upgrading very old pc

.skid

I don't really have the money to buy a new pc but there's an old one lying around downstairs. Could I get the viruses (which its riddled with) wiped by erasing the hard drive or anything? I know id need a graphics card, new processor and alot more RAM to play games but all of those are upgradable right? also,is it very hard to add new hardware and stuff to an old computer that wasn't used for gaming before and only had an integrated graphics card? Thanks for any help!

Patrick 1

It depends a whole lot on just how old it is. When you open it up try identifying the hard drive types and the RAM type, if you have sata drives and DDR2 or DDR3 ram then there is still some hope for a hardware upgrade, and if riddled with viruses a full re-install will clean the drive. In relation to the graphics card identify the type of PCI slot you have, then match a card to it. Yes this will require a lot of google work but it's not mad complicated stuff. Just remember 1: RAM type. 2: Drive Type. 3: PCI Slots.

.skid

Patrick 1 wrote: »

It depends a whole lot on just how old it is. When you open it up try identifying the hard drive types and the RAM type, if you have sata drives and DDR2 or DDR3 ram then there is still some hope for a hardware upgrade, and if riddled with viruses a full re-install will clean the drive.

So it'll just say that on it? DDR2 or 3 Will be wrote on it like? What about graphics cards? Does age matter for them? Its maybe 10 years old so its really pushing on. Would it save me a lot to just update these parts compared with a new buy?

Patrick 1

If it's ten years old I would be really suprised if you could upgrade, and the main way to tell the difference in ram is comparing it to pictures but they are labelled sometimes. From the sounds of it though it will cost you a lot more to bring that up to spec for any sort of use than just starting from scratch.
RAM; http://readanddigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/DDR2-vs-DDR3-RAM.jpg
Drives; http://www.computer-hardware-explained.com/image-files/sata-vs-ide-labelled.jpg
Graphics; http://kokos.umcs.lublin.pl/s/TomaszStrzelec/image/bud/agp_vs_pcie2.jpg

If you have DDR1 ram no go there, if ide don't bother either, same story with agp.
Nowadays it's sata, pci and DDR3 (DDR2 is still used but is on the way out).

.skid

Ok thanks. Is building a pc from scratch expensive and is it very technical stuff?

Patrick 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh455l3348s
Watch that video there man, about 300 if not 400 quid for a really good rig, and the video provides clear and concise instructions, including a list of where to buy etc. Welcome to the world of PC building!

.skid

I'm in way over my head here! But thanks for all the help! I took out the RAM and it doesn't seem to match any of those photos? It has 2 notches on it to slide in at the bottom and only 1 slot each side for the clips?

Lu Tze

.skid wrote: »

I'm in way over my head here! But thanks for all the help! I took out the RAM and it doesn't seem to match any of those photos? It has 2 notches on it to slide in at the bottom and only 1 slot each side for the clips?

If you can boot into windows, go to start, run, type in dxdiag and hit enter. SHould give you the basic info on your computer and Post it up here.alternatively download speccy it does the same thing

.skid

Ok ill put that up later for ye when im home!

.skid

OK so I got it turned on but it died shortly after so I'm gonna leave it and just build my own. Do any of ye have any suggestions for a good cheap graphics card that has a HDMI lead on it? I'm gonna use the same PC as is linked in the video on here but can't find the graphics card that he used. Also where's the best place to get cheap computer parts over here?

theidiots

you can build a decent gaming rig for 400 euro or cheaper. Do you need a copy of windows? Are you going to be using the pc for gaming. Fill out these questions so we get a better idea.

1. What is your budget?

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer?

3. Do you need a copy of Windows?

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer?

5. Do you need a monitor?

5a. If yes, what size do you need.

7. Are you willing to try overclocking?

8. How can you pay?

9. When are you purchasing?

.skid

Ya I think I will unless my brother has a spare 1. It's knowin what to put in it thats the problem for me :P

.skid

1. What is your budget? Bout 300 to 350

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? Gaming only

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? Ya I might

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? I have about a 10 year old PC but I don't know if it's any use

5. Do you need a monitor? No but I want a HDMI cable coming from the graphics card to plug into the TV

5a. If yes, what size do you need.

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? Probably not if its complicated

8. How can you pay? Anyway

9. When are you purchasing? Next month I'd say

zom

Building PC is great fun, but if you don't have any experience and at least some engineering background I would advice to buy new PC - even this:

http://www.dell.com/ie/p/inspiron-660/fs

You can try to find someone experienced in your area (where are you writing from?) because as I said building is a great fun and people tend to help with it for free. PC elements are delicate stuff, easy to break if wrongly handle - and they are expensive too.

.skid

Well I'm only 16 so not much engineering experience :P My brother did engineering in college though. Well from the video I saw I thought it looked fairly alright to make? And I'm based in Munster.

marco_polo

You didn't answer the monitor question ?. Honestly presuming the monitor isn't included, if you need windows too, this is pretty close to the minimum that would be worth getting for a gaming PC give or take 20-30 euro (Could cut it down slightly but not too much with a cheaper case, smaller HDD etc. ). Absolute minimum 400 I would say.

