Need to upgrade video/PSU for my HP Can someone give advice? [ Edited ]

[Silent0ne]

Here is my computer specs:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c02871948&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&cc=us&dlc=en...

Thanks

[Silent0ne]

Also, Im needing to upgrade for gaming.

[Silent0ne]

Anyone?

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

Your PC only has a 250 watt power supply which is insufficient for a gaming grade video card.

Read through this post and if you have questions then please reply.

What expense budget do you have in mind?

What games are you playing or considering to play?

[Silent0ne]

Hi, and thanks for responding. Im looking to spend around $200 - $300 more or less. Im wanting to play starcraft 2 and WoW mostly.

[wskay]

HD3850 can give you pretty good bang for the buck, but as mentioned, you're gonna have to upgrade the PS to at least 350w.  Also, my luck with adding vid cards to mobo with onboard video is pretty dismal, whether you try to disable the mobo video in bios or device manager, performance with the addon card seems to really stutter and hesitate..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129209

[Silent0ne]

Wow, that sucks. i thought this one detects that you placed a video card in it, and shuts it off automatically. Lets hope it dont lag..

[Big_Dave · Accepted solution]

Hi SilentOne,

The Corsair CX500 is an excellent choice for a power supply. $50

The ATI HD3850 mentioned above is insufficent to run your games.  I know because I have a HD4850 (a faster card) and replaced it with a NVIDIA GTX 460.  I have StarCraft 2, BF3 and COD.  These games all play very well on the high settings and even some of the Ultra settings.

This Sapphire 6850 is $135.

[wskay]

they do detect the addon video card, but in my experience.. anyway dont pay too much on upgrades you cant return

[wskay]

true the 3850 and 4850 are roughly equiv (nice vid card comparison site here http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=546&card2=566)

but at least 10x the 4200 performance for little outlay.

6850 is a large card, will it fit, cooling constraints in a small case, will the larger power supply fit, and our friend has invested 50% of the cost of the original machine.

Budget machines = budget performance.