Upgrading Help:?

[BashirSabeel]

Hi all, I have recently upgraded my HP a6305.uk, the basic specs before was 2GB RAM and onboard graphics card that was crap... I have upgraded this to 4GB RAM and ATI Radeon HD 1GB 4650. I am happy with this setup but am looking to upgrade my AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Dual Core Processor (2.60GHz), I have seen an AMD Phenom X4 Quad Core 9850 2.50GHz Black Edition (Socket AM2 same as my motherboard) (URL: AMD Phenom X4 Quad Core 9850 2.50GHz Black Edition (Socket AM2) - OEM [HD985ZXAJ4BGH] Processors AMD Athlon X2/X4), I will also need a new PSU as my current one us a 300W standard that came with my computer, my friend has suggested a CiT 650UB Black Edition 650W PSU (URL: Play.com (UK) : CiT 650UB Black Edition / 650W / PSU / Power Supply Unit : Computing - Free Delivery) he has one of these PSU's and says they are good but it seems a little "cheap" at £29.99 and I need some advice on the two components I have chosen... firstly are they worth the price and is there any better ones on the market? Thanks for the help in advance

 

[Tews]

For what you are planning, go with a quality PSU...

 

[karlsnooks]

Bashir,
Remember the old adage: If it works, don't fix it.

 

[pebbly]

For what you are planning, go with a quality PSU...

+1 here is a link to an online psu calculator, Thermaltake Power Supply Calculator just input all your devices seee the recommendation and add 150-200watts for future upgrading

 

[stormy13]

As the others have said, a good quality PSU is a must. Personally I wouldn't touch that one with a ten foot pole.

As for a CPU upgrade, don't count on it. The specs for the motherboard in your HP,

Motherboard Specifications, MCP61PM-HM (Nettle2) HP Pavilion a6305.uk Desktop PC - HP technical support (United Kingdom - English)

CPU/Processor

• Socket: AM2Supports the following processors:
  • Athlon 64 X2 with Dual Core technology up to 5600+ (up to 89 watt) Athlon 64 less than 4000+ Sempron less than 3800+

First that board only supports up to 89W TDP processors and the one you linked to is a 125W TDP one,

AMD Processors for Desktops: AMD Phenom?, AMD Athlon? FX, AMD Athlon? X2 Dual-Core, AMD Athlon?, and AMD Sempron? Processor

Next, even if it did support up to the 125W TDP CPU's unless it supported it from the get-go HP would have to release a bios update to support them. HP being HP they don't like to do that sort of thing, they look at it as you want to upgrade the CPU they would rather sell you a new computer.

Unfortunately if you're looking to upgrade, you're looking at more than just a CPU and PSU change.

 

[bobkn]

Stormy13 beat me to that one (125W TDP) by a few seconds.

As regards the PSU, I see that it has no PCI-E auxiliary power connectors. That makes me suspicious of a "650W" supply. On the other hand, with a 4650, you don't need one.

 

[karlsnooks]

John,
His system specs indicate 64 bit.

 

[BashirSabeel]

Oh...Didnt know about CPU board support I wanted to upgrade because I use my computer for gaming and sometime experience laggying (single player games) thought upgrading the CPU would improve the preformance of games. Thanks for the information and Ill probably keep my current machine for a while and custom build one when I have the funds