Help on customizing PC

Hello! My older brother has recently went to college and I have gotten his old desktop. I decided that instead of buying a whole new computer, I could buy newer things to make it be able to run a large variety of games at top performance and speed such as Skyrim, TF2, Battlefield 3, and a bunch more. I cannot purchase anything online, so I think maybe Fry's or Best Buy might have the things. I am not sure what I should get for the computer. The current specs are:

Old Compaq Presario 061 model from 2005

CPU: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz

RAM: 512 MB

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

Video Card: ATI Radeon Xpress Series (0x5A61)

and if I left anything out, please tell me. Thanks for the help

I honestly wouldn't bother, the games you mentioned will require much better specs. Better video card, more RAM, new processor. Probably a better power supply. The OS would need to be upgraded as Windows XP can't detect over 3 GB of RAM.

In the end, it's not worth it. You're better off building a new PC.

I hate to say it, but I have to agree. What parts could go in your machine currently are too old to make a difference. ..and would be a challenge to even find them. I just don't think it worth the bother.

It would be cheaper and better to look into a new system or parts to build one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bigMoose_

I honestly wouldn't bother, the games you mentioned will require much better specs. Better video card, more RAM, new processor. Probably a better power supply. The OS would need to be upgraded as Windows XP can't detect over 3 GB of RAM.

In the end, it's not worth it. You're better off building a new PC.

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Some what true. You can always upgrade the current desktop, although like you said it'll require replacing mostly everything. Most he can do with it now is backup all the files on it, keep the case, and have a copy of the OS in case he ever wants to switch back to it.

While it's true you can always upgrade, I don't see how an old 2005 standard desktop could be modified to meet the conditions of the games he mentioned. I don't even know if the motherboard would support the necessary upgrades.

that quite a shame :( Thanks anyways guys. Know any good gaming desktops that aren't too expensive?

Right here.

While Alienware is known for being insanely pricey, this model is standard and affordable. You can upgrade to a better model for additional cost of course. But the standard $699.00 model can run the games you wish to play at high to max settings.