UPGRADE or BUY new

[GeoffRowley]

Do you think its worth buying a newvideo card and myabe 512Gb more ram for my old ass computer or simply buy a new one. I'll be purchasing a new computer in the future anyways, maybe 4 months or so, but since playing BF2 at a pals house on a moderate setup, I wonder if i could even play BF2 with my current computer. I will no doubt be buying a new videocard but what. I live in canada, so the prices will be a bit different, but im willing maybe 200$ or 150$ US on a video card. Ram will naturally follow soon after. My basic specs are :

DELL DIMENSION DIM 2350
intel (R)
Pentium(R)4 1.8GHz
512 MB RAM

The ram and speed are both adequate, but nearing the minimum, but I'm not sure about the pentium R, i tried the System requirments lab for BF2, no doubt i failed for the poor videocard (not even sure what it is or how to check) but it said i failed for having the pentium R. IS that so? Anyhelp would be great. Thanks in advance.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

I'd go with a whole new computer. If you get a decent GPU, then you'll need abetter PSU, and so on. It would be better just to sell that one and buy a new one.

[GeoffRowley]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

If i were to buy a new computer, I dont really think i could build one and assemble it myself properly, so what would you recomend? Also would it be possible to play BF2 and low settings or playing frames, maybe 25+, with this video card http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...20&catid=10524
If so, iI'll could easily buy a gig or so of ram and would that make gameplay sufficient. I wont be buying a new computer for a while, but with the videocard I mentioned, I could easily put that into a new one? Just a thought, as im trying to save as much money as possible.

[knghtwhosaysni]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

how much are you willing to spend on a new computer?

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

If i were to buy a new computer, I dont really think i could build one and assemble it myself properly, so what would you recomend? Also would it be possible to play BF2 and low settings or playing frames, maybe 25+, with this video card http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...20&catid=10524
If so, iI'll could easily buy a gig or so of ram and would that make gameplay sufficient. I wont be buying a new computer for a while, but with the videocard I mentioned, I could easily put that into a new one? Just a thought, as im trying to save as much money as possible.

Yeah that card will get low/medium. If you don't feel that you can build a computer you can check out www.ibuypower.com

[GeoffRowley]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

If i were to buy a new computer, in the next 4 months or so, I'd probably spend around 1000 CDN or somewhere around 850 US. I'm not sure about the package deals you see around at the best buys and whatnot, but if I were to buy one of these, what to buy? I've heard compaqs are terrible, and to go for an athlon processor. Any advice on a new purchase would be great.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

My adivce don't buy from a retail store. You will get crapped on.

[GeoffRowley]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

The thing is, I've never bought anything online, ever. Most companies dont ship to Canada, and I'm not sure how the whole process goes. I'm not sure about putting a credit card online, because of many bad experiences with pals buying stuff off of ebay. Money orders would be my only solution.

But if i were to purchase an X700 pro or 9800pro for my raggity computer, would it work. How would i see what type of motherboard i have and other detials like what type of memory i have and could use. I'm not really new or inexperienced towards computers, but more so with hardware.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

google for everest home edition, that should send you in the right direction as to what you have. There's less danger in buying stuff online than there is handing your card over to someone in a store, there is nothing to be worried about as far as that goes.

[GeoffRowley]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

Jimmy, if that is your real name, you've been a great help, so thanks alot chum.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

Not my real name, but it's not a problem. If you need any more help my AIM name in in my profile, feel free to give me a holler.

[knghtwhosaysni]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

tigerdirect.ca is a good, trustworthy Canadian site. Pretty good prices too :)

And buying from an actual online retailer like newegg.com (unfortunately doesn't ship to Canada) or tigerdirect.ca is much different than buying from ebay.

[cloakster]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

to add to that ncix.com is also a rweally good canadian site. and DO NOT buy any seperate parts from retail stores like futureshop

[Frankie_Ballz]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

:hi: happy birthday jimmy:banana:

[DisposableHero]

Re: UPGRADE or BUY new

yeah, like a couple people have said... don't worry about making online purchases. buying from a trusted online store, and buying things from ebay are worlds apart. i purchase my computer products almost exclusively online and i have never had a problem. i've been buying things online for over 4 years now.

also, just buy a new computer if possible. it wouldn't be worth upgrading what you currently have.