I know the thread title sounds like a joke with the words HP Slimline and Modify in it but lets try to be serious here. I'm currently using a HP Slimline s5257c as my main computer. I don't have the spare cash to build a new good computer from the ground up so this is what I have to use. I would like it to be able to play some games at a "decent" setting. So I'm looking for suggestions on low profile video cards and possibly a bigger PSU to use since I have one sitting in storage. Any suggestions pc modders?
Modifying Hp Slimline
- Thread starter Spanky
- Start date
You're not really able to do a whole lot with low profile cards and slim designs.
The best video card you can really do,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102882
Radeon 5450. The *450 series is about as high as you can go. There are more powerful low profile cards after the *450 series, but the price jumps from $20-$30 to about $150 with not a huge diff in performance.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121439
Is the 6450, which is slightly newer, but you won't notice much, if any difference between the two. And the 6450 will be $10-$15 more.
Get the 5450. It's cheap and will let you play games on low-mid. (considering your PC is old, and your CPU was budget when you bought it)
Also, optimize your PC. Ideally, reinstall Windows if you want the best gaming performance. Adding a video card to a machine bogged down with years of crap isn't going to do much for you.
You won't need a new power supply.
Keep in mind this is pretty much the best thing you can do to extend the life of this machine, but it's still a cheap and temporary fix. You can probably get another year or two of light gaming with this solution.
The best video card you can really do,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102882
Radeon 5450. The *450 series is about as high as you can go. There are more powerful low profile cards after the *450 series, but the price jumps from $20-$30 to about $150 with not a huge diff in performance.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121439
Is the 6450, which is slightly newer, but you won't notice much, if any difference between the two. And the 6450 will be $10-$15 more.
Get the 5450. It's cheap and will let you play games on low-mid. (considering your PC is old, and your CPU was budget when you bought it)
Also, optimize your PC. Ideally, reinstall Windows if you want the best gaming performance. Adding a video card to a machine bogged down with years of crap isn't going to do much for you.
You won't need a new power supply.
Keep in mind this is pretty much the best thing you can do to extend the life of this machine, but it's still a cheap and temporary fix. You can probably get another year or two of light gaming with this solution.
Thanks for the tips. Yeah I'm not looking to get big performance gains out of this comp, I just need a temp fix till I can pool up enough money for a PC build. Just need a temp fix to play some games every once and a while. Any suggestions on wireless network adapters as well? More so looking for a pci one because USB network adapters have been complete garbage in my experience.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166022
$8, Rosewill adaptor. I use them all day, they are fantastic and my clients love them. The external antenna will get you a much better signal (no matter what anyone says, external 2 DBI antenna = always better signal), and if you're really bad on the connection you can replace the 2 DBI antenna with a higher gain one.
USB adaptors work perfectly fine BTW
And anyways I don't know w/o looking at it what internal ports your PC has considering the video card may block the PCI-Express 1x or at least be too close to the 16x video card slot. You don't want too much internal heat.
If you want/need a N adaptor,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166055
Is really good ($15), but like the above 2, they take up multiple USB ports due to size.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166056
Is even better and for some reason the same price right now. Note since it has a 5 DBI antenna you can't use it effectively if it's right next to the wireless router.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166052
Is a better alt if it's right next to the wireless router.
$8, Rosewill adaptor. I use them all day, they are fantastic and my clients love them. The external antenna will get you a much better signal (no matter what anyone says, external 2 DBI antenna = always better signal), and if you're really bad on the connection you can replace the 2 DBI antenna with a higher gain one.
USB adaptors work perfectly fine BTW
And anyways I don't know w/o looking at it what internal ports your PC has considering the video card may block the PCI-Express 1x or at least be too close to the 16x video card slot. You don't want too much internal heat.
If you want/need a N adaptor,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166055
Is really good ($15), but like the above 2, they take up multiple USB ports due to size.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166056
Is even better and for some reason the same price right now. Note since it has a 5 DBI antenna you can't use it effectively if it's right next to the wireless router.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166052
Is a better alt if it's right next to the wireless router.
bread's done