• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Need help with an upgrade

K

katewk

New Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2012
Messages
19 (0.00/day)
Location
USA in the rural area
System Specs
System Name Gateway GT5658E
Processor 2.20 gigahertz AMD Phenom 9500 Quad-Core
Motherboard ECS MCP61PM-GM 2.1
Cooling boring
Memory 4 G
Video Card(s) ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT [Display adapter]
Storage 1000.21 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity 754.80 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
Display(s) LCD Viewsonic
Case Standard Gateway
Audio Device(s) ATI High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio
Power Supply 300
Hi, Am trying to upgrade my lane Gateway AMD Phenom™ 9500, 64-bit quad core processor, Motherboard-ECS MCP61PM-GM 2.1, running 4GB Ram...I am needing to upgrade so that I can actually run through Star Wars The Old Republic without hanging up in every instance. I need to know if I can simply replace and upgrade the CPU and what would be suggested or if it would be better to get a new Motherboard as well. I don't have a lot of cash and this will run the game but it hangs badly at times and well, the look of the game is low tech to be sure! Any help would be appreciated..

Thanks ;)
 
I'm not a gamer but I know the first question/request from the gamers here would be for you to fill out your system spec: PSU/GPU and so on so I suggest that you do that.
 
The processor is fine. You don't mention what GPU you have, and most likely it's what you will need to upgrade.

SWTOR system requirements:

Processor:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4000+ or better
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz or better

RAM:

Windows XP: 1.5GB RAM
Windows Vista and Windows 7: 2GB RAM

Note: PCs using a built-in graphical chipset are recommended to have 2GB of RAM.

Star Wars: The Old Republic requires a video card that has a minimum of 256MB of on-board RAM as well as support for Shader 3.0 or better. Examples include:

ATI X1800 or better
nVidia 7800 or better
Intel 4100 Integrated Graphics or better
 
KingPing said:
The processor is fine. You don't mention what GPU you have, and most likely it's what you will need to upgrade.

SWTOR system requirements:

Processor:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4000+ or better
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz or better

RAM:

Windows XP: 1.5GB RAM
Windows Vista and Windows 7: 2GB RAM

Note: PCs using a built-in graphical chipset are recommended to have 2GB of RAM.

Star Wars: The Old Republic requires a video card that has a minimum of 256MB of on-board RAM as well as support for Shader 3.0 or better. Examples include:

ATI X1800 or better
nVidia 7800 or better
Intel 4100 Integrated Graphics or better
Click to expand...

And hence buy a GPU that potentinal draws more amps that OPs PSU can handle. PSU data is vital. If it is a ready build PC the PSU is crapy and not ready for a more power full/hungry GPU. Tell us about your PSU and good advices will come.

Edit: Don’t think that OP has a real interest in a TPU advice. Left and did not fill out SS.
 
Last edited:
katewk said:
Hi, Am trying to upgrade my lane Gateway AMD Phenom™ 9500, 64-bit quad core processor, Motherboard-ECS MCP61PM-GM 2.1, running 4GB Ram...I am needing to upgrade so that I can actually run through Star Wars The Old Republic without hanging up in every instance. I need to know if I can simply replace and upgrade the CPU and what would be suggested or if it would be better to get a new Motherboard as well. I don't have a lot of cash and this will run the game but it hangs badly at times and well, the look of the game is low tech to be sure! Any help would be appreciated..

Thanks ;)
Click to expand...

OK I've got some good news.

Star Wars The Old Republic isnt that intensive. You don't need a new CPU, the hangs are probably software related i.e. driver, registry etc.

To improve general gaming performance you can get away with upgrading the video card alone, maybe a PSU too. Considering that Star Wars The Old Republic is the only game you are playing (is that correct?) a full upgrade isnt necessary.

Can you please tell us what video card you are currently running?
 
First Gen Phenom do have the TLB bug, but bios code should be updated that fixes that, along with OS patching for XP-7...

Depending on Video card you may or may not have to get a better power supply.
 
Thanks for quick answers

I have posted my system info, was in a rush earlier....the Vid card is really minimal and knew I needed to replace that but not sure with which one at this point...I had been told a new cpu might be a good upgrade too...I play WOW, which runs fine...SWTOR is a real issue however....not pretty. I have consoles for other games so these are the main ones I play on PC atm till other ones arrive.
 
they are showing now....and yes, that config from cnet is what I have basically...thanks again
 
Ok so you dont have enough power to run a real card. So your looking at a PSU and a graphics card. What is your budget?


And you didn't confirm that you have a PCI-e X 16 slot. You need to look at it and google it to see what one looks like
 
can we get a snapshot of the case and when its open, side view and rear view to see how the power supply is mounted (OEMs tend to be proprietary)
 
Yes, it does have the PCI-e x 16 slot
 
What is your Spending Budget.
 
pic of inside

insides
 

Attachments

  • DSC01795.jpg
    DSC01795.jpg
    206.2 KB · Views: 496
back of pc

back
 

Attachments

  • DSC01794.jpg
    DSC01794.jpg
    206.2 KB · Views: 463
look at the dust, wow...I just cleaned it 2 days ago...but I have big, hairy dogs...:D
 
Recommendation is to either have a vaccum nearby, filters on your intake fans, or move the case off the floor.


Definitly a top mount Powersupply, ATX standard.

here is the specs of the motherboard you have,

http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERBD/Shared/4006254R/4006254Rsp2.shtml

you should be able to get drivers from Gateway Or Nvidia for the Chipset and Realtek for the Lan and Audio

www.amd.com for your current video card or newer if you decide to go with AMD for the video card.

http://www.e4allupgraders.info/dir1/motherboards/socketam2/ecsMCP61PM-GM.shtml

http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f75/need-help-new-video-card-183250/

What Operating system are You Using and what is your budget?
 
os

using win 7 home premium, my budget is a couple of hundred, 300 at the most, my birthday is coming up so I can ask for that!
 
katewk said:
using win 7 home premium, my budget is a couple of hundred, 300 at the most, my birthday is coming up so I can ask for that!
Click to expand...

Good 650 watt powersupplies run for less than 100 dollars, that leaves room for a Middle Ground video card, such as a 6670-6790, maybe even 6850/6870
 
Last edited:
that sounds good....I knew I needed to upgrade power supply and that card would certainly be better than what I am running...I will look into it.
 
katewk said:
that sounds good....I knew I needed to upgrade power supply and that card would certainly be better than what I am running...I will look into it.
Click to expand...

keep the old card around as a backup though.
 
Last edited:
Great help!

Thanks for all the good advice, am ordering my power and card tonite! Thanks for the info on rebates and products with Newegg too....you guys are great!
 
Let us know how it eats up Star Wars The Old Republic when your done
 
Will do! I am looking forward to it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top