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To start off, I'm a techie; mostly a software guy. I usually only read up on hardware when I get the upgrade itch... Which, inevitably, I'm starting to get again. I'd like to spend $500-$600 to upgrade my desktop PC, TOPS. I'll start by giving you my current system, and then explaining what I'd like to upgrade. Being a techie, I prefer "best-of-breed" solutions, and with my limited resources, I'd like to upgrade to a system that I can continue to upgrade on, as time/money allows in the future.
CURRENTLY: Basic Mid-Tower Case w/ generic 350 or 400W PSU (which has an anti-accidental power switch, which I like... silly, no?) AMD XP 3000+ (it's a fragile one, I've been able to hard lock the system when running games and teamspeak at high levels, when temps get high in the system) Epox 8K9A2+ Motherboard 1 GB PC2700 RAM SB Audigy sound card ATI Radeon 9700 Pro video card Linksys Wireless b/g PCI card Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 SATA 160GB hard disk Creative CD-RW drive, Basic DVD drive ---
With the new PCIe and SATA stuff, as well as the AMD 64 (FX) CPUs, there's too much for someone like me to cross-reference and check compatibility on. SO my request to you good folks is to, at the least, recommend a new case, PSU, motherboard, RAM, and CPU that will let improve my current system, while allow for upgrading. I don't need the fastest CPU out there, or top-of-the-line RAM, or even motherboard. However, PCIe and SATA support are a must, and AMD chips are preferred, because I can heat my computer room with the CPU cheaper than our furnace this winter ).
I'd _like_ to move over the wireless, audio, video, all disk drives, and even (though unlikely) RAM, but I figure RAM and video will be dfficult to keep (unless PCIe is AGP compatible?).
posted
Personally, I'm not sure you NEED to upgrade at the moment. Your system is remarkably similar to my primary system, and I haven't encountered a game I can't throw at it yet.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
I can't throw specific models and numbers at you right now but here are a few things that might help:
1) Your video card looks OK to me to handle most things but I understand you might like to upgrade. So to answer one of your questions, yes, the new PCIe motherboards are also AGP compatible so if you happened to not want to upgrade your video card right now you could keep your old one, no problem.
2) You could probably keep your old RAM as well since most new motherboards are backwards compatible with DDR down to 2100, however, make sure you check each individual motherboard model just to make certain.
3) Personally I'd wait until after the Christmas season to buy my upgrades and even then I'd only buy middle-range hardware. I never buy top of the line equipment... not cost-effective. I will never pay 600 dollars for a video card, not ever.
4) When looking for a motherboard look for a nice Abit board... I've worked with them in the past and they're always quite reliable.
5) Look into getting better cooling for your case, hard locks aren't very healthy for your equipment. When you buy your new CPU make sure you apply the thermal compound to it correctly and don't skimp out on the heatsink. Trust me on that.
An estimate I could give you off the top of my head based on the last prices I saw for hardware around me... I'd say upgrading your motherboard, CPU and Ram might cost you somewhere around $400 if you shop around. That leaves just about enough to buy a new PCIe midrange videocard if you choose. That price range is given assuming you don't buy top of the line and stick to the more affordable options out there.
Hope some of this helps, sorry I could give you a lot of specifics, I only have those on me when I'm personally shopping for new equipment Posts: 459 | Registered: Mar 2005
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I agree with Tom: your system is more than adequately powerful for almost anything. If you want to spend your money wisely, throw in another gig of RAM: pc2700 memory is roughly $70 for a single dimm gig.
also, you may want to invest in some cooling, since it sounds like you're having heat issues.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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I'll second that. A better CPU cooler, better thermal grease, and possibly some more case fans should solve your heat issues. Unless it's the graphics card itself that's overheating, and then forget the CPU cooler and get a better video card cooler.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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I ahve an NVIDIA GeForce card, and it has handled every game I have tried well, and it isn't a top of the line one. Not bad, but more to the middle.
I have 160G hard drive as well, but as I do a lot of digital decrypting and stuff I found it filled up a lot quicker than I though it would.
Bok, most of the hardcore gamers I know go heavily into the cooling systems, because heat is the main problem they have trying to run all out over long periods of time.
I would work on a better cooling system and fans, even if it means changing to another tower to give yourself room to do it.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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The Radeon 9000 series of cards are great, in my experience. I've got an AIW 8500DVI, and it's been a reliable card. I did have to do a fan replacement, under warranty, about six months ago. I can think of one relatively new game it's showing it's age on, but that's it.*
I second the better heatsink/fan recommendation, for stability reasons.
*Sidenote: I'm not a serious gamer.
Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
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