Hey everyone! My boss is giving me an old Lenovo ThinkCentre m910t that he wanted to toss out, but I think it could be a fun little project. I'm considering upgrading it into a budget gaming PC for my kids and me. I've read about some limitations, especially with the 250W power supply, which is fixed due to the proprietary motherboard and case. I'm looking at getting a GPU, specifically the MSI GeForce GTX 1650 Ventus XS 4G OC, as it seems to be a low-profile option that could fit well. I'm aware it's not a high-end card and wouldn't support 4K gaming, but I'm just aiming for something solid for casual gaming. Here's what I'm working with currently:
- **CPU:** Intel Core i5 - 7500
- **Motherboard:** Lenovo 3106
- **RAM:** (1) Ramaxel RMUA5110MB78HAF2400 - DDR4 - single channel (I'm thinking of adding 2 sticks of Vengeance LPX 8GB DDR4 2400MHz C14)
- **Graphics:** Intel HD Graphics 630
- **PSU:** 250W
- **Storage:** 500 GB WD HDD (Plans to upgrade this too).
I know some might say it's better to let it go, but it's in great condition and I believe it could work for some family-friendly gaming. Would love any advice or suggestions! Thanks!
3 Answers
Just a quick question! Is your m910t the SFF, Desktop, or the Tower version? It might influence your upgrade choices since the Tower version can fit full-height graphics cards, while the SFF needs low-profile ones.
Reusing that m910t is a great idea! The GTX 1650 is perfect since it's low profile and doesn't need extra power from the PSU, just make sure it’s the 75W version. An SSD and adding more RAM will also make a significant difference in performance for older games and those fun esports titles. There's definitely life left in that machine, so kudos for wanting to keep it out of the landfill!
Awesome, thank you so much!
If you're considering a CPU upgrade, going for a Core i7 (7th gen) with 32GB of DDR4 RAM at 3600MHz would be amazing! Plus, an SSD like the 1TB SATA 870 EVO will really speed things up. Just keep in mind the budget; I know you mentioned wanting to stay under $350, so plan accordingly!
I will check it out! I'm on a tight budget with this one, but thanks for the suggestions!
It is the tower version.