New hardware for my desktop help

[AugustFall]

I need some help getting my desktop up to date. Here are the specs:

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+ 2.00 GHz
RAM: 1982 MB
GPU: Nvidia Geforce 6150 LE (793MB)
OS: Vista

So I want to play starcraft and I know I need a new GPU because it's integrated and dedicated is better? So I was thinking this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127490&cm_re=graphics_cards_for_desktop-_-14-127-490-_-Product

But is there anything else I need right away? More RAM? Do i just add a stick of RAM? Is it that easy? Also will I need a new power supply?

As you can see I'm lacking in knowledge so if anyone would be willing to help me out and answer any dumb questions i have please PM me.


Edit: I do not have much money, enough to get that graphics card and maybe a stick of RAM. Is my Processor that bad?

Edit: I should stress I have no intention making it a top tier PC. I would just like to be able to play games and not stuff like Crisis. Just Starcraft and Guild Wars 2 when it comes out.

 

[MrTub]

No offense but I would say your best bet would be to build a completely new computer..

 

[AugustFall]

No offense but I would say your best bet would be to build a completely new computer..

None taken. But that's hardly helpful.

I checked on the "can you run it" thing for starcraft and it said I needed a new GPU. Can I just buy a better one, install it and boom, off to the races?

 

[DefunctTheory]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

 

[MrTub]

No offense but I would say your best bet would be to build a completely new computer..

None taken. But that's hardly helpful.

I checked on the "can you run it" thing for starcraft and it said I needed a new GPU. Can I just buy a better one, install it and boom, off to the races?

You should be able to do it, depends on your psu. You do not happen to have the name of your power supply unit?

 

[AugustFall]

No offense but I would say your best bet would be to build a completely new computer..

None taken. But that's hardly helpful.

I checked on the "can you run it" thing for starcraft and it said I needed a new GPU. Can I just buy a better one, install it and boom, off to the races?

You should be able to do it, depends on your psu. You do not happen to have the name of your power supply unit?

No , that would require me to open up the box right?
Basically, and I'll add this to the OP, this is a desktop i got for free from a friend because my laptop can't run jack shit. I was under the impression that i could upgrade the parts i needed to and be fine. Was I wrong?
What do you mean when you say rebuild, I'm not exactly rolling in money but I have enough to buy a graphics card hence why I got this PC. I thought the whole thing about desktops is you could upgrade parts as you went.

 

[AugustFall]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

What does that entail? Buying a new processor?
Pleeease be specific about what else needs upgrading.

 

[DefunctTheory]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

What does that entail? Buying a new processor?
Pleeease be specific about what else needs upgrading.

...Everything, guy.

The PC needs to be replaced, not any particular part.

 

[MrTub]

No offense but I would say your best bet would be to build a completely new computer..

None taken. But that's hardly helpful.

I checked on the "can you run it" thing for starcraft and it said I needed a new GPU. Can I just buy a better one, install it and boom, off to the races?

You should be able to do it, depends on your psu. You do not happen to have the name of your power supply unit?

No , that would require me to open up the box right?
Basically, and I'll add this to the OP, this is a desktop i got for free from a friend because my laptop can't run jack shit. I was under the impression that i could upgrade the parts i needed to and be fine. Was I wrong?
What do you mean when you say rebuild, I'm not exactly rolling in money but I have enough to buy a graphics card hence why I got this PC. I thought the whole thing about desktops is you could upgrade parts as you went.

well.. pretty much everything you got is outdated but I believe if you buy a new gpu you should be able to play some games with low/medium quality, but do not expect to be able to play crysis 1 & warhead on it..

And yeah you either need to ask your friend or open the box

 

[AugustFall]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

What does that entail? Buying a new processor?
Pleeease be specific about what else needs upgrading.

...Everything, guy.

The PC needs to be replaced, not any particular part.

Ok. So can I just gut it, new motherboard, RAM, CPU, GPU, PSU and be done or is there something fundamental that means I now have a large brick that I can't fix.

 

[MrTub]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

What does that entail? Buying a new processor?
Pleeease be specific about what else needs upgrading.

