Upgrading: Need input

Ok, so i have a bare-bones that I've been running with for a while now, it's served me rather well but it's time for some upgrades. I'm looking at a video card (pretty much got one picked out already) some RAM and possibly a HDD (nothing massive, I'm on a budget).

I can no longer find the actual package i bought, however the mobo is a Foxconn M61PMV (apparent compatibilty page here : http://www.foxconnchannel.com/produc...el_name=M61PMV) with an AMD 64 X2 dual core 5000+ @ 2.6 gHz.

It does have a PCI-E slot, 1.0 as far as i can tell, which would apparently be compatible with the GPU I was looking at (link: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...&Sku=P450-4894). Is there any problems with compatibility there?

Also, as far as RAM goes, the list of compatibility on Foxconn's site is rather limited. Is that a full list, or just a list of ones they've tested? i have found some RAM that is one their list (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...034&CatId=1872 looking at 2 sticks of it of course) but I've been wondering if i have better options.

The PSU is only 400 W from what i can tell, will this cause me problems with the card i wanted? I have no plans to SLI or anything like that.

As for another HDD (currently have 160gigs) is there any rather cheap options? I don't need a ton of space, but i've yet to find anything that seems good, and i have no idea which brands can be trusted in the field.

I use the computer for gaming and general use, but the gaming is more important to me, as I'm pretty sure anything that will run games can run word and PS just fine. I live in Canada btw, so Tigerdirect.ca is the only real option i have for buying, to my knowledge.

Thanks a ton!

A PCI-e 2.0 card is backward compatible with v 1.0, you may get some reduction in performance though. (Depending upon what you are doing and whether the reduced bandwidth affects it.)

ATI/AMD recommends a 500 watt (or larger) power supply with the 4890. You should either get a less power hungry card or a larger power supply. One bonus for getting a new power supply would be that it should come with the proper connectors for the video card power, ATX, and SATA drives and could carry over to the next upgrade.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16817171031

Foxcon's list would be just those they have tested. You shouldn't have any problems with the RAM you chose. Here's a cheaper alternative - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16820231207

For a hard drive - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16822136358
(note that it's newegg.ca)

Whereabouts in Canada are you?

I live in Montreal, and thanks a bundle for newegg.ca I had no idea they had a Canadian site! Just to clarify, newegg.ca lists prices in Canadian, correct?

Also, I'm a little worried about a new PSU, as I've never installed one before. Is it difficult, or pretty much the same this as any other install? I've just read some of the reviews on that PSU now, and one of them said something about it only really running 350-400W, is that just false, or is an even bigger PSU needed?

since you live in montreal, pccyber has a location downtown. their prices are usually just as good as newegg, but you don't have to pay for shipping.

given your specs, you might want to give this card a try:
http://pccyber.com/?v=product&i=VC-MSI-R4770-T2D512

it will work with your current PSU, so no need to upgrade there.

How does that card compare performance wise? the 80$ price drop is definitely welcome, but not if I'll have it upgrade it in 6 months again. Sorry if I seem needy, but i don't really know a whole lot about this kind of stuff, and i want to get it right.

My mobo manual says that the RAM slots are DIMM format, will SDRAM not work in them, or is it nothing to worry about?

the 4770 is quite a bit weaker than the 4890; it performs on par with a 4850, but with significantly less power usage. i mainly selected that one based on the PSU you already have. it also fits better with the hardware you already have.

all in all, it's fine for any modern game as long as you don't run them at really high resolutions (1680x1050 is about the highest i would go).

I might just like to throw in if your thinking about ram you might look at: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16820145184
A bit more for a bit more $$ besides that I agree with the hard drvie (although I didn't really look at other ones ) and agree that a new psu might be better then downgrading the card as it will make upgrading in the future simpler...

***Don't hit me for disagreeing with the ram Quaker***
/hides under my bed

Edit: please note I am stuck in 64-bit land ignore me if your gonna have a 32-bit OS or only gonna be installing 1 batch

what games are you going to play and what resolution do you want to play at with high or max settings?

Max settings would definitely be the aim, but whether that's possible is another question. I'll mainly be playing MMO's (GW for now, possibly WoW again soon) but i do also play quite a bit of Mass Effect (1+2), Fallout 3 and similar. I also do a lot of stuff in PS CS4 and After-effects, which would also hopefully benefit somewhat (though that's of lower importance).

My current max res. is only 1280x1024 but I'm looking at upgrading that soonish to a 1440x900 or preferably 1680x1050, and don't really want to upgrade again when i get that done.

Thanks again for the help

P.S. any other input on upgrading the PSU or not? going to 500W doesn't seem like enough of an upgrade to me that it'll save significantly in the future, and i wouldn't want to go bigger atm ($ :\), but maybe it is a significant jump?

the 4770 is powerful enough for 1680x1050, and you don't even need to upgrade your PSU for it. however, getting a good PSU right now is always a good idea. i have an antec earthwatt 500 (500W, obviously), and it's enough to power a 5850. graphic card power consumption has dropped pretty significantly over the last little while, and that trend seems to continue for the time being.

@End - Why do you think that the RAM you pointed out is better. The GSkill has better timings, but it doesn't have a heat spreader. The heat spreader is not really a concern unless you overclock and/or have poor case ventilation. Keep in mind that the RAM is guaranteed, but they don't think a spreader is needed. (I've never yet used RAM with a heat spreader.)

@Bitmap42 - A larger power supply is only needed if you get a video card that needs the extra power. If you get a 4770 then you don't need to get a bigger PS, but if you opt for the 4890 you'll need a bigger one. It's a performance vs cost thing. A 600 (or so) watt power supply should do you for a long time considering, as Moriz pointed out, that power consumption for CPUs and GPUs is on a general downward trend.

i plan on keeping my 9300 inspiron laptop as my main gw-playing rig (since it is all i have at the moment).

1.6Ghz Centrino
2G DDR2
128 ATI Mobility x300
5400rpmHDD

With minimum vid settings, it does a great job at GW1 gaming.

However, word has it that GW2 will be a bit more demanding... The most I can upgrade is the processor (up to 2.0Ghz, remaining single core of course) but the HDD interface is para, not serial, so getting a solid-state-drive (which would make a huge difference in performance) is out of the question.

If GW2 permits, and I qualify to keep this laptop, where can I order the processor I need?? I have searched newegg, frys electronics and compusa with zero luck. Dell no longer supports/assessorizes the stuff they sold 4 years back.

If anyone knows?

Gee, thanks!

-.-

An SSD only speeds up file access. It wouldn't make GW run any faster, except maybe, the time it takes to load an area.

Any cpu you could realistically expect to be able to upgrade to would not make much difference either. Many laptops have the cpu soldered to the mainboard, so they can't be replaced economically. Also, thermal (heat sinks, fans, cooling ducts) and power limitations (on board regulators and the wattage of the power supply) would limit upgrade possibilities.

Basically, upgrading the laptop is an uneconomical option at best, and probably wouldn't be enough for GW2.

suddenly, faintly i do feel.

more so if GW2 goes quadcore... then i'd feel doubly faintly.

at least GW2 release won't be for another year so that should give me enough time to save, review, compare and purchase something quadaciously bona-fide.

indeed.

-.-

You clearly haven't met the beast that is the GTX480...

Yes, but then who has?

...oh wait

but but... you said fermi will have "surprisingly low" power consumption?!!!

you've lied to me rahja >

I think he meant while the computer is off.

Off/Idle. When at full load, Fermi will cause brownouts on your block! MUAHAHA