Let's get WAAKOW some beef!

[ZenPhire]

I would like to fix up my current computer. I just don't know how easy/cheap that would be. I built my own computer back in 2001 when I just got out of high school and I haven't had a time in my life sense that afforded me the money to make another. My current computer is an Acer with a small form factor case. I got it for $300 at the time and slapped a small form factor graphics card into it. I've opened it and it is a real bitch to work with. My only hope I guess would be to buy a new case and put everything into it then get a better graphics card and processor.
My model is an Acer Aspire X1300. http://support.acer.com/acerpanam/desktop/2009/acer/aspire/AspireX1300/AspireX1300sp2.shtml
It has an AMD Athlon™ X2 dual-core processor
3 GB of DDR2 667/800 MHz SDRAM
and a slot for a card PCI Express® 2.0 x16 graphics card support

So I see my options being a new processor - AMD Phenom™ X4 quad-core processor
Adding a new 2BG RAM to make it 4GB
and a new Graphics Card to add, I have no clue on this one sense I stopped paying attention to graphics cards a while ago.

Your insight on this would be greatly appreciated Kauai.

[ZenPhire]

From what it sounds like at the moment. All you need is a new power supply and a better graphics card! If you need a new case to fit those upgrades, then a case too. I need the dimensions of your case. What is your budget?

Also download and run a program to grab all your system specs and post the report here (Everest home, Belarc Advisor, or SIW).

Best value would be to spend around $200.

For graphics cards your steps will be (quality from highest and descending):
GTX 560 ~$180 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121446
HD 6850 ~$150 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150573
HD 6750 ~$100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150541
HD 5670 ~$70   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150535

(Hard to say where the sweet spot is, but I think the 6850 is a great buy, you can find it for as low as $130 I bet.)

These PSUs have good reviews. I trust Antec more than most, and I've had good experience with Rosewill.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815007
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817154026

And here's a few cheap cases:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233067
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815004

And here's a case + PSU that has decent reviews.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811148030

I haven't looked into all this yet, but this can get you started. Just read the reviews and I will too if I have time.


This combo might work:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811148030
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150573
Only just over $200, mail in rebate of $30, and a free copy of Dirt3 (awesome racing game). Good deal I think. But I'll take a closer look once I see your complete specs. =)

[WAAKOW]

--------[ Summary ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Computer:
      Operating System                                  Windows 7 Home Premium Home Edition
      OS Service Pack                                   Service Pack 1
      DirectX                                           4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
      Computer Name                                     WAAKOW
      User Name                                         P&C

    Motherboard:
      CPU Type                                          Unknown, 2400 MHz
      Motherboard Name                                  Unknown
      Motherboard Chipset                               Unknown
      System Memory                                     3072 MB
      BIOS Type                                         Award (04/01/09)

    Display:
      Video Adapter                                     NVIDIA GeForce 210
      Video Adapter                                     NVIDIA GeForce 210
      Monitor                                           Generic PnP Monitor [NoDB]  (LFS0W0104301)

    Multimedia:
      Audio Adapter                                     High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]
      Audio Adapter                                     High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]

    Storage:
      IDE Controller                                    NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA Controller
      IDE Controller                                    Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
      SCSI/RAID Controller                              ALZ14YEH IDE Controller
      SCSI/RAID Controller                              MagicISO SCSI Host Controller
      Disk Drive                                        FUJITSU MHY2250BH SCSI Disk Device  (232 GB)
      Disk Drive                                        Hitachi HDT721032SLA SCSI Disk Device  (298 GB)
      Disk Drive                                        Multiple Flash Reader USB Device
      Disk Drive                                        Generic- Compact Flash USB Device
      Optical Drive                                     ATAPI DVD A  DH16A6S SCSI CdRom Device
      Optical Drive                                     DMD V4XQBW1MVOX SCSI CdRom Device
      Optical Drive                                     DMD V4XQBW1MVOX SCSI CdRom Device
      Optical Drive                                     DTSOFT Virtual CdRom Device
      Optical Drive                                     DTSOFT Virtual CdRom Device
      Optical Drive                                     MagicISO Virtual DVD-ROM0000
      SMART Hard Disks Status                           Unknown

    Partitions:
      C: (NTFS)                                         145452 MB (21664 MB free)
      F: (NTFS)                                         145453 MB (12541 MB free)
      J: (NTFS)                                         188987 MB (41672 MB free)
      K: (NTFS)                                         12307 MB (1862 MB free)
      Total Size                                        480.7 GB (75.9 GB free)

    Input:
      Keyboard                                          HID Keyboard Device
      Keyboard                                          HID Keyboard Device
      Mouse                                             HID-compliant mouse
      Mouse                                             HID-compliant mouse

    Network:
      Network Adapter                                   NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet  (192.168.0.10)

    Peripherals:
      Printer                                           Fax
      Printer                                           hp psc 1200 series
      Printer                                           Microsoft XPS Document Writer
      USB1 Controller                                   Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
      USB1 Controller                                   Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
      USB2 Controller                                   Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
      USB2 Controller                                   Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
      USB Device                                        Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000
      USB Device                                        Office Keyboard1
      USB Device                                        Office Keyboard1
      USB Device                                        USB Audio Device
      USB Device                                        USB Composite Device
      USB Device                                        USB Composite Device
      USB Device                                        USB Composite Device
      USB Device                                        USB Composite Device
      USB Device                                        USB Input Device
      USB Device                                        USB Input Device
      USB Device                                        USB Input Device
      USB Device                                        USB Mass Storage Device

    Problems & Suggestions:
      Problem                                           Disk free space is only 9% on drive F:.



--------[ Debug - Unknown ]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HDD             FUJITSU MHY2250BH SCSI Disk Device
    HDD             Hitachi HDT721032SLA SCSI Disk Device
    Monitor         ACR00A0: Generic PnP Monitor [NoDB]
    Motherboard     04/01/2009-NF-MCP78-8A61O001C-00
    Motherboard     DMIMOBO: Acer WMCP78M
    Motherboard     DMISYS: Acer Aspire X1300
    Motherboard     R01-B3  04/01/2009
    PCI/AGP         1022-1200: PCI standard host CPU bridge [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         1022-1201: PCI standard host CPU bridge [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         1022-1202: PCI standard host CPU bridge [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         1022-1203: PCI standard host CPU bridge [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         1022-1204: PCI standard host CPU bridge [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0568: PCI standard RAM Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0751: PCI standard RAM Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0752: NVIDIA nForce PCI System Management [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0753: NVIDIA nForce System Management Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0754: PCI standard RAM Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0759: Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-075A: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-075B: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-075C: PCI standard ISA bridge [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0760: NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0774: High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0778: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-077A: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-077B: Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-077C: Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-077D: Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-077E: Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0A23: NVIDIA GeForce 210 [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0AD4: NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         10DE-0BE2: High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]
    PCI/AGP         1106-3403: VIA 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller [NoDB]

[WAAKOW]

Thanks for the links Kauai. I think I'll probably end up going with the cheapest of the options you showed me sense I don't want to waste too much money on this computer. Just need to patch it together enough for it to work. I'll probably use an old computer case I have laying around too.

I think I'm going with these 2 links you showed me

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817154026
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150535

giving me a grand total of $112.98 with tax.

Not bad, not bad at all. This option is cheaper then I thought it would be and the one I will be most satisfied with sense I can stay with the PC.

Thanks a lot for your help Kauai.

[ZenPhire]

Keep in mind that its seriously worth it to payt the extra for the 6850. It performs more than twice what the 5670 can do. The 5670 will play bf3 but you will have to lower the settings. The bf3 recommended hardware is a 6850 or better.