...Everything, guy.

The PC needs to be replaced, not any particular part.

Ok. So can I just gut it, new motherboard, RAM, CPU, GPU, PSU and be done or is there something fundamental that means I now have a large brick that I can't fix.

Well you could add a gpu and then later replace the mobo,ram & cpu and depending if you have a good psu (if its a prebuilt there is a very high risk that it isnt.)

But there is no point in buying a new cpu with the same mobo considering it will still be outdated and in Sweden old cpus cost almost as much as a i5 2500k

 

[DefunctTheory]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

What does that entail? Buying a new processor?
Pleeease be specific about what else needs upgrading.

...Everything, guy.

The PC needs to be replaced, not any particular part.

Ok. So can I just gut it, new motherboard, RAM, CPU, GPU, PSU and be done or is there something fundamental that means I now have a large brick that I can't fix.

You'll need...

CPU
Motherboard
RAM
Video Card
Power Supply

You'll most likely be able to salvage the case, Hard Drive and DVD-ROM.

Also, you might as well jump into Windows 7 land while you're at it.

 

[AugustFall]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

What does that entail? Buying a new processor?
Pleeease be specific about what else needs upgrading.

...Everything, guy.

The PC needs to be replaced, not any particular part.

Ok. So can I just gut it, new motherboard, RAM, CPU, GPU, PSU and be done or is there something fundamental that means I now have a large brick that I can't fix.

Well you could add a gpu and then later replace the mobo,ram & cpu and depending if you have a good psu (if its a prebuilt there is a very high risk that it isnt.)

But there is no point in buying a new cpu with the same mobo considering it will still be outdated and in Sweden old cpus cost almost as much as a i5 2500k

Ok great, that kind of stepped process sounds doable. Get the GPU now and then do an overhaul down the road.
Yeah, so I'll prob grab a mobo/cpu combo from newegg and then only certain RAM types work with certain mobos? Is that right?

Also if I were to get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127490&cm_re=graphics_cards_for_desktop-_-14-127-490-_-Product
How would i know what PSU I need? Also it says memory type GDDR5 and I think my mobo is DDR2. Does that matter?

 

[AugustFall]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

What does that entail? Buying a new processor?
Pleeease be specific about what else needs upgrading.

...Everything, guy.

The PC needs to be replaced, not any particular part.

Ok. So can I just gut it, new motherboard, RAM, CPU, GPU, PSU and be done or is there something fundamental that means I now have a large brick that I can't fix.

You'll need...

CPU
Motherboard
RAM
Video Card
Power Supply

You'll most likely be able to salvage the case, Hard Drive and DVD-ROM.

Also, you might as well jump into Windows 7 land while you're at it.

lol agreed. 7 would be nice. I asked a question above about GPU motherboard stuff. Would you mind taking a look?

 

[MrTub]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

What does that entail? Buying a new processor?
Pleeease be specific about what else needs upgrading.

...Everything, guy.

The PC needs to be replaced, not any particular part.

Ok. So can I just gut it, new motherboard, RAM, CPU, GPU, PSU and be done or is there something fundamental that means I now have a large brick that I can't fix.

Well you could add a gpu and then later replace the mobo,ram & cpu and depending if you have a good psu (if its a prebuilt there is a very high risk that it isnt.)

But there is no point in buying a new cpu with the same mobo considering it will still be outdated and in Sweden old cpus cost almost as much as a i5 2500k

Ok great, that kind of stepped process sounds doable. Get the GPU now and then do an overhaul down the road.
Yeah, so I'll prob grab a mobo/cpu combo from newegg and then only certain RAM types work with certain mobos? Is that right?

Also if I were to get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127490&cm_re=graphics_cards_for_desktop-_-14-127-490-_-Product
How would i know what PSU I need? Also it says memory type GDDR5 and I think my mobo is DDR2. Does that matter?

Yeah DDR2 ram will only work on DDR2 mobos, so if you buy a new mobo you will need to buy (most likely) ddr3 rams. As far as I know Mobos do not affect gpus ram. and I'm certain ddr2 mobos can use gpus with gddr5 considering i have done it. The recommended watt for that gpu is 450 but if you are buying a new psu later on I would at least get 600-700w.

