Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

HELP! PC upgrade help

Mar 28, 2017 5:24PM PDT

So i have a pc that i bought back in 2013 i think and lately i've wanting to play games but my fps is soo poor i have to run on really low settings. E.g. H1Z1

My specs are:
HP Pavillion 500-002a
Motherboard - Joshua-H61-uATX (Joshua)
Processor - Intel Core i5 3470
RAM - 8gb
Graphics Card - Radeon HD 8570
Sound/Audio - Integrated IDT 92HD73E Audio
Hard drive - 2tb
Power Supply - 300w

Im thinking that it must be the graphics card i need to upgrade. Im not too educated when it comes to pc's and would appreciate the help. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Upgrade
Mar 29, 2017 4:55AM PDT

Shop for a gtx 1050 video card.

- Collapse -
Alternative?
Mar 30, 2017 3:40AM PDT

Hey thanks for the response! Is there a cheaper alternative that'll be almost as good?

- Collapse -
Gpu
Mar 30, 2017 7:38AM PDT

Rx 460
Drop in price, drop in perf.

- Collapse -
Another question
Mar 31, 2017 2:24AM PDT

Sweet! Also how would i know if it would fit my pc or work in my pc

- Collapse -
Fit + work
Mar 31, 2017 7:37AM PDT

Fit, your mobo has the proper slot so it's just remove the old card and install the new card.

Look at the dimensions of the new card and then do a little measuring inside the case to make sure the card will fit.....length/width/height.

Work, follow the directions in the manual that comes with the card.

- Collapse -
Difference?
Apr 3, 2017 3:20AM PDT

Hey is there a difference between the gigabyte, msi, zotac, asus, etc versions of the 1050? Thanks for the help

- Collapse -
.
Apr 3, 2017 3:42AM PDT

Also does it matter if its a dual fan or single?

- Collapse -
You need to learn how to fish ......
Apr 3, 2017 4:52AM PDT
- Collapse -
Sorry
Apr 3, 2017 5:40AM PDT

Right my bad for all these questions haha! After some research ive decided to buy the gigabyte gtx 1050 with the dual fan. I just don't know how to check the dimensions of the space inside my case as i've never opened it before and it was not a custom pc so im not sure if it will fit! Sad Any advice on that? Thanks and sorry again for the hassle

- Collapse -
With the Big Box you have ?
Apr 3, 2017 5:52AM PDT

You could fit the Titanic in there LOL
What you should be thinking about is researching a good single rail psu....
I'll give you another clue on how to research this ....
In the Google search box I typed in "hp desktop power supply upgrade" and read
This article through the Grey area . From there you should be looking at Single Rail PSU's

- Collapse -
P.S
Apr 3, 2017 6:07AM PDT

You said that you have never had the case open ?
Than you had better be looking at buying some canned air and thermal paste too and clean the CPU's heatsink and reapply the new thermal paste .

For this you may Google
1. "how to use canned air on my computer"
and
2. " how to replace the thermal paste on my CPU".....
Some time you'll see a YouTube video that really helps out ....

- Collapse -
Cheers
Apr 3, 2017 6:13AM PDT

My brain honestly can't handle all this info aha (im a bit f****** slow) i think im just gonna ask some tech shop nearby or something. Appreciate all the help!

- Collapse -
Hey don't panic lol
Apr 3, 2017 6:15AM PDT

Do a little reading and it will all come together

- Collapse -
.
Apr 3, 2017 6:31AM PDT

Literally pieced everything together until I remembered that i need to check if the gpu i want will fit and now i gotta research so much more stuff ahhhhh this sure is a process

- Collapse -
Stick with it man
Apr 3, 2017 6:41AM PDT

We'll help you out .
I have built a few computers and learned how to do it here ,I'm on the other side of 61 .
If I can do this, so can you ....

- Collapse -
.
Apr 6, 2017 2:21AM PDT