Item|Price
MS Windows 8 64bit (SB-Version) Englisch|€84.95
BitFenix Merc Alpha|€32.42
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€45.92
WD Caviar Blue 1TB 6Gb's|€61.41
MSI H61M-P31 (G3), Intel H61, mATX|€39.86
Intel Celeron Dual-Core G550 Box, LGA1155|€37.07
Club 3D Radeon HD 7750 royalQueen, 1GB GDDR5|€81.00
4GB Corsair Valueselect DDR3-1333 CL9|€20.21
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€421.83

theidiots

Article No. HV33E8W6DEMS Windows 8 64bit (SB-Version) Englisch
ready for dispatch 84,95 €
84,95 €
Article No. HV203BMADEBitFenix Merc Alpha
ready for dispatch (only 1 article) 32,42 €
32,42 €
Article No. HVR450SADESuper-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W
ready for dispatch 45,92 €
45,92 €
Article No. HV20CO41DE4GB Corsair Valueselect DDR3-1333 CL9
ready for dispatch 20,21 €
20,21 €
Article No. HV12SM85DESeagate Momentus Spinpoint M8 250GB, SATA II
Delivery date unknown 39,02 €
39,02 €
Article No. HV1132RGDEASRock N68-VS3 FX, Sockel AM3+, mATX
Delivery date unknown 34,91 €
34,91 €
Article No. HV20A740DEAMD Athlon X4 740, 4x 3.20GHz, boxed, FM2
ready for dispatch 62,04 €
62,04 €
Article No. HV1036MKDEMSI R7770-PMD1GD5, 1024MB DDR5, PCI-Express
ready for dispatch 99,99 €
99,99 €



Total 438 including shipping. I think the g550 is far too weak these days.

challengemaster

zom wrote: »

Building PC is great fun, but if you don't have any experience and at least some engineering background I would advice to buy new PC - even this:

:eek:

You must be having a laugh. Unless this is the kind of engineering you're on about



Honestly, there's nothing more to building a PC than there is to putting lego together. The only difference is it's a little more tedious and the parts are more expensive. Anyone that says you need an engineering background to build one, has absolutely no clue what they're on about.

Watch a youtube video on it and you're as prepared as you can be. It's not rocket science.

.skid

Thanks for the suggestions and no I don't need a moniter
Graphics Card: 125 euro http://www.komplett.ie/komplett/product/zkb_01com/20153034/sapphire_radeon_hd_7770_1gb_gddr5_oc/details.aspx

Hard Drive: 55 euro http://www.komplett.ie/komplett/product/zkb_01com/20089425/hi_3_5_seagate_500gb_barracuda_16mb_7200_sata/details.aspx

Case: 40 euro http://www.komplett.ie/komplett/product/zkb_01com/10021097/cooler_master_elite_310__midi_tower/details.aspx

Motherboard: 50 euro http://www.komplett.ie/komplett/product/zkb_01com/20162445/msi_h61m_p20_g3__s1155/details.aspx

Processer: 115 euro http://www.komplett.ie/komplett/product/zkb_01com/20070429/core_i3_2120_3_30ghz/details.aspx#tabpanel

RAM: 30 euro http://www.komplett.ie/komplett/product/zkb_01com/20179329/corsair_4gb_ddr3_1600mhz_udimm/details.aspx

Power Supply: 50 euro http://www.komplett.ie/komplett/product/zkb_01com/20180518/cooler_master__gx_lite__500_watt/details.aspx

Disc Drive: 30 euro http://www.komplett.ie/komplett/product/zkb_01com/20161679/asus_drw_24b5st__dvd_brander/details.aspx

This is what I was looking at and it worked out at nearly 450. Would an old power supply or case be reusable from a 10 year old family PC? :P

BloodBath

Would an old power supply or case be reusable from a 10 year old family PC?

No. I wouldn't even try it. It's unlikely to have all the connections you need and the thing probably has crappy 12v rails. This is a similar build with better parts for around the same money.

Item|Price
Sharkoon VS3-Standard Chrom, ohne Netzteil|€22.51
Xilence Power Gehäuselüfter 9cm|€2.13
ASRock B75 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX|€64.04
8GB-Kit Corsair Vengeance Low Profile schwarz PC3-10667U CL9-9-9-24|€39.00
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€45.92
WD Caviar Blue 1TB 6Gb's|€61.41
Samsung SH-224BB bare schwarz|€16.99
SAPPHIRE HD 7770 1GB GDDR5 PCI-E HDMI / DVI-I / DUAL MINI DP OC VERSION (Lite Retail)|€115.28
Intel Core i3-3220 Box, LGA1155|€102.47
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€488.74

8gb's of ram instead of 4 making use of dual channel.

A better full atx board that will allow you to add more ram and cards down the line if you want.

A far better power supply that will do you for all future builds and upgrades.

A better 1tb drive instead of 500gb.

The same graphics card.

The newer 3rd gen version of that i3. It uses less power and is slightly faster clock for clock.

.skid

I'll probably go for one of the cheaper options above cause I'm really short on money. I'm not looking for anything particulary good just something to play DayZ and probably the elder scrolls online when it comes out. Doesn't even have to look fantastic I just want something basic I can gradually upgrade bit by bit.

zom

challengemaster wrote: »

Watch a youtube video on it and you're as prepared as you can be. It's not rocket science.

Have seen engineer who managed to connect molex upside-down (burned HD). Have myself one issue with wrongly build soundcard (connection didn't work). I must agree that it's simpler now than it was 5-10 years ago. Standards are more idiot-proof and harder to break