 

[AugustFall]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

What does that entail? Buying a new processor?
Pleeease be specific about what else needs upgrading.

...Everything, guy.

The PC needs to be replaced, not any particular part.

Ok. So can I just gut it, new motherboard, RAM, CPU, GPU, PSU and be done or is there something fundamental that means I now have a large brick that I can't fix.

Well you could add a gpu and then later replace the mobo,ram & cpu and depending if you have a good psu (if its a prebuilt there is a very high risk that it isnt.)

But there is no point in buying a new cpu with the same mobo considering it will still be outdated and in Sweden old cpus cost almost as much as a i5 2500k

Ok great, that kind of stepped process sounds doable. Get the GPU now and then do an overhaul down the road.
Yeah, so I'll prob grab a mobo/cpu combo from newegg and then only certain RAM types work with certain mobos? Is that right?

Also if I were to get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127490&cm_re=graphics_cards_for_desktop-_-14-127-490-_-Product
How would i know what PSU I need? Also it says memory type GDDR5 and I think my mobo is DDR2. Does that matter?

Yeah DDR2 ram will only work on DDR2 mobos, so if you buy a new mobo you will need to buy (most likely) ddr3 rams. As far as I know Mobos do not affect gpus ram. and I'm certain ddr2 mobos can use gpus with gddr5 considering i have done it. The recommended watt for that gpu is 450 but if you are buying a new psu later on I would at least get 600-700w.

Okay so having a higher PSU wattage won't be a bad thing. Learning a lot here guys, thanks .

Looks like doing a big remodel might set me back about 300 bucks in the long run but that's doable.

 

[MrTub]

An actual video card will allow you to limp through most current video games.

But, honestly, it may be time to upgrade. I've got an Intel Q6600, and thats pretty much as low as you can go now a days and not be COMPLETELY out of it.

My advice would be to slam a really nice GPU in that computer, and then start getting money for a complete rebuild that you can transfer that shiny new video card into.

What does that entail? Buying a new processor?
Pleeease be specific about what else needs upgrading.

...Everything, guy.

The PC needs to be replaced, not any particular part.

Ok. So can I just gut it, new motherboard, RAM, CPU, GPU, PSU and be done or is there something fundamental that means I now have a large brick that I can't fix.

Well you could add a gpu and then later replace the mobo,ram & cpu and depending if you have a good psu (if its a prebuilt there is a very high risk that it isnt.)

But there is no point in buying a new cpu with the same mobo considering it will still be outdated and in Sweden old cpus cost almost as much as a i5 2500k

Ok great, that kind of stepped process sounds doable. Get the GPU now and then do an overhaul down the road.
Yeah, so I'll prob grab a mobo/cpu combo from newegg and then only certain RAM types work with certain mobos? Is that right?

Also if I were to get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127490&cm_re=graphics_cards_for_desktop-_-14-127-490-_-Product
How would i know what PSU I need? Also it says memory type GDDR5 and I think my mobo is DDR2. Does that matter?

Yeah DDR2 ram will only work on DDR2 mobos, so if you buy a new mobo you will need to buy (most likely) ddr3 rams. As far as I know Mobos do not affect gpus ram. and I'm certain ddr2 mobos can use gpus with gddr5 considering i have done it. The recommended watt for that gpu is 450 but if you are buying a new psu later on I would at least get 600-700w.

Okay so having a higher PSU wattage won't be a bad thing. Learning a lot here guys, thanks .

Looks like doing a big remodel might set me back about 300 bucks in the long run but that's doable.

Well I know some people do not agree with me on this but I believe that is better to buy a really really good psu with overkill watt then to buy a new psu everytime you want to add another gpu or something, that is why I got 1000w psu.

PS: Make sure to look for psu with 80+ certified symbol on them when you buy a new one (The reason for this, is because then you can be 100% sure you bought a good psu with good components and will most likely not blow up your computer)