Upgrading Computer, asking for advice on what to purchase for upgrade!

[bgfan]

Well, first off I should let you know that my computer is a Desktop Asus Essentio CM5571. Now, I've had this thing for nearly a year now, and am pretty disappointed with it's performance, so I have decided to upgrade it to semi-modern day standards at a budget of about $350. These are the specs for the computer according to Newegg (and if I'm not mistaken their correct) which is where i intend to purchase my parts:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220043&cm_re=cm5571-_-83-220-043-_-Product

Now as for the parts I have chosen, The most important upgrade for me personally is a graphics card, I would like to spend somewhere between $100-$200 on this.

However with the new Graphics card my computer will also require a new processor to support it, I was thinking something along these lines: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115056&cm_re=e7500-_-19-115-056-_-Product

Last but not least, I'm going to need a new power supply to support the upgrades, I was thinking this would be perfect for that role: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104953&cm_re=power_supply_400w-_-17-104-953-_-Product

As I have never before performed an upgrade, and have a very limited knowledge of computer hardware, I am hoping for recommendations, feedback, and most importantly for people to tell me if a part I've chosen isn't going to run on my machine. Thank you for your time, any comments will be appreciated as they will take me one step closer to building a better machine.

Sincerely,
Bgfan

This is just for me to organize what I'm looking at

隐藏

Graphics Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115056&cm_re=e7500-_-19-115-056-_-Product

Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035

Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835426011

 

[Sushiman70]

Get a SandyBridge.

 

[Xlacier]

I think the processor is plenty for gaming, maybe not for games that eat quad cores for breakfast.


Power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035
500 Watts, 80+ bronze certified, 1 6-pin & 1 6-pin+2 PCI-e power connectors, about $50.


Graphics card:
a 5850 for around $210 or a 5870 for around $270.


Either way you should also get an intake or exhaust fan or both I'm not sure what size fans you need.

 

[Urlik]

for a PSU, get a Hiper Type R

modular design so you don't have a case full of unnecessary wires, 580W and a well ventilated case.

 

[bgfan]

I see, but $210 might be a bit overstretching my budget for the graphics card, because to be honest $200 is a bit of a stretch. The power supply looks good, but it's a special deal so I'm worried that the deal may be over before I get around to upgrading my pc sometime next month. And as for fans... I'm not sure that I'd be able to afford one w/o going over my $350 budget, let alone be able to get the right size/install it if it came down to it.

 

[Xlacier]

The GeForce GTX 460 768MB or 1GB is quite good for sub $200.  The 768MB version has a 192-bit memory interface and the 1GB version has a 256-bit memory interface.

 

[bgfan]

Could I possibly get a link?

 

[Xlacier]

Actually the GTX 460 1GB is looking a bit overpiced; scratch that.


the GTX 460 768MB(ASUS) is looking reasonable for about $151.  There also one with a lifetime warranty(SPARKLE) for about $160.


The HD 6850 seems to offer better performance than the GTX 460 1GB, for cheaper prices, currently.  $175 cheapest(SAPPHIRE); around $190 with lifetime warranty(XFX)


Edit:
As for fans; from what I can gather from pictures from a review; the case seems to be compatible with 80mm fans and 70 mm fans--kind of hard to tell from pictures.  This fan(GELID) looks kind of cool and it plugs into a free 3-pin header on the motherboard.

 

[bgfan]

Would it be absolutely required for me to get a fan?

EDIT:

I'm also curious just how to go about figuring out which parts are compatible with a certain computer for future reference?

 

[Tibertus]

I'd get two fans, one for intake and one for exhaust. If you don't have an exhaust then having just one fan isn't going to do you much good. Also, if you're upgrading your CPU, you may want to invest an extra 30-50 bucks on a new heat sink. The one that comes with your computer will probably be too **** for an upgrade. I got an Arctic Cooling heat sink which has kept my CPU a good 10 C cooler than with the original heat sink I got which was just a little vented piece of metal with a fan attached.

 

[mr.master]

Would it be absolutely required for me to get a fan?

EDIT:

I'm also curious just how to go about figuring out which parts are compatible with a certain computer for future reference?

Well, you need to know what motherboard you have. When you know what is, check from example, google what processor types it supports.

 

[bgfan]

I see, you may think I'm an idiot for asking... but how do I figure out what motherboard I have?

 

[Taimat396]

I picked up my 1GB 460 for around £160 in september, and they released a new line since then so it should be cheaper.

The 768mb one isn't very good, but the 1GB Sonic 460 is amazing.

 

[mr.master]

I see, you may think I'm an idiot for asking... but how do I figure out what motherboard I have?

Download a program called speccy. Pretty much tells everything of Your computer

 

[Xlacier]

I see, you may think I'm an idiot for asking... but how do I figure out what motherboard I have?

OEMs are a bit harder to figure out.  If it isn't printed in any of the documentation, you can check the motherboard itself.  I believe yours is printed between the PCE-e X16 slot and a PCI slot.  Beyond that good luck searching for it in google or the manufacturers website.  The unit in the review I saw show it was a ASUS P5QL-M EPU.  A google search didn't bring up any documentation for me; just a bunch of confused people.


Back to additional fans for a moment; a reviewer that left feedback over at Newegg stated he had to add an additional fan to keep the temperatures down after installing a 9600 GT.

 

[Taimat396]

Odd, I only have the two case fans and my 460 runs cool as hell, as did my old 9800.

 

[Xlacier]

OP's computer has no case fans; only the power supply to move air.

 

[Taimat396]

Probably should have read, but only the power supply is never good :O

Fans are cheaper than wires anyway.

 

[bgfan]

Alright, so then I'll have to add a fan to my list of parts for sure... and I'll give this speccy program a look later on.

 

[mor2]

i'll suggest first checking your case and see if you have free space for those fans and knowing the type of motherboard might be nice as well.