How to transform an old computer into a gaming machine
How to transform an old computer into a gaming machine
I'm a beginner with a 3397 motherboard from HP, and I'm checking if the GT 1030 is suitable. I have limited knowledge about computers beyond some advice from friends, and I'm looking to add a graphics card. They suggested the GeForce GT 710 because it's affordable, though not ideal, but at least it's better than nothing. I've also seen the GT 1030 in my budget and thought about it. I'm assuming you have a SFF.
Based on what you currently have, it might be wiser to begin fresh. Even a simple upgrade to a more modern low-end or business desktop with a PCIe slot for a GPU could yield significant improvements. The issue isn't just the age of the parts, but rather the proprietary design and the necessity to replace components while still compromising performance.
Agree with the others. I wouldn’t waste money trying to make this a gaming PC. Keep it for office productivity and light internet use. The most I would do is replace the boot drive with a SATA SSD and chuck in some cheap used DDR3 RAM sticks - and even then I wouldn’t spend actual money on these parts, I’d trawl my e-waste for these.
This is one of those situations where an obsolete generic ’clone’ PC with ATX specifications gives you a much better foundation than the brand-name systems.