Help me decide what to upgrade.

Thu Aug 28, 2003 1:42 pm

Ok, in about a week I will have an extra 300 that I plan to spend on upgrades.

Currently I have an AMD XP1800, shuttle ak3.1 mb, 512 2700 ram, Nvidia Geforce 4200ti.

Should I be looking into a mb/cpu upgrade or a new video card?

Give me some ideas

Thu Aug 28, 2003 2:04 pm

i'd get more RAM and a new CPU.

Shuttles website was down when I tried to look for your max CPU...

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=N82E16819103335

XP 2400 @ newegg is 79 bucks

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=N82E16820145407

512mb stick of corsair pc2700 cl2.5 is 84 bucks

Thu Aug 28, 2003 2:48 pm

Did some reading on http://www.amdforums.com and found that my board will not support the 2400. So I will need a new board too. Anyone using a Nforce board?

Thu Aug 28, 2003 3:38 pm

Whats the highest CPU your board can take?

Thu Aug 28, 2003 3:46 pm

I think a 2000, but I should be able to get a new MB and still stay in my 300 budget.

Thu Aug 28, 2003 3:58 pm

the best combination of upgrades for you would probably be to buy a new MB and a new video card. That way you'll actually notice a difference. If you bought a new MB and a new CPU, you're still stuck with that old vid card, and wouldn't notice much of an increase.

so...after buying a new mobo and graphics card, I'd wait until I had saved more money, then purchase a new CPU and more ram to give you one hell of an awesome gaming system!

And in my opinion, buy the best you can, because you mine as well get the best while you're willing to spend. Buying 'ok' hardware by todays standards means you're screwed for tomorrow.

I save and save and save and save and save and THEN I buy

Thu Aug 28, 2003 4:49 pm

CPU and video card as well.

Tue Sep 02, 2003 9:55 pm

Mugzy,

I use an Asus A7N8X deluxe board (nforce) and it ROCKS!

Tue Sep 02, 2003 10:06 pm

I would say new cpu and new vid card but since your mobo will only support up to a 2 gig, i would upgrade the mobo and vid card and as soon as you have an extra 100 or so dollars, get a new cpu. I saw an AMD 2500 for $90 and a 2600 for $104 at xtremegear.

http://www.buyxtremegear.com/amdbox.html

Tue Sep 02, 2003 10:50 pm

Originally posted by Wairudo Enjin
Mugzy,

I use an Asus A7N8X deluxe board (nforce) and it ROCKS!

I think thats the MOBO i was planing on using if i ever get to build my new PC(new house putting a strain on the ol' bank account) question wariudo I heard a lot of good things about the on board sound, do you use it by any chance?

Wed Sep 03, 2003 2:24 am

Camel,

Yes, I use the onboard sound and it sounds good to me, but I am no Audiophile.

Wed Sep 03, 2003 7:36 am

You can replace the CPU, MB, Vid card and add ram for the $300 and the money you get for selling those items.

Wed Sep 03, 2003 3:46 pm

I just bought a Celeron 2.6Ghz.
the change's are enormus.(old cpu 1.8Ghz)
Iwould say a new cpu

Wed Sep 03, 2003 4:29 pm

I was in the same position a few years ago.

I kept my old video card. (Geforce 1 SDR, I think) and upgraded my 700 Mhz Duron to a 1.4 Ghz Athlon. Wow! It made all the difference in the world. EVERYTHING was smooth! (even on that old card).

I didn't realize how important the CPU was. Now I know.

I would recommend a CPU/Motherboard/RAM combo before a new video card. The GF4 4200 isn't that bad of a card yet. If $300 won't buy everything you need now, wait a month or so and save your money. I think you will be glad you did.

Just my .02 cents.

Wed Sep 03, 2003 11:55 pm

Originally posted by Wairudo Enjin
Camel,

Yes, I use the onboard sound and it sounds good to me, but I am no Audiophile.

I think you know not what you miss.

I have an Audigy 2 Platinum with Logitech Z-680 (5.1) speakers. Oh, my (*&@#(&* god! The sound is incredible with Merciless 1942.

Sound is an extremely important part of the gaming experience for me.