What can I do to get my PC to play games?

[maddnotez]

Hello,

I was hoping someone can help with opinions and suggestions.

There is a game coming to PC that I want to play but my PC just is not going to cut it. The game is similar to Counterstrike: GO although no specs have been released yet.

I hear it will be a very basic game and not as in depth as most games.

To test my PC I went to Canirunthis.com and for Counterstike it said I needed a new graphics card and nothing else.

Sounds too good to be true. That is what I want to do (but a new card) but I fear it won't work or something else would go wrong and would be a waste of money.

Also if I can not upgrade mine, I am open to buying a used Laptop but it has to be cheap and I am unsure if that even exists. (a cheap Laptop that runs games)

Anyway I found the Q/A stuff commonly asked so I will fill out the information. I deleted a few questions that do not apply.

Also below that will be my PC specs.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

If I can upgrade my PC then to only play this one game and also to record Audio. I have it set up now for very small audio recording. (Will remove all audio programs if needed to play the game)

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Seriously cheap. Like $200 or less preffered (ideally I want to buy a $100 graphics card and call it a day.

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

All parts listed below

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?

Not sure, I am a noob.



Here are MY PC SPECS:

My computer:

Lenovo 3000 H Series
Processor
Intel Pentium dual-core E2220(2.40GHz)
Processor Main Features
64 bit Dual Core Processor
Cache Per Processor
1MB L2 Cache
Memory
3GB DDR2 800
Hard Drive
320GB SATAII
Optical Drive
DVD+/-RW
Graphics
Intel GMA 3100
Audio
Sound card - Integrated
CPU
CPU Type
Pentium dual-core
Installed Qty
1
CPU FSB
800MHz
CPU Speed
E2220 (2.40GHz)
L2 Cache Per CPU
1MB
CPU Socket Type
LGA 775
CPU Main Features
64 bit Dual Core Processor
Graphics
GPU/VGA Type
Intel GMA 3100
Graphics Interface
Integrated video
Memory
Memory Capacity
3GB DDR2
Memory Speed
DDR2 800
Maximum Memory Supported
4GB
Hard Drive
HDD
320GB
HDD Interface
SATA II

 

[lehtv]

There is a game coming to PC that I want to play but my PC just is not going to cut it.

Which game is that, and when is it coming out?

 

[maddnotez]

Which game is that, and when is it coming out?

It is called H-Hour World's Elite and will be on Steam Early Access late march. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE1pERlH2ls

Will be very basic and similar to Counterstrike but in Third Person. It is basically a modern remake of Socom 2 from Playstation Console.

I have an opportunity to test in the Beta in 2 weeks but my PC can't even run CS:GO.

Also that video is really old. That was made in UE3 and they have redone it in UE4 so I would anticipate something that looks a little better.

 

[sm625]

First of all, does your computer have a pci express x16 slot. And does the power supply have a 6 pin PCIe connector for a video card? If so, then buy a video card like an R7 260 (or 250).

 

[maddnotez]

First of all, does your computer have a pci express x16 slot. And does the power supply have a 6 pin PCIe connector for a video card? If so, then buy a video card like an R7 260.

Thanks for the help and to answer I am unsure, do you know how I coudl check?

I do not know anything at all about computers. I do know that I had to buy some Firewire TI Chipset a while ago in order to use my audio interface and I believe I had to put it in a PCI slot. So I think it has a free PCI slot but I have no idea about x16.

I also do not know what kind of power supply it has. I copied all of the specs that I could find.

 

[lehtv]

First of all, does your computer have a pci express x16 slot. And does the power supply have a 6 pin PCIe connector for a video card? If so, then buy a video card like an R7 260 (or 250).

It should have a PCIe slot, according to the Lenovo 3000 H series replacement guide (where a PCIe x16 slot is marked in one of the diagrams). I was unable to find the full official specs...

maddnotez, can you open up your PC's side panel (turn it off first) and check the label on the power supply, tell us what it says about the make, model and/or wattage and other specs. Also if you post a picture of the motherboard, it'd be easy to tell if there's enough space for a graphics card in there.

