I'm looking for some advice on whether I should stick with my current HP desktop or scrap most of the parts. Recently, I upgraded to an RTX 3050 and was planning to get a new power supply (PSU). However, HP's use of proprietary components is making this really tricky. Should I go with an HP PSU, or would it be better to buy new hardware while still keeping my CPU, RAM, GPU, and storage? Here are my specs: - CPU: i7 12th generation (12700) - GPU: ASUS RTX 3050 dual (8GB) - RAM: 2x8GB sticks (I'm pretty sure it's DDR4 SDRAM) - Storage: 2TB HDD, 512GB SSD. My budget is under $200, but I can stretch to $250 if necessary.
5 Answers
Switching to a new case, motherboard, and power supply sounds like a solid approach. Just make sure to check if you'll need new fans for the case!
What model HP are you using? Many HP models can get a 550W power supply for under $100, making it a reasonable upgrade path.
It's an HP Pavilion Tp01-3016. According to my calculations, the GPU and CPU together need 315W, which is why I'm looking to go from 310W to at least 400W.
You could return that GPU and just grab an RTX 3050 6GB instead. That way, you wouldn't need an upgraded power supply at all!
I got the GPU from a friend. If I switch to a 6GB model, will it work fine with my 310W PSU?
I think getting a new HP power supply is your safest bet for now. It'll keep things simple, and you can avoid the hassle of upgrading everything else. Just make sure it's compatible with your setup!
That's what I'm worried about! I feel like HP's design might restrict airflow and future upgrades could still be a headache.
Honestly, I'd suggest getting a new case, motherboard, and power supply. You can still use your CPU, RAM, and GPU. If there's room in your budget, consider a better GPU too!
If you can, swap it for an RX6700 XT. You won't regret the upgrade!
How much do you think that would cost me? And yeah, I'm a bit new to PC building, so fans are another mystery for me.