Recommend computer upgrades?

[schaef2k]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

schaef2k

how it is possible that you have amd x2 64 3500? this prossesor doesnt exist


i know that you have a64 3500

lol, damn your right. Sorry it's a 3800

what about the whole AGP x8/PCI express thing???

You can go the route of just upgrading the RAM and adding a new AGP video card. PCIe has double the bandwidth of AGPX8 and runs at 133 mhz instead of 66 mhz.

I just don't like sinking money into older hardware. If your gona spend $300-350 IMO it's better to spend $400-450 and get something you can upgrade later. With a PCIe, SLI and DDR2 you'll be set for a while and if you need more power later, just put in a 2nd video card and better CPU.

Again this is just my opinion. I've played BF2 on an Intel 2.4 with an AGPX8 9800 pro and was stuck on low/medium settings. My new rig smokes that, not even close.

Bottom line will be how much you want to spend.

[drewbagel423]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

I just don't like sinking money into older hardware. If your gona spend $300-350 IMO it's better to spend $400-450 and get something you can upgrade later. With a PCIe, SLI and DDR2 you'll be set for a while and if you need more power later, just put in a 2nd video card and better CPU.

ok that makes sense, it just seems like i can spend $200 to upgrade the RAM and video card or almost 3 times that for a mobo, processor, RAM and video

[Boomstick68]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

what about the whole AGP x8/PCI express thing???

You know, you really dont need to add alot more. Install another 512 of memory and a new video card. I am selling my ATI Radeon X700 Pro. (check out the off topic section) in fact, you should look at all I have to sell there and replace that Intel crap. AMD is much better for gaming. I ran my BF2 settings on high with AA on.

[schaef2k]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

ok that makes sense, it just seems like i can spend $200 to upgrade the RAM and video card or almost 3 times that for a mobo, processor, RAM and video

Well 2 gig of RAM is about $175 and a good video card for $130-150.

This is what I've been doing. I sell my old system for about $400. Then build a new one for $700-800. So every year to year and a half I get a new PC for less than $400. It's worked great for the long hall.

If you want to save money though just do the RAM and video card. I'd check the forums to see if other people with the same setup are running high graphics before you do though.

[BOBSONATOR025]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

Hey guys my computer's gonna be 3 years old this october and i think its time for an upgrade, heres what i have now:
Asus P4P800
P4 2.4GHz Northwood
Radeon 9600 Pro 128MB DDR
Corsair 512MB DDR 400
40GB Ultra ATA100 HD

I'm not super duper computer savy so i dont really know what all the abbreviations mean, and i know my hd and ram need a shot in the arm, but what would you guys recommend to play bf2 with the graphics up fairly high and maintain a reasonable budget?

TIA!

I think you should start OCing that processer instantly, great for overclocking and you have a good board for overclocking, (Was the shiznizzle a year ago.)

So,

1. Oc processer (look at ocforums.com)
2. Get 2 Gigs of some nice ram.
3. Get a 7800GS or similar AGP card, and it should last you a good while.

[drewbagel423]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

I think you should start OCing that processer instantly, great for overclocking and you have a good board for overclocking, (Was the shiznizzle a year ago.)

i know i dont know if i feel confident enough in my knowledge to dabble in that

You know, you really dont need to add alot more. Install another 512 of memory and a new video card. I am selling my ATI Radeon X700 Pro. (check out the off topic section) in fact, you should look at all I have to sell there and replace that Intel crap. AMD is much better for gaming. I ran my BF2 settings on high with AA on.

i sent you a pm asking how much you were selling everything for

[Sirorange]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

Yeah man I would recommend a new PC. I just purchased an ATI 512MB X1600 Pro about a month ago and that is really the only upgrade I needed but you need a little more than that.

[drewbagel423]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

hey what do you guys think of this company??? their stuff seems really good and REALLY cheap!

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/Default.asp

[schaef2k]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

hey what do you guys think of this company??? their stuff seems really good and REALLY cheap!

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/Default.asp

I've never delt with them before. They do have very nice options for there systems but they are really not all that cheap. Compaired to Alienware, Dell or HP they are cheap with much better options though.

You could build a system yourself for about $350 cheaper than what they charge for the same thing. But then again you'll have to put it together

[disfigured]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

This wasn't mentioned but.....

If your looking for upgrades like the thread title says. A nice sound card will never go to waste. If your running onboard sound, and get even a base line X-Fi card you'll notice a big difference in sound. It will also lay off some of the load on your CPU.

It's PCI, and not changing slots anytime soon, so you can use it in the next build. I had my Soundblaster LIVE for 10 years. Vcards, HD's, ram came and went but that sound card made it in and out of every machine I built right up until this most recent one.

hey what do you guys think of this company??? their stuff seems really good and REALLY cheap!

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/Default.asp

My last build (listed below) I was very busy at the time and checked out quite a few builders.

CyberPower

and

IbuyPower.com

had the smallest mark up for builds. I can't attest to their quality since I ended up doing it myself. Your still looking at $300.00-$400.00 more compared to building it yourself. Or at least that was the case with me when I crunched all the numbers betwen parts and their prices. More with other companies that offer all kinds of things like custom painted cases, and cutting edge technology.

I don't know 1/100th of what some of the people here know, but I build all my machines. The actual physical building of the machine is fairly simple. Be careful, plug things in the right places, read manuals. You don't have to understand CPU architecture to set the the thing in properly and pull the lever down. .

If your planning on doing the upgrades your talking about your essentially doing 40% of a build, just not from the ground up. It's actually easier to install all the expansion card during a build then it is when your upgrading.

Canablize what you can from your old computer, spend the your money on parts and do the build yourself. There's an average of about $350.00 of the markup that you can now spend on parts.

Worse case scenario is you get stuck and bring it to some one to finish off the build. Even then at labor prices you'll still end up with money in your pocket.

[BOBSONATOR025]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

If you cant build your own pc, shoot yourself in the foot.

[drewbagel423]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

yeah i built the pc i use now, and if i went that way again i would have no problem building a new one... the problem is that i dont know what matches up to what anymore, PCIe this, AM2 that, GDDR over there, there's so much to keep track of and i don't know what boards are good and which ones aren't

[schaef2k]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

yeah i built the pc i use now, and if i went that way again i would have no problem building a new one... the problem is that i dont know what matches up to what anymore, PCIe this, AM2 that, GDDR over there, there's so much to keep track of and i don't know what boards are good and which ones aren't

Ya I think we all go through this everytime we build unless you're an uber hardware geek that has to know all the latest and greatest. You have to do some research before you build.

Check these guys out. It's an overclocking forum but it has tons of info on builds. http://www.ocforums.com/

I usually start with finding a nice (fairly close to the latest and greatest) motherboard that has all the features I want and then match the CPU and RAM to that. The rest takes care of it'self (SATA, PCIe, RAID).

[drewbagel423]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

okay, so i think i've got my mind made up on what i like, time for your comments:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814131007

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103735

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145590

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144701

Can't decide on a mobo tho:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813123006

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813130050

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131014R

TIA!

[Boomstick68]

Re: Recommend computer upgrades?

All excellent choices. Not interested in SLI? (go Nvidia) As for the mobos, just in case you didn't notice, the ASUS is a MICRO ATX, are you cramped for space? The price is good but you loose a coupe PCI slots.