Upgrading an old pc

[CaptainFantasmic]

So basically I have an old Dell Inspiron 530s, and I'm looking to upgrade it. Not upgrade from it, upgrade it. The reason why I'm not just buying a whole new PC is because I live with my parents, and let's just say we're in a financial situation where I can't save up ~$400 to build a completely new one without it being taken for bills.

1. Budget & Location

I live in the US and I have $230 on hand.


2. Aim

I'm looking to get at least 40FPS on low in Battlefield 4, decently modded Minecraft with 60FPS, Kerbal Space Program with 60FPS on low, emulated ps2 and gamecube games, and finally Civ 5 on medium to high at 40FPS. Pretty low standards, I know, but that's about the maximum I can imagine given my situation.


3. Monitors

Only one 1280x1024 monitor.


4. Peripherals

Already have them all.


5. Why are you upgrading?

I'm tired of not being able to play anything at all.

6. Additional Info

My current specs:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4500
Memory: 8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 664MHz (Slow as frick, I know.)
Motherboard: Dell Inc. 0RY007
GPU: Intergrated G33 graphics
Harddrives: 233GB Seagate ST9250421AS,  37.3GB Western Digital WDC WD400BD-75JMA0
PSU: some weird 230w TFX form factor one

The 530s orignially only comes with 2 GB of memory, but due to some people on another forum upgrading I managed to get some for free. Half of the ram is going at 664MHz and the other half is going at 800MHz, when I installed them I wasn't aware of the risks when using different ram sticks in the same system, so I'm lucky they weren't blown out. I'm guessing the pc detected the difference in speeds and automatically underclocked the more speedy half. I could take out the non-speedy half if the speed is that much of a problem.

I threw out the original hardrive(Basically this machine was brought back to life using spare parts) and installed two scraped ones that worked, and that's why I have two ones that don't normally show up in a 530s.

I was thinking of picking up the 7770 or 750ti, both are under my budget. The problem is that the 750ti (What I was mainly planning on getting) doesn't fit in the case,  so I need to buy a new case and possibly a new PSU aswell, I was thinking the Corsair CX430 or some EVGA 500w, for the case I was thinking either the Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus or the NZXT Source 210.

Plus I'm pretty sure the 750ti will be bottlenecked by the PCIe 1.0 slots in the motherboard and the CPU, and I'm going to pick up some thermal paste because my PC is running at 70 degrees whilst idle, I'm guessing the factory applied stuff was cheap and has degraded.

This isn't my first time building a computer(I frankensteined the one I'm using now), so I know most of the process.
Anything wrong with my plan?

 

[ThatSweetGamer]

With only $230, there's not much to be done with a dinosaur like yours.

[Pugs501]

With only $230, there's not much to be done with a dinosaur like yours.

Is this what you mean?

[lofo08]

hahaha

Is this what you mean?

hahahha

[CATSLUVER420]

AMD athlon X4 760K 75€ (or AMD athlon x4 740 for 59€) the 760k needs 100 Watts doe, but it shoudl be fine, since the gpu does need 80 (250x), but it should e fine even with your  hdd's (good PSU: Be quiet! BN142 400 watts for about 50€)

Asrock FM2A55M-HD+ Mainboard 32€ 

Crucial Ballistix sport 2x4GB 78€

sapphire r7 250x 83€ 

                            

                               268€

this would run everything on low in 1080p withotu any problems, you could just get 1x4GB and safe some money there, but BF4 needs a bit more (maybe if you dont have anti viirus software and skype etc. in the backround running 4GB will be enough

if you realy just play on this resolution, then pick a r7 250 for 73€ from sapphire

I think the 250 doesnt need a power connector but the 250x does

 

 

prices were taken from amazon

 

 

the PSU should be fine there

                             

[SkilledRebuilds]

AMD athlon X4 760K 75€ (or AMD athlon x4 740 for 59€)

Asrock FM2A55M-HD+ Mainboard 32€ 

Crucial Ballistix sport 2x4GB 78€

sapphire r7 250x 83€

                            

                               268€

this would run everything on low in 1080p withotu any problems, you could just get 1x4GB and safe some money there, but BF4 needs a bit more (maybe if you dont have anti viirus software and skype etc. in the backround running 4GB will be enough

if you realy just play on this resolution, then pick a r7 250 for 73€ from sapphire

 

 

 

prices were taken from amazon

 

                             

This.

Shits on the current system and I +1 this^

Dell motherboard of your current system is the killer pinch, cannot OC the dualcore at all, the Ram can't be specced UP much at all, let alone provide much improvement.

GPU's will be limited.

Go with the above,add your HDD's....then save a bit more, add some ram to the above config and your good.

[Pulledtrigger]

Not much you can really do for the ram, I suggest saving your pennies for a while longer and getting a AMD APU, a new motherboard, and getting very fast, overclockabe ram, or maybe get a gtx 660-

 http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-SUPERCLOCKED-Graphics-02G-P4-2662-KR/dp/B00966IREK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410887902&sr=8-1&keywords=gt+660- (you can probably find a better price its just an example)

 

 

Here is a good example!

