: 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
• Optical Drive: 16X DVD+/-RW Drive
• Video Card: Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT 256MB
• Sound Card: Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
I’m currently running on a four year old computer and I’m looking to improve my gaming experience. What I’d like to know is would it be better to upgrade my components in the old one, build a new one from scratch, or just buy one. I’ve done a little looking online and I’ve found a few prebuilt systems that I think would suit me just fine. I’m pretty competent with tools and putting things together, but I’ve never done anything with individual components before. I should probably mention that what I’m looking for is inspired by the Feb issue of PCGamer.
Under the cut are specs from my current comp, along with some builds offered by Dell and HP, and my minimum specs. If the prebuilts don’t match those, its either because they had a free upgrade or didn’t offer what I wanted. I’d like to not go over $1000 if possible.
Thanks in advance!
Old Computer
• OS: Windows XP
• CPU: 516 Intel Pentium 4 Processor
• Hard Drive: 160 GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA
• Memory: 512MB PC2-3200 DDR2 SDRAM
• Motherboard: Unsure. Whatever came with the HP Pavilion a1102n
• Video Card: Unsure. Whatever came with the HP Pavilion a1102n
What I’m Looking for Minimum
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600
• Video Card: 512MB
• Hard Drive: 250GB 7200RPM
• Memory: 2 GB
HP a6560t series for $689
• OS: Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
• CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E7200 (2.5GHz, 3MB)
• Memory: 2GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024)
• Video card: 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9500GS, DVI-I, HDMI, VGA adapter
• Hard drive: 320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
• Primary CD/DVD drive: LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
• Sound Card: Integrated 5.1 Capable Sound w/ front audio ports
HP s3500t series for $940
• OS: Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q9300
• Memory: 2GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024)
• Graphics card: 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9500GS, DVI-I, HDMI, VGA adapter
• Hard drive: 320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
• Primary CD/DVD drive: LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
• Front Productivity Ports: 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, headphone port
• Sound Card: Integrated 5.1 Capable Sound w/ front audio ports
Dell Inspiron 530 for $739
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8MB L2 cache, 2.4GHz, 1066FSB)
• OS: Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1
• Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 2DIMMs
• Hard Drive: 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
• Optical Drive: 16X DVD+/-RW Drive
• Video Card: Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT 256MB
• Sound Card: Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio