Need help with upgrading my PC!

[Guitarman]

Hi guys wondered if you could help me as I'm kind of stuck on what to do. Basically my pc is a very low end basic machine meant for just general use but I use it for gaming and in my home recording studio. I plan on upgrading the RAM but know for a fact this wont do anything amazing so I'm looking at customizing my pc. Problem is although I'd like to think myself as 'good' when the computers turned on I have no idea whats going on inside. I have of course done my research but still am unsure what to do first... I'll post my specs below and then if I get replies I will post links to what I was thinking of getting, any help will be appreciated because I'm really stuck, Thanks in advance
Jack

PC specs:
OS Name Microsoft Windows 8 Version 6.2.9200 Build 9200
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
System Model CQ2920EA
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU C3T58EA#ABU
Processor AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics, 1400 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date AMI 8.10, 27/09/2012
SMBIOS Version 2.7
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer PEGATRON CORPORATION
BaseBoard Model Not Available
BaseBoard Name Base Board
Platform Role Desktop
Secure Boot State On
PCR7 Configuration Binding Not Possible
Windows Directory C:\windows
System Directory C:\windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.2.9200.16442"
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB

I didn't really know what to post so I put most of it. I'm aiming so that my pc can run The Elder Scrolls Online really well when it comes out, and I'm also fed up playing skyrim on a tiny screen to stop lag...

 

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to FpcH

Is this your machine and specs ?
click here


If so ....

Power supply type

65W AC power adapter

This implies that you do not have a conventional ATX Power Supply.
Is this what you have ?

If so - I don't think that machine was designed for upgrading the viseo Card / PSU

Somebody else here may be able to confirm this.

 

[Guitarman]

Yes that's it and thats what I feared because when i bought this I only wanted something cheap for a small bit of recording.. So is it worth me using this for now and building a gaming computer? If so have you got any advice? thanks for your reply

 

[Guitarman]

I have opened my pc up and it is practically empty which was what worried me that it wasn't meant to be upgraded in the first place

 

[KenB]

Hi again

With that type of power supply you have no options and 65 Watts would not run the most basic of Graphics Cards.
It really does look like you will need to start over with a new machine.

I am not into gaming so would find it difficult to provide you with sound advice.

If you can let us know what sort of budget you have somebody hear will be able to pick this up and make a few suggestions.

 

[Guitarman]

O ok well I feel more confident starting from scratch because at least then I know everything thats going in and it will be easier and well my budget is really as low as possible as I'm only 14 but I'm happy to make this a project and I'd rather wait and build a great PC that I can use for years to come than build one thats only slightly better than what I have. It may help to know that the sort of games I wish to run are: battlefield 3, skyrim, TF2, Minecraft and really all the big titles as I really want to get in to PC gaming rather than console... Thanks so much for all the help

 

[KenB]

To build a gaming pc you are going to need about £600 - 700
Then you would want a screen on top ...... approx £100 - 150

Good Luck

 

[Guitarman]

Thanks, I'm going to need it! Yh that's around what I thought but at least I have this for now thanks so much for your help, I'll recommend this site to everyone!

 

[KenB]

I'll recommend this site to everyone!

Thanks - we are here to help if we can