Upgrading Old Dell Computer. Is it worth it?

[Rower1613]

Ladies, Gentlemen, and everything in between;

 

I'm looking to upgrade my PC as much as I can, but I am not sure if it makes sense to upgrade it or just say screw it and buy a brand new one. It's an old dell and has not been upgraded since it has been bought. No time limit for this, but would like to get it done within the next few months so I can get the programs from my university on it before I leave. I want it to be capable of VR for medical studies and gaming, but will need it for data analysis and software development as well. attached are pictures of inside of case and the system specs. any information will be helpfulIMG_9427.HEIC

PC Upgrades / Replacements

** You must post your current system specs.  The easiest way is to download Speccy, install it, run it, and post a screenshot of the results. **

- Budget: $1500 (can go slightly over, but not much)
- Zip Code or Location: 06850
- Part(s) to Upgrade or Replace:

Graphics card

Processor

RAM

possible power supply if wattage changes

Wireless card

Other Useful Info

- Preferred Case Features (Ex: Color, Side Window, Flashy): Want to keep original case
- Number of Monitors: 1 
- Other Info?: VR-ready

 

 

IMG_9416.HEIC

[Slottr]

Just build a new system. Nothing in there is really worth upgrading for 

[ZivZulander]

General rule for me is once you go beyond adding or swapping out a single component (e.g. RAM or GPU), or over a certain price threshold (e.g. $300), it's better to just do a new build, especially given the limitations of pre-built computers from the big vendors like Dell.

With that budget and use case, I would absolutely go for a new build. Also for VR, you can go for a smaller build, which makes it easier to move around if you need to.

 

[Rower1613]

Thank you guys! I'll start working on building one. 

[trevb0t]

With a $1500 budget, you're looking at a great new machine!

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor	$309.99 @ Walmart
CPU Cooler	Scythe FUMA 2 51.17 CFM CPU Cooler	$59.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	Asus TUF GAMING X570-PLUS (WI-FI) ATX AM4 Motherboard	$194.99 @ Amazon
Memory	Patriot Viper 4 Blackout 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory	$59.99 @ Amazon
Storage	ADATA XPG GAMMIX S5 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive	$95.99 @ Amazon
Storage	Hitachi Ultrastar 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive	$32.88 @ Amazon
Video Card	EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB FTW3 ULTRA+ Video Card	$569.99 @ Newegg
Case	Fractal Design Meshify C ATX Mid Tower Case	$89.99 @ Walmart
Power Supply	BitFenix Whisper M 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply	$79.98 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$1513.79
	Mail-in rebates	-$20.00
	Total	$1493.79
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-11-08 22:09 EST-0500