Theoretical Computer Upgrade (For a Friend)

[soliloquychryseis]

I am posting this on behalf of my friend, who was having issues posting this herself.

Hello, my friend is making me post this. So.. I have a 10 year old computer. It might as well literally be a potato. Want to know if its a good idea to upgrade, what parts I could upgrade.. and if it''s even possible to upgrade it. Here are the computer specs. If I'm missing anything, please let me know, I've never attempted this before.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 6/17/2015, 14:17:59
       Machine name: ZAFEIRI-PC
   Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Basic (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.150312-1556)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
       System Model: Inspiron 530
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E8300  @ 2.83GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.8GHz
             Memory: 3326MB RAM
          Page File: 1667MB used, 5212MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 7.00.6002.18107 32bit Unicode

Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series
     Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
        Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9598)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9598&SUBSYS_22421028&REV_00
   Display Memory: 1656 MB
 Dedicated Memory: 250 MB
    Shared Memory: 1406 MB
     Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: HP S2031 Series Wide LCD Monitor
      Driver Name: aticfx32.dll,aticfx32.dll,atiumdag.dll,atidxx32.dll,atiumdva.cap
   Driver Version: 8.17.0010.1129 (English)
      DDI Version: 10.1
   BGRA Supported: Yes
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 4/30/2013 00:19:50, 929736 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: No
  WHQL Date Stamp: None
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D6D8-11CF-F177-4802BEC2C535}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x9598
        SubSys ID: 0x22421028
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Revision ID: 0x0000


-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_1028020D&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5555 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 1/24/2008 12:06:40, 2054872 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

As the title says, this is theoretical. I personally would prefer something not super expensive, so I'd say 1250 is the absolute MAX for how expensive. The less expensive the better.

thanks!

[Deleted]

• Budget
• Resolution
• Games / Settings Desired
• Any other intensive software or special things you do (Frequent video encoding, 3D modeling, etc)
• Country
• Parts that can be reused
• Do you need an OS?
• Do you need peripherals (e.g. monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc)?

[soliloquychryseis]

I'm going to have her reply in a moment.

[OnyxOryx]

• Budget - $1250 max I guess
• Resolution - 1600x900
• Games / Settings Desired - Decent setting preferred. Doesnt have to be max but I would like to have things look pretty for once
• Any other intensive software or special things you do (Frequent video encoding, 3D modeling, etc) - Not really. Mostly just Gaming, Skype and browsing
• Country - USA
• Parts that can be reused - Not really sure. Came here to see if even any could be reused. Monitor, Speakers, Keyboard and Mouse are fine and cand be reused.
• Do you need an OS? - I have 32bit Vista. I dont mind Vista but wouldn't say no to Win 7
• Do you need peripherals (e.g. monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc)? - Nope

[Lathais]

With that budget, I would go for this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! PURE ROCK 87.0 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97 PRO3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($80.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($319.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($54.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1036.79
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-17 17:33 EDT-0400

and add a 1080p monitor. I'll let someone else recommend the monitor though.

[soliloquychryseis]

Much appreciate the help. If someone does have a 1080 monitor to suggest (cheaper the better), would appreciate it

[Deleted]

Changed to a better motherboard (better sound chip, higher quality), included monitor suggestion, otherwise it should be the same:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! PURE ROCK 87.0 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($96.00 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($48.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($319.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Core 2500 ATX Mid Tower Case ($46.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: ViewSonic VX2370Smh-LED 23.0" Monitor ($144.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1188.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-17 18:02 EDT-0400

There is a bit of rebate on this stuff so there some slightly cheaper options if you don't wanna rely on those or you have to push it further down.

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 970 4GB $300 no rebate, yes it's mini form factor but the reviews look good and performance is still great.

SeaSonic S12II 520W $59 no rebate, it's not modular.

[Deleted]

a little different options than the above at case, ram (wasn't sure than corsair would fit) and monitor.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! PURE ROCK 87.0 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.90 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-G1.SNIPER Z97 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($101.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Crucial BX100 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($319.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer H236HLbid 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($160.73 @ B&H)
Total: $1249.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-17 18:45 EDT-0400

[soliloquychryseis]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I knew I came to the right place

[DeltrusDisc]

I have nothing to change from the suggested builds above, but rather, say...

Holy cow she's going to have a lovely improvement in ALL gaming with this upgrade!

I remember going from a similar setup in 2011...

Intel Dual core E5200@2.5GHz, 6GB RAM, and 9800 GT to a new setup...

Intel i5-2500K@4.4GHz, 16GB RAM, and GTX 560 Ti, PLUS an SSD, it's truly NIGHT AND DAY difference and it's AMAZING.

Plus, I was also coming from a Vista setup! Granted twice as much RAM, but damn, this is going to be quite the jump for her! Relish it... in fact, maybe film her first getting to use/game with the computer!