Upgrading a factory built pc.

[Si3Rra_7]

Two years ago , when pc hardware was like chinese to me , i needed a new computer so i got this one prebuilt from ASUS : http://www.asus.com/Desktops/Essentio_CM6730/ . I'm going to build my rig this summer ( waiting for new gen intel cpus / nvidia 700 series ) . But now i'm sick of playing bf3 @ low with 720p in windowed mode ( god , i wanted so much to play bf3 :D ) so i want to upgrade a bit until then . Is it posible to upgrade factory built pc with a new psu, cpu cooler( it hits 97C on stock clock now ) and gpu ? Are there limitations made by asus so i can't upgrade ?

Current specs:

i5-2310

GT530

6gb ram 1333mhz..

What i want to buy :

Gigabyte GTX650, 2GB

Thermaltake Litepower 600W

NH-L9i

I couln't figure out mobo but it's h61 chipset m-atx. It's sandy bridge so it's only pci-e 2.0 x16 , from experience the 650 which is gen 3.0 compatible shouldn't be bottlenecked by the pci-e 16x 2.0 slot , isn't it ? Thanks in advance !

[DDR3RAMpager]

whats the case size like? how many fans (airflow)? any pictures then we can help more :)

[DDR3RAMpager]

that said i think those parts should be fine except for the graphics card. i would recommend saving a little more for a gtx650ti. makes all the difference. that or see if the motherboard is ATI compatible and go for a saphire 7770.

[Si3Rra_7]

No , i won't go ati :D , literally no fans except the cpu cooler one , but there are holes in the sidepanel ( there's a slot in the rear for a 80mm ) , i'll get the camera for the picture ;) thx for the help. I can't get the 650 ti because the online store i'm getting these from only has a gainward gtx650ti 1GB http://goo.gl/oOEMh ( sorry , the site it's in my language ) . i think i'd be better with 2gb :D

[Si3Rra_7]

Yhea , cable management and airflow could be better :/ .. i'll fix it when i upgrade .

[Si3Rra_7]

Just realised the thermaltake psu has 2 12v rails , any problem ?

[Si3Rra_7]

Just realised the thermaltake psu has 2 12v rails , any problem ?

Yhea , better play it safe , got a cx600 , even tho it's overrate by 100w , it has 80+ and 1 12v rail

[Whaler_99]

The Corsair PSU is a good choice. Hard to tell from the pix. One thing those guys at HP do on a lot of system is install custom sized PSU unit. So a "standard" will no fit properly - maybe only get one, sometime two, screws securing the PSU. I say because... that PSU in the pix looks very similar to the HP ones. Should still work, just might have to get creative with mounting. Also, verify on the mobo that it is a 24 (or 20) pin power and 4 pin CPU - HP also customized those. :(

The 600 is over rated for your current system, but on your new build, with a new gen CPU and GPU, 600W would start looking to be a minimum. :) As long as you don't plan on going dual GPU, you should be ok.

[Si3Rra_7]

The Corsair PSU is a good choice. Hard to tell from the pix. One thing those guys at HP do on a lot of system is install custom sized PSU unit. So a "standard" will no fit properly - maybe only get one, sometime two, screws securing the PSU. I say because... that PSU in the pix looks very similar to the HP ones. Should still work, just might have to get creative with mounting. Also, verify on the mobo that it is a 24 (or 20) pin power and 4 pin CPU - HP also customized those. :(

The 600 is over rated for your current system, but on your new build, with a new gen CPU and GPU, 600W would start looking to be a minimum. :) As long as you don't plan on going dual GPU, you should be ok.

HP , sorry if it's a noob question , but this pc is made by asus :-/ .

[Whaler_99]

I only used HP as a reference - no experience with Asus - but that PSU in your ASUS system is very similar to HP ones. So, just something that may come up. :)

[Si3Rra_7]

Thanks for the intel ( haha, get it :D ) ... the psu mounting holes looks normal , thoughts on the cpu cooler / gpu ?

[Si3Rra_7]

Update : Bad news and good news :

-Good news : the mobo is p8h61-m , i don't see why this is good news , but , oh well..

-Bad news : There's no cpu backplate cutout , i have to see if the NH-L9i needs a backplate..

[Guest]

You don't have to have a backplate cutout to install a cooler 99% of the time. All it does is means you don't have to remove the motherboard to install it.