Also, Pentium E2220 is an LGA775 CPU which means it might be possibel to upgrade to a used Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad. Doing so would avoid or at least reduce limiting the new graphics card.. but first, we must see if the power supply can even handle that

 

[maddnotez]

It should have a PCIe slot, according to the Lenovo 3000 H series replacement guide (where a PCIe x16 slot is marked in one of the diagrams). I was unable to find the full official specs...

maddnotez, can you open up your PC's side panel (turn it off first) and check the label on the power supply, tell us what it says about the make, model and/or wattage and other specs. Also if you post a picture of the motherboard, it'd be easy to tell if there's enough space for a graphics card in there.

Also, Pentium E2220 is an LGA775 CPU which means it might be possibel to upgrade to a used Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad. Doing so would avoid or at least reduce limiting the new graphics card.. but first, we must see if the power supply can even handle that

Ok. I will get a picture and check. I will need about 2 hours because I am at work right now.

I appreciate your guys's help thanks. Will post back soon.

 

[maddnotez]

Ok well I took a couple of pictures but do not see a way to upload them here.

As far as the motherboard. I think it has room for the graphics card. There are a couple of more slots similar to the one ininstalled the Firewire card but I can email a picture to confirm.

The Power supply has a lot of info and I'm not sure what is accurate. Really wish I could upload pics here.

What I can see is it states 280w Max power but it also says 5 volts and 3.3 volts = 135w and that 12v= 265W.

 

[lehtv]

upload to a hosting site such as imgur.com, then link here either as a direct link or as an embedded image using these buttons:

What I can see is it states 280w Max power but it also says 5 volts and 3.3 volts = 135w and that 12v= 265W.

It seems powerful enough that it should handle a GTX 750. It takes under 75W, all of it through the PCIe slot (no power cables needed). But I'm worried the CPU is way too slow for a GTX 750, it won't allow it to perform 100%.

I'm not the best guy to ask about LGA775 processors... someone else will hopefully chime in and tell you if there's a used CPU you could buy that would be a substantial enough upgrade but not too power hungry. My hunch is a Core 2 Quad Q6600 which sells for about $20 on ebay and consumes about 50W more than what you have... but that might be too much for the power supply

 

[maddnotez]

upload to a hosting site such as imgur.com, then link here either as a direct link or as an embedded image using these buttons:

It seems powerful enough that it should handle a GTX 750. It takes under 75W, all of it through the PCIe slot (no power cables needed). But I'm worried the CPU is way too slow for a GTX 750, it won't allow it to perform 100%.

I'm not the best guy to ask about LGA775 processors... someone else will hopefully chime in and tell you if there's a used CPU you could buy that would be a substantial enough upgrade but not too power hungry. My hunch is a Core 2 Quad Q6600 which sells for about $20 on ebay and consumes about 50W more than what you have... but that might be too much for the power supply

Ok thanks and here are the pictures:

 

[Burpo]

No 6 prong PCI-e plug on that power supply, but it's ample juice & you can buy the GTX 750 at Walmart for $99 and be set.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487026&cm_re=gtx_750-_-14-487-026-_-Product

 

[maddnotez]

No 6 prong PCI-e plug on that power supply, but it's ample juice & you can buy the GTX 750 at Walmart for $99 and be set.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-026-_-Product

Thanks for the reply. I had a few guys a while back say the same thing on another forum but then I also had a few guys tell me no way and not to do that because x, y and z.

I just wanted other opinions. I don't need anything fancy I just want to be able to play this game for now as cheaply as possible. As long as that card will work and is compatable with everything else then I don't care about great quality FPS and all that jazz.

Just want to be able to play without latency. That was the problem I had with my PC as is now. I DL some free Ghost Recon game. It worked but there was about a 1 second Lag with everything I did.