I need help upgrading my PC

[A Star Explorer]

Hello everyone this is the first time i am using the Linus Tech Tips forum so forgive any of the mistakes i can possibly do while using this forum.

i have a crappy prebuild PC with no graphics card so most games are unplayable, so I decided to buy a graphics card for my PC which led to a ton of problems. First of all my monitor has a VGA connector and i am not sure if my power supply can power the graphics card.

My questions are these:

 

Should i buy a medium grade graphics card with a HDMI to VGA converter instead of buying a graphics card with a VGA connector? i am asking this questions because my idea was to use a graphics card with an HDMI slot with an HDMI to VGA converter, so that when i would get a decent monitor with an HDMI connector i would already have a graphics card with an HDMI slot.

 

My second questions is how do i check if my power supply can power my graphics card? i am also wondering if using something like a 4-pin to a 6-pin connector( if i only have an available 4-pin connector on my power supply) would be useful or if that wouldn't supply enough power?

 

And my last question is this, i was planning on buying the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 950 XTREME GAMING 2 GB graphics card and i was wondering if anyone knows a similar graphics card to this which would be cheaper? 

I actually had another question pop into my mind just now, should i be buying the Gigabyte version of that graphics card (if there if no cheaper alternative) instead of one from ASUS because of the 100 MHz difference? 

 

Thank You for listening and for any help You may give! X3

[DarkBlade2117]

Well... it depends @A Star Explorer

It may be worth it to put a low end GPU in there and wait out until you can get a better PC which is similar to what I did. I had a GTX 750Ti and an AMD A6-3650, the CPU sucked but I could play most games good enough 40-50FPS med-high settings 1080p with minimal dips into low 30's.

Are you able to get us a brand/model # of the PSU? Some, very very few pre-built PC's ( I'm assuming that is what you have ), You may be way better off just getting a new one. Which will be minimal to the cost, $50-$55 can get you a more than good enough PSU.

As for the CPU, are you able to go to your start menu, type in system information and it should be defaulted to System Summary, like it should Say Processor ( long space ) and your CPU. What is it? Or if you already know it.

[jeonjaeng]

470X would probs be better if you can spare the money for it

[A Star Explorer]

DarkBlade2117 sorry for not putting is pc specs  i had my post crash on me so i i had to retrpe all of that XP 

i've got a a Core I3-3220 3.30 GHz processor 2 GB of ram, no graphics card and i am sorry but i have no idea what a PSU is

 

Also, nice Linus quote XP 

[Shubham Yadav]

If you're worried about your PSU, just get a 750 ti. Get the one which doesn't require a 6 pin connector and it's just plug and play. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00M27TSJS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1472735200&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=750ti&dpPl=1&dpID=51N9xor%2B8TL&ref=plSrch

 

This one doesn't require a 6 pin connector and has a DVI to VGA convertor included. 

[DarkBlade2117]

2 hours ago, A Star Explorer said:

DarkBlade2117 sorry for not putting is pc specs  i had my post crash on me so i i had to retrpe all of that XP 

i've got a a Core I3-3220 3.30 GHz processor 2 GB of ram, no graphics card and i am sorry but i have no idea what a PSU is

 

Also, nice Linus quote XP 

Alright, just making sure you didn't have some Core 2 Duo or something like some people have <3

I'd look into the RX 460, it only pulls 75w and doesn't requires PCIe Power Connectors.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125897&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker, LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

A big help would be if it is a pre-built, do you know the product page of it? From there it would mkae it much easier to find out what you need. Right now, some new RAM because 2GBs isn't enough, 8 minimum for gaming and the RX 460 may be all you need, just depends on the PSU which with a product page I can find.

[A Star Explorer]

6 minutes ago, DarkBlade2117 said:

Well... it depends @A Star Explorer

It may be worth it to put a low end GPU in there and wait out until you can get a better PC which is similar to what I did. I had a GTX 750Ti and an AMD A6-3650, the CPU sucked but I could play most games good enough 40-50FPS med-high settings 1080p with minimal dips into low 30's.

Are you able to get us a brand/model # of the PSU? Some, very very few pre-built PC's ( I'm assuming that is what you have ), You may be way better off just getting a new one. Which will be minimal to the cost, $50-$55 can get you a more than good enough PSU.

As for the CPU, are you able to go to your start menu, type in system information and it should be defaulted to System Summary, like it should Say Processor ( long space ) and your CPU. What is it? Or if you already know it.

oh PSU is a power supply... i'm sorry i'm being so dumb XP

i have an ATX 2.03 power supply

 

[Shubham Yadav]

8 minutes ago, A Star Explorer said:

DarkBlade2117 sorry for not putting is pc specs  i had my post crash on me so i i had to retrpe all of that XP 

i've got a a Core I3-3220 3.30 GHz processor 2 GB of ram, no graphics card and i am sorry but i have no idea what a PSU is

 

Also, nice Linus quote XP 

Doesn't it lag pretty badly with 2GB RAM? 