[NannerBeans]

At that price range AMD GPUs are a better value and from the pics, it looks like a full size gpu will fit so you should go with one of those. Also, it looks like you have 2 fan slots, 1 at the front and 1 at the back. I would make sure you get fans installed on those when you upgrade your GPU since pre-built systems usually do not have good airflow.

[NannerBeans]

Also, if a CM Hyper 212 will fit your case, it's the best budget CPU cooler and it's only $30.

[Si3Rra_7]

At that price range AMD GPUs are a better value and from the pics' date=' it looks like a full size gpu will fit so you should go with one of those. Also, it looks like you have 2 fan slots, 1 at the front and 1 at the back. I would make sure you get fans installed on those when you upgrade your GPU since pre-built systems usually do not have good airflow. [/quote']

the front one doesn't have vents for actual intake and both are 80mm

and i would have also got a hyper 212 , but it's not available on my online shop.. and noctua is not bad

[Si3Rra_7]

At that price range AMD GPUs are a better value and from the pics' date=' it looks like a full size gpu will fit so you should go with one of those. Also, it looks like you have 2 fan slots, 1 at the front and 1 at the back. I would make sure you get fans installed on those when you upgrade your GPU since pre-built systems usually do not have good airflow. [/quote']

the front one doesn't have vents for actual intake and both are 80mm

and i would have also got a hyper 212 , but it's not available on my online shop.. and noctua is not bad

and , won't go AMD , i've already said it

[Si3Rra_7]

You don't have to have a backplate cutout to install a cooler 99% of the time. All it does is means you don't have to remove the motherboard to install it.

yhea , but it's a pain

[Nidiahk]

No , i won't go ati :D , literally no fans except the cpu cooler one , but there are holes in the sidepanel ( there's a slot in the rear for a 80mm ) , i'll get the camera for the picture ;) thx for the help. I can't get the 650 ti because the online store i'm getting these from only has a gainward gtx650ti 1GB http://goo.gl/oOEMh ( sorry , the site it's in my language ) . i think i'd be better with 2gb :D

a 1gb 650 ti should definitly out preform a 2gb 650...

[Nidiahk]

At that price range AMD GPUs are a better value and from the pics' date=' it looks like a full size gpu will fit so you should go with one of those. Also, it looks like you have 2 fan slots, 1 at the front and 1 at the back. I would make sure you get fans installed on those when you upgrade your GPU since pre-built systems usually do not have good airflow. [/quote']

the front one doesn't have vents for actual intake and both are 80mm

and i would have also got a hyper 212 , but it's not available on my online shop.. and noctua is not bad

http://www.emag.ro/cooler-procesor-cooler-master-blizzard-t2-compatibil-intel-amd-cm-rr-t2-22fp-r1/pd/EKZQKBBBM/?ref=list_p1_l3 pickup one of these you cant really overclock that cpu any way

[Guest]

You don't have to have a backplate cutout to install a cooler 99% of the time. All it does is means you don't have to remove the motherboard to install it.

True but it's not the end of the world. + it'll give the opportunity for a good clean up

[Si3Rra_7]

At that price range AMD GPUs are a better value and from the pics' date=' it looks like a full size gpu will fit so you should go with one of those. Also, it looks like you have 2 fan slots, 1 at the front and 1 at the back. I would make sure you get fans installed on those when you upgrade your GPU since pre-built systems usually do not have good airflow. [/quote']

the front one doesn't have vents for actual intake and both are 80mm

and i would have also got a hyper 212 , but it's not available on my online shop.. and noctua is not bad

Thanks for searching on a site which is not your language :D , but from the mb to the sidepanel i have only like 120mm

[Artorias]

No , i won't go ati :D , literally no fans except the cpu cooler one , but there are holes in the sidepanel ( there's a slot in the rear for a 80mm ) , i'll get the camera for the picture ;) thx for the help. I can't get the 650 ti because the online store i'm getting these from only has a gainward gtx650ti 1GB http://goo.gl/oOEMh ( sorry , the site it's in my language ) . i think i'd be better with 2gb :D

VRAM are only quite useful if you intend to play at higher resolution monitors & multi-monitor setups. Try watching this video of linus at NCIX Channel.

[Artorias]

Update : Bad news and good news :

-Good news : the mobo is p8h61-m , i don't see why this is good news , but , oh well..

-Bad news : There's no cpu backplate cutout , i have to see if the NH-L9i needs a backplate..

No, the NH-L9i doesn't need a back plate because what will you be using are the screws that came w/ it.

[Willson94]

Definitely try and get a 650ti, 650 just isnt worth it. Shame you wont get a 7770 why is that?