Good luck man and sorry about the situation your are in

[CATSLUVER420]

This.

Shits on the current system and I +1 this^

Dell motherboard of your current system is the killer pinch, cannot OC the dualcore at all, the Ram can't be specced UP much at all, let alone provide much improvement.

GPU's will be limited.

Go with the above,add your HDD's....then save a bit more, add some ram to the above config and your good.

so you could also add a 2nd drimm later, the mobo should be able to run single channel mode. Our desktop pc has a 760k with a FM2+ mobo running and BF4 runs smooth (with a gtx 560) with skype steam origin etc. running in the backround

[CATSLUVER420]

Not much you can really do for the ram, I suggest saving your pennies for a while longer and getting a AMD APU, a new motherboard, and getting very fast, overclockabe ram, or maybe get a gtx 660-

 http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-SUPERCLOCKED-Graphics-02G-P4-2662-KR/dp/B00966IREK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410887902&sr=8-1&keywords=gt+660- (you can probably find a better price its just an example)

 

 

Here is a good example!

Good luck man and sorry about the situation your are in

amd apu's are a bit of a ripp of, i like my option more and you get a much better performance for just a little more

[CaptainFantasmic]

With only $230, there's not much to be done with a dinosaur like yours.

I know, that's why I went to you guys for help. Assuming I pick up the case, PSU, and GPU I should be fine, though, seeing as the 750ti can run Battlefield 4 at medium to high.

 

AMD athlon X4 760K 75€ (or AMD athlon x4 740 for 59€)

Asrock FM2A55M-HD+ Mainboard 32€ 

Crucial Ballistix sport 2x4GB 78€

sapphire r7 250x 83€

                            

                               268€

this would run everything on low in 1080p withotu any problems, you could just get 1x4GB and safe some money there, but BF4 needs a bit more (maybe if you dont have anti viirus software and skype etc. in the backround running 4GB will be enough

if you realy just play on this resolution, then pick a r7 250 for 73€ from sapphire

I think the 250 doesnt need a power connector but the 250x does

 

 

prices were taken from amazon

 

 

the PSU should be fine there

                             

 

 

Won't work. The R7 250x is 4.4 inches tall, which doesn't fit in the case I have. If I have to pick up a case, I need a new PSU because cases these days don't support TFX. Those two added onto the fact that in the US we have different pricings makes that cost $400, way above my price range.

 

 

This.

Shits on the current system and I +1 this^

Dell motherboard of your current system is the killer pinch, cannot OC the dualcore at all, the Ram can't be specced UP much at all, let alone provide much improvement.

GPU's will be limited.

Go with the above,add your HDD's....then save a bit more, add some ram to the above config and your good.

I said in my post I can't save anymore without my money being taken. There isn't much I can do.

 

 

Not much you can really do for the ram, I suggest saving your pennies for a while longer and getting a AMD APU, a new motherboard, and getting very fast, overclockabe ram, or maybe get a gtx 660-

 http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-SUPERCLOCKED-Graphics-02G-P4-2662-KR/dp/B00966IREK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410887902&sr=8-1&keywords=gt+660- (you can probably find a better price its just an example)

 

 

Here is a good example!

Good luck man and sorry about the situation your are in

 

That's what I originally planned to do, but the problem is, as I've said, if I have anymore the money is "borrowed".

I already thought of what you guys are offering, and I can't do it. Times are tough for me and my family.

[SkilledRebuilds]

OP - Tis a shame, that machine would suit/exceed your needs (being the current machines performance) very well.

 

Offtopic to everyone else - I've been using fast memory with the Intel 4690's iGPU the HD4600 (OC'd as well) and it works GREAT at a lower resolution but similar fps of 45-60fps in BF4, while recording with Quicksync.

Was genuinely surprised at its performance improvements doing so.

[CATSLUVER420]

OP - Tis a shame, that machine would suit/exceed your needs (being the current machines performance) very well.

 

Offtopic to everyone else - I've been using fast memory with the Intel 4690's iGPU the HD4600 (OC'd as well) and it works GREAT at a lower resolution but similar fps of 45-60fps in BF4, while recording with Quicksync.

Was genuinely surprised at its performance improvements doing so.

my hd graphics 4600 are kinda useless in my laptop with 16gb 1333mhz running 669mhz, but it shouldnt realy make a difference for my gpu doe (gt 750M)

[SkilledRebuilds]

my hd graphics 4600 are kinda useless in my laptop with 16gb 1333mhz running 669mhz, but it shouldnt realy make a difference for my gpu doe (gt 750M)

Yep pity is isnt 1866mhz or similar.

Your right, not much difference on the 750m.

[CATSLUVER420]

Yep pity is isnt 1866mhz or similar.

Your right, not much difference on the 750m.

the 750m is much better than the hd grpahics

at least I'm an SSD Swagger

[CaptainFantasmic]

I was expecting more oddly enough.