Quick Spec Check

Hi,

Here at work I'm using a Dell Vostro 220 which average specs. We want to upgrade as I'll be doing graphic design work and HD video editing from now on.

Just want to check all this is compatible before committing. We are a very small company and so price is the key. Motherboard will be staying the same (it's a "G45M03", whatever company that is..)

First I want quad core. According to dell there is only one quadcore which will work with this mobo so that's no problem.

RAM: It only supports a max 4gb, 1.8v DDR2 6400. Would there be any advantage performance wise buying this instead of this? As far as I can see they have the same timings, so I'm not sure what the advantage of the first is.

GPU: I've read that for the kind of things I'll be doing, a dedicated GPU would be an advantage over intergrated graphics I have at the mo, but a 256mb is sufficient (sincenobody will ever be gaming on this computer). Would this be OK? Or would the extra cores on this be of any advantage to what I'll be doing?

Finally PSU: Currently have a LITEON 300W, which I guess will not be powerful enough to run those components? Silly question, but are PSUs the same physical size? Would something like this do the job and fit?

Actually one more thing I've just thought of - will the stock cooler still be OK if I upgrade from my E7500 @ 2.93ghz to the quad core?

Thanks a lot!

Corsair value RAM will be fine for your needs, you wont be overclocking or anything like that.

Get the GTX220 over the 6200 as the 6200 is years out of date and is probably no better than the onboard you have.

Your 300W PSU should be fine, not sure if dell use standard PSUs though, I wouldnt bother changing it.

Finally if your getting the quad core just get a retail version and use the stock cooler that comes with that, the E7500 stock cooler is of the same design but probably thinner than the one that will come with the quad.

Hawker

Also the 6200 is an AGP card anyway so it won't work as you most likely have a PCI-E slot.

The more expensive RAM has DHX heatsinks which allows better cooling for the RAM but as Hawker1996 says, you probably won't need it unless you overclock.

300W should be fine as mentioned and it's much less hassle to keep the same PSU, you'll only need one if you add a mid/high end graphics card. If you do go for another PSU go for something like a Corsair CX400W as it's cheap and isn't as bad as the ones such as CiT etc.

The link you provided of the CPU is a retail version so it will come with a cooler anyway.

So basically you're what you've said is making the final price even cheaper for us!

My MD loves you guys! :D Thanks a lot!