Lots of Upgrades

Thrawn · 09-26-2008, 11:48 AM

Not exactly building a new computer, but I'm replacing so much stuff that I might as well be.

I'm pretty new to upgrading (I've installed some RAM and a new sound card, that's about it), so I could really use some help on what stuff will work with my computer ( Gateway 710x ) and what won't.

Parts I need recommendations/help with:

First off, a new PSU. I'm told that my 300w is insufficient for a higher end graphics card/Blue-ray support. I've looked at a couple ( Corsair 750w comes to mind), but I don't know how to tell if it has all the proper cords/connectors that I need to support my PCI/AGP slots, motherboard, CPU, etc...

Next on the line, a new graphics card. Linderman suggested to me the 7600GS AGP (yeah, it has to be AGP, my computer doesn't have PCI-E, according to you guys), and I don't really see anything wrong with it.

And to top it all off, a new DVD/CD-R/BR-D drive. I would like something that can both read and write CD's/DVD's, and read blu-ray. Don't really have any contenders at this point.

That's about it. PLEASE inform me if any of this stuff won't work with my computer, I'd hate to pay $150 for something then not be able to use it. Thanks :)

**manic** · 09-26-2008, 02:37 PM

Linderman is right on the video card, I think that is the fastest video
card you can get for agp. Power supply he is right also, my only
concern is if the power supply is proprietary, meaning you have to
use gateways psu, I dont think with that gateway you have to. Maybe
someone else will chime in with that answer. Another area where you
will get a big boost is with your ram, the board will do 800mhz fsb,
dual mode. You may consider getting a matched pair of ddr 4000 ram,
that should get you the 800mhz dual mode, that will be a big hit
for performance...imo..ddr3200 should also work, but I like to have
a little overhead...

akedm · 09-26-2008, 04:17 PM

ditto on whats been said

Thrawn · 09-26-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Linderman is right on the video card, I think that is the fastest video
card you can get for agp. Power supply he is right also, my only
concern is if the power supply is proprietary, meaning you have to
use gateways psu, I dont think with that gateway you have to. Maybe
someone else will chime in with that answer. Another area where you
will get a big boost is with your ram, the board will do 800mhz fsb,
dual mode. You may consider getting a matched pair of ddr 4000 ram,
that should get you the 800mhz dual mode, that will be a big hit
for performance...imo..ddr3200 should also work, but I like to have
a little overhead...

Yup, as I said, already upgraded RAM (added another 2gb [pretty sure they were matched, got them in a lil 2fer from crucial] to the standard 1gb). 800MHz Dual mode? What's that?

I'll check on the proprietary PSU thing.

Great thing is, when this computer's CPU finally just isn't enough, I can use all this stuff I'm buying to build a new computer, and it won't cost near as much :D

**manic** · 09-27-2008, 06:05 AM

When in dual mode, you can only use 2 sticks of ram matched, or 4
sticks of ram matched. With 4 its harder to acheive, getting all the
sticks of ram to work together. You cant run in dual mode with 3,
sticks of ram. There may be population rules regarding where to place
the sticks. Read your manual..

09-26-2008, 11:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
Thrawn Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 40 OS: Windows XP SP2	Lots of Upgrades Not exactly building a new computer, but I'm replacing so much stuff that I might as well be. I'm pretty new to upgrading (I've installed some RAM and a new sound card, that's about it), so I could really use some help on what stuff will work with my computer ( Gateway 710x ) and what won't. Parts I need recommendations/help with: First off, a new PSU. I'm told that my 300w is insufficient for a higher end graphics card/Blue-ray support. I've looked at a couple ( Corsair 750w comes to mind), but I don't know how to tell if it has all the proper cords/connectors that I need to support my PCI/AGP slots, motherboard, CPU, etc... Next on the line, a new graphics card. Linderman suggested to me the 7600GS AGP (yeah, it has to be AGP, my computer doesn't have PCI-E, according to you guys), and I don't really see anything wrong with it. And to top it all off, a new DVD/CD-R/BR-D drive. I would like something that can both read and write CD's/DVD's, and read blu-ray. Don't really have any contenders at this point. That's about it. PLEASE inform me if any of this stuff won't work with my computer, I'd hate to pay $150 for something then not be able to use it. Thanks :)

09-26-2008, 02:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,246 OS: xp	Re: Lots of Upgrades Linderman is right on the video card, I think that is the fastest video card you can get for agp. Power supply he is right also, my only concern is if the power supply is proprietary, meaning you have to use gateways psu, I dont think with that gateway you have to. Maybe someone else will chime in with that answer. Another area where you will get a big boost is with your ram, the board will do 800mhz fsb, dual mode. You may consider getting a matched pair of ddr 4000 ram, that should get you the 800mhz dual mode, that will be a big hit for performance...imo..ddr3200 should also work, but I like to have a little overhead... __________________

09-26-2008, 04:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
akedm Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Anchorage, Alaska, USA Posts: 336 OS: Win XP Media Center SP2	Re: Lots of Upgrades ditto on whats been said

09-27-2008, 06:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,246 OS: xp	Re: Lots of Upgrades When in dual mode, you can only use 2 sticks of ram matched, or 4 sticks of ram matched. With 4 its harder to acheive, getting all the sticks of ram to work together. You cant run in dual mode with 3, sticks of ram. There may be population rules regarding where to place the sticks. Read your manual.. __________________