 

PSU is power supply 

[DarkBlade2117]

3 hours ago, A Star Explorer said:

oh PSU is a power supply... i'm sorry i'm being so dumb XP

i have an ATX 2.03 power supply

 

Well that isn't to much information, again a big help would be a link to a product page of either the PC you have, can be anything like Cnet, Amazon, Newegg ect.

Also the RX 460 is roughly 2-4FPS ahead of a 950 and will probably be better with drivers.

[JSD10]

750 ti is a great option. the one from zotac is around $100

[A Star Explorer]

6 minutes ago, DarkBlade2117 said:

Alright, just making sure you didn't have some Core 2 Duo or something like some people have <3

I'd look into the RX 460, it only pulls 75w and doesn't requires PCIe Power Connectors.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125897&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker, LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

A big help would be if it is a pre-built, do you know the product page of it? From there it would mkae it much easier to find out what you need. Right now, some new RAM because 2GBs isn't enough, 8 minimum for gaming and the RX 460 may be all you need, just depends on the PSU which with a product page I can find.

Ok so here is what i wanted to do.

 

i was planning on buying a graphics card with some ram but because the graphics card led to so many issues i couldn't afford buying RAM.

the main problem for me rn is if i should use the HDMI to VGA converter to use an HDMI graphics card

[Space Reptile]

whats the wattage the powersupply puts out? 

 

reccomendations for a decend card would be 

RX 460 (the most powerful one out of these and 120 quid) 

GTX 750 / TI (around 80~100 quid)

R9 270 / X (used around 70 bucks , but needs 2 6pin when X ) 

[A Star Explorer]

3 minutes ago, DarkBlade2117 said:

Well that isn't to much information, again a big help would be a link to a product page of either the PC you have, can be anything like Cnet, Amazon, Newegg ect.

Also the RX 460 is roughly 2-4FPS ahead of a 950 and will probably be better with drivers.

and about the power supply i am sorry but i really can't get this info cause you're actually talking with a fourteen year old PC enthusiast that got his PC as a present XDD I am so sorry i am putting You through this 

[DarkBlade2117]

2 hours ago, A Star Explorer said:

Ok so here is what i wanted to do.

 

i was planning on buying a graphics card with some ram but because the graphics card led to so many issues i couldn't afford buying RAM.

the main problem for me rn is if i should use the HDMI to VGA converter to use an HDMI graphics card

Yes that will work fine, though I must say it would be well worth it to get some RAM. 2GBs is barely enough for the OS and some simple browsing.

Even if you need to get them used off of Ebay or /r/hardwareswap where 8GBs of DDR3 is usually $20-$25, or just find a good deal for it.

2 hours ago, A Star Explorer said:

and about the power supply i am sorry but i really can't get this info cause you're actually talking with a fourteen year old PC enthusiast that got his PC as a present XDD I am so sorry i am putting You through this 

It's all good, I'm only 15 myself <3

If you go to System Information usually on the first page in System Summary there should be something that says BaseBoard Manufacturer, this will usually say the name of the PC if it is pre-built.

 

[Space Reptile]

well if you dont know the wattage , get a RX460 , much more beef than a 750 and the same power draw , also needs no extra power connection 

and price is around the same as the 750 , open shut case for me id say 

[A Star Explorer]

1 minute ago, A Star Explorer said:

and about the power supply i am sorry but i really can't get this info cause you're actually talking with a fourteen year old PC enthusiast that got his PC as a present XDD I am so sorry i am putting You through this 

I just found out that the 750 TI has a VGA and an HDMI connector, Thank You for your advise. 

What i think i will do now is buy the GTX 750 TI with 2GB of VRAM and considering it doesn't need any additional power I can easily use it. that will give the money to spend on some additional RAM for my PC or maybe a better processor.

 

My question to You is should i buy more RAM or a new processor? 

[Space Reptile]

more ram , you only have 2gb , wich is nothing 

 

edit: actually that is your vram , wich you cant upgrade , what is your system ram ? 

[A Star Explorer]

2 minutes ago, Space Reptile said:

well if you dont know the wattage , get a RX460 , much more beef than a 750 and the same power draw , also needs no extra power connection 

and price is around the same as the 750 , open shut case for me id say 

the price i found for the RX 460 is a lot higher then for the 750 TI

[Space Reptile]

1 minute ago, A Star Explorer said:

the price i found for the RX 460 is a lot higher then for the 750 TI

where did you look? 

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=rx+460&N=-1&isNodeId=1   RX460

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=gtx+750&N=-1&isNodeId=1  GTX 750

[A Star Explorer]

Just now, Space Reptile said:

where did you look? 

I am at Russia XP i don't have the same availability as You guys XP Ebay and Amazon are too expensive because of the dollar to ruble price 

[A Star Explorer]

my RAM is 2 gb XP You were right the first time

[A Star Explorer]

alright i think i made up my mind Thank You all who helped me with this especially DarkBlade2117, i will end up buying a GTX 750 TI with both a VGA and an HDMI connector and I'll add some ram as You Space Reptile suggested X3 

[Space Reptile]

ah okay , well if you are in russia , get whatever is cheapest for you , and get your system up to atleast 4gb ram

and check the used market , stuff can be cheap at times