$400 upgrade

[GarlicBreath]

I'm currently running a system with a Epox 8r3da3+ motherboard, Athlon XP1700 processor, 786 mb PC2100 ram, and a Geforce Ti4200 (128mb) video card.

Is it possible to significantly upgrade the motherboard, processor, ram, and graphics card for $400? Or how about doing all but the grapchics card?

I'd like better gaming performance. I've got a new 19" LCD monitor, and I want to run games in its 1280X1024 native resolution.

Thanks.

 

[Michael D]

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=MB-BA20095

AMD Athlon 64 2800+ Socket 754

DFI LANParty which is an option in the bundle (Click the second dropdown box).

Kingston DDR 400 Value RAM (512mb X 2). Also an option in the bundle. Last dropdown box.

It adds up to about $385 shipped (you'll have to calculate the exact price yourself, as it varies from place to place). This doesn't include a graphics card, but I'll bet some others can help you find a cheaper bundle and slide GPU in there.

 

[Zap Brannigan]

I suggest this:

A7N8X-X Motherboard - $65

AMD AthlonXP 2500+ Barton - $112

Nvidia Geforce 6600GT- $209

RAM - 512 mb stick of Mushkin PC3200 - $63

= $449

 

[Zap Brannigan]

Add another stick of the same RAM which will bring you to 1 gig (1024mb) of RAM when more discretionary funds become available to you.

 

[Zap Brannigan]

Newgg.com is where I got my prices from.

 

[Theguynextdoor]

I have a +2500 barton I will sell you with stock HSF for $60 shipped.

The CPU has been used ONCE and the HSF has never been used. PM me if you're intrested.

 

[Zap Brannigan]

Awsome! I hope he buys your CPU; that would leave him some extra money to buy another stick of RAM.

One gig of PC3200 RAM gives a huge performance boost in todays games. I would say one gig is mandatory for a gamer.

 

[Jotho]

Originally posted by: Michael D
Kingston DDR 400 Value RAM (512mb X 2). Also an option in the bundle. Last dropdown box.

Great choice

 

[Theguynextdoor]

I dunno if this means shiznat but yes the 2500 works. :lol:

But anyways if you're wondering why I'm getting rid of it, it's because originally I bought it for my Asus A7N8X Deluxe, turns out I had revision 10.02 which doesn't take bartons. So that sucks, I was gonna save it for myself when I landed on the AMD A64 deal.

 

[GarlicBreath]

Thanks for the suggestions so far, guys.

 

[Zebo]

What kind of memory exacty? Will it run 2-2-2 a 133?

If so, don't even get new memory.


AMD Athlon 64 2800+, Retial $120
Epox 8KDA3I; $66
Any brand AGP 6600GT $200

= $386

OC to 3700+

 

[GarlicBreath]

Originally posted by: Zebo
What kind of memory exacty? Will it run 2-2-2 a 133?

If so, don't even get new memory.


AMD Athlon 64 2800+, Retial $120
Epox 8KDA3I; $66
Any brand AGP 6600GT $200

= $386

OC to 3700+

Hmmmm. The memory is one 512mb stick and one 256 mb stick. The 512 is Crucial brand, can't remember the other. It's PC2100, that's about all I know.

 

[Zebo]

I think the crucial will run 2-2-2 up to 150Mhz.. will run 3-3-3 180Mhz. Mine does. memory speed is a very smal part of performance anyway. I think you'll see signifigant gains with the A64 recommendation and 6600GT will play any game fast at the resolutions you requested.

It's easy to run your RAM on the board. Just set Vdimm to max and memsetting to 100 and start overclocking. I suspect you'll stop around 280HTT on default Vcore maybe +10%.. which would give processor 2500Mhz and memory @ 140Mhz well within spec. If you can run 2-2-2 it's as fast as 3-3-3@200.