Updating my 4550 and need some advice

[Cone73]

<p>I am looking to just upgrade my hamster killer instead of buying a new one and am looking at using a budget of $300 for it. HD is starting to act up a little so time to look at a replacement there. Chip is in good shape and to replace it then I might as well start looking at building a whole new set up. Currently this is what keeps EQ2 chugging for me but I want to start experiencing more of the graphix juiciness instead of everything on low:</p><p>Chip ; Intel P4 2.4 Ghz</p><p>Vid card ; Nvidia 5700 LE (AGP)</p><p>HD : 60gig</p><p>2 gig Kingston DDR Ram</p><p>250 watt PS</p><p> Doing some shopping and am only going to replace the HD with something in the 160 gig range, RAM is solid and mobo can't handle anymore, PS is going to be replaced with a 400 watt supply and a new cooler fan to help with the added heat but here is the kicker where I am not sure and yes you guessed it... video card. Looking at putting a 7000 series nvidia in as the new ps will handle but should I go ATI instead and if so what model? Any advice would be appreciated.</p>

[The-Plethora]

Your budget is quite tight. Depending on your computer I think you have 2 options1. If your motherboard offers it overclock the CPU to around 3GHz (might need better cooling), upgrade the graphics card to something like an ATI 1900pro AGP and get a better PSU, you shouldnt use all your cash and to be honest your flogging a dead horse a bit trying to keep it 'current'.2. Upgrade! The prefferred option, AGP is dead and there is only so much stuff you can salvage from your current computer. If I was in your position and cash was tight I would buy a lower spec core 2 duo processor around 2 - 2.4Ghz and overclock it. CPU speed is where EQ2 gets the most benefit. After that motherboard obviously, 2GB ram (pref 4gb as its so cheap right now) and the PSU.Your looking at dollars but for UK prices I would look at something like...Intel Core 2 Duo E2200 (2.2GHz) OC that to around 3.2GHz £55Abit IP35 Motherboard (Pretty respectable OC features) £622GB Memory (get 4 if you can) £27! Insanely cheapAMD / ATI 3850 Pro 512MB Graphics card £93Total £237I am unsure what that works out as in dollars but it is going to give you pretty good EQ2 performance for a very nice price. Others may have different ideas regarding graphics cards etc. The 5700LE card you have is pretty slow (the 5 series never did well with shaders). Then again if you do go the upgrade route you may find you have to get a better PSU to support it.

[Wingrider01]

<cite>The-Plethora wrote:</cite><blockquote>Your budget is quite tight. Depending on your computer I think you have 2 options1. If your motherboard offers it overclock the CPU to around 3GHz (might need better cooling), upgrade the graphics card to something like an ATI 1900pro AGP and get a better PSU, you shouldnt use all your cash and to be honest your flogging a dead horse a bit trying to keep it 'current'.2. Upgrade! The prefferred option, AGP is dead and there is only so much stuff you can salvage from your current computer. If I was in your position and cash was tight I would buy a lower spec core 2 duo processor around 2 - 2.4Ghz and overclock it. CPU speed is where EQ2 gets the most benefit. After that motherboard obviously, 2GB ram (pref 4gb as its so cheap right now) and the PSU.Your looking at dollars but for UK prices I would look at something like...Intel Core 2 Duo E2200 (2.2GHz) OC that to around 3.2GHz £55Abit IP35 Motherboard (Pretty respectable OC features) £622GB Memory (get 4 if you can) £27! Insanely cheapAMD / ATI 3850 Pro 512MB Graphics card £93Total £237I am unsure what that works out as in dollars but it is going to give you pretty good EQ2 performance for a very nice price. Others may have different ideas regarding graphics cards etc. The 5700LE card you have is pretty slow (the 5 series never did well with shaders). Then again if you do go the upgrade route you may find you have to get a better PSU to support it.</blockquote><p>Some problems with what you are saying </p><p>1. by 4550 I would assume that this is a Dell 4550, the rest of this post is based on a  Dell 4550 400 MHZ model line</p><p>2. Dell does not give the ability to overclock in their BIOs, BIOS access is minimal</p><p>2. AGP is the only option for this system, dell cases are pretty much only designed for their board</p><p>3. A core 2 duo wil not function in the motherboard, the chipset does not support it.</p><p>To the OP</p><p>The PSU I believe on the 4550 is a standard unit so you should be able to upgrade that, Dell is known for unrating their PSU so it might be a mute point.  Since you show you already have 2GB in the system taking a guess that it is the 4550 400 MHZ FSB, this is the only model of the 4550 that will go to 2 GB - 2GB is the max you can run. It has 2 slots w/ a max of 1 GB PC2700/3200 available.  About the only thing you can do to this box is upgade the drive, or add a second drive and upgrade the card.</p><p>There are still a number of Nvidia cards out there with the AGP interface, unfortunately the 7XXX series is the latest chipset in that bus, but they are available for around 120 US max. Not all that familiar with the ATI line of cards but guessing that the HD series cards are the newer chipset. Hopefully someone more famialir with this line will jump in the them, the 3000 series are a lot more expensive</p><p>Nvidia</p><p><a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+1069609639+1305520548+1068109604&name=12" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...8109604&name=12</a></p><p>ATI HD2000</p><p><a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+1069609639+1305520549+106792278&name=Radeon+HD+2000+series" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...+HD+2000+series</a></p><p>HD3000</p><p><a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+1069609639+1305520549+106792462&name=Radeon+HD+3000+series" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...+HD+3000+series</a></p><p>All in all would suggest just doing a minimal upgrade to get you buy and start working towards a new box. with the exception of the hard drive this whole upgrade will be a forklift since most everything in your current system will be forklifted out the door or as a spare box.</p>

[Cassea]

I agree with the above. Your computer is too old to spend a ton of cash on an upgrade. The 5xxx cards all are defective in DX9 (basically DX8 requires 16bit precision and DX9 requires 24 or 32bit precision - the 5xxx cards are really really slow in 32bit and do not support 24bit mode thus why they are crippled in DX9)So I recommend the ATI x1650 Pro for $35 AR ($49 before rebate)<a href="http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=167&card2=447" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards...7&card2=447</a><a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102064" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814102064</a>You will have a huge bump is speed and your power supply should be fine. I would guess at least a 5-6 time speed bump.... maybe more!EQ2 requires a fast CPU and your game will only run as fast as the slowest part. If you put in an expensive video card your CPU will be holding you back. I agree you need a better Video Card but you also need a new system. Pop for the $35 and enjoy a faster game while you save for a new system.-JB

[Rench]

You might see some improvement with a new video card... but as cpu dependant as eq2 is, don't expect to much. I'd suggest spending a little on cpu cooling and  overclock also but if above is correct about the limited bios thats prob not an option. I would prob save some more and go with the new build, at least a dual core and pci-e. Or as someone else suggested, get a cheaper vid card for now, save the rest towards new stuff.

[Cone73]

<p>Thanks for the help guys. I think am going to go forward getting the ATI card instead of the nvidia but will have to get the AGP version since that is what my mobo is limited to. This helped me shave off a decent amount till I save up enough for a new homebuild that will be with a dual core chip set and the works.</p><p><a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102073" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814102073</a></p>