Upgrading my paperweight (computer)

[fuzzy2308]

i want to upgrade it so i have better graphics and better cooling system etc and so i can play games better. my current video card is a useless piece of poo
i pretty much want to start with the case and go from there so any help would be great this is my current set up.
any tips, opinions of advice would be great

its a dell insperon 530

• Case
• ugly white and silver case from dell painted black inside and out
• big ass fan at the back i had to cut and file shit away to get it in there. also did the same with the front .

• Processor
• Intel(R) Core(tm)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40.GHz, 4 core(s) 4 Logical processor(s)


• Mainboard
• Chipset type Intel G33 Express
• Data bus speed 800.0 MHz

• RAM
• Installed Size 4.0 GB (max)
• Technology DDR2 SDRAM
• Memory Speed 667.0 MHz
• Memory Specification Compliance PC2-5300
• Form Factor DIMM 240-pin
• Features Dual channel memory architecture
• Configuration Features 2 x 512 MB

• Storage Controller
• Type 1.0 x Serial ATA - Integrated
• Controller interface type Serial ATA-300
• Storage controller interface channel qty 4.0
• RAID level RAID 1


• Storage
• Hard Drive 1.0 x 500.0 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200.0 rpm
• Hard Drive (2nd) 1.0 x 1TB


• Graphics Controller
• Type Integrated
• Graphics Processor / Vendor Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 4.0



• Audio Output
• Type Sound card - Integrated
• Sound output mode 7.1 channel surround
• Audio output compliant standards High Definition Audio


• Power
• Device Type Power supply
• Power AC 120/230 V
• Power Provided 300.0 Watt

any advice or sugestions would be great

 

[Hockster]

What's your budget?

 

[Phxprovost]

I dont know about that mobo, but all the dell mobo's ive dealt with in the past are normally some whacked ass form factor that only fits into dell cases. Can you post the mobo model number so i can check into it?

 

[n-ster]

I'd sell your system locally and then buy yourself something completely new

 

[enaher]

If the power supply is a standard ATX form factor, replace it with something better a Corsair 550VX or better, if the mounting for the cooler is standard replace it for a Xiggy cooler, get 4 gigs a RAM, and a 5770, that dell won't oc a single hertz but a 2.4Ghz Q6600 is still quite capable and the Higher the res you play the more Gpu dependent the game gets so you'll be able to play anything with a descent GPU and more RAM.

Still if you could sell your current rig and save enough for a new one that could be a good choice, Im usually cheap and go the cheapest way

 

[xBruce88x]

i agree, only i'd add win7 to that so you can take advantage of dx10 and dx11. You may be able to use a program called setFSB to overclock your cpu, good luck finding the PLL of the mobo though. (this program works great for my acer aspire 3680)

oh, and i wouldn't worry much about the cooler, dell puts a pretty big cooling system on their CPUs

 

[Fourstaff]

Start with your power supply, I am sure that power supply needs to be upgraded first. 300w is just enough to run your rig, and more stress it might give up on its life. Look for something quality and about 500w. Check whether you have a free PCIe slot before buying any graphics card, I am not too sure dell would be generous enough to provide you with a PCIe. If you can sell your rig locally, do it and start again, it would be better that way. However, your processor is no slouch, so don't write it off just yet. and +1 to big ass Dell coolers, my parent's dell has a cooler with a 14 cm fan on it.

 

[ShiBDiB]

I'd sell your system locally and then buy yourself something completely new

this



dells are crap to begin with, and they make it nearly impossible to upgrade to anything remotely good

 

[Radical_Edward]

I'd sell it locally and start anew.

What's your budget anyways?