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Best way to spend $400? comp upgrade

I

iman00b

Member
My system specs are:
P3 1ghz
azza U694BC mobo
256 SDRAM PC133
Voodoo 5 5500
P3/4 tower w/ 400watt P4 PSU
30gig 7200prm HD
40gig and 30gig 5200rpm HD

I was thinking of upgrading the cpu/mobo/ram but not sure what parts to get. I want a stable system for gaming/school/multitasking. Waiting another month or 2 is also an option if prices are going to drop dramatically. Around late jan early feb i should have another 400-500 to spend and im hoping to upgrade everything there on the list since my sister will be getting those for her upgrade from her 400mhz computer. Just looking for different opinions on what to get/when to get.
 
If you play games you'll be disappointed if you don't upgrade everything (cpu/mb/ram/video) at once. A NF7-S/2500+/1gb PC3200 can be had for around $400, but you'd still be sporting that v5, which isn't very adequate these days. I'd wait a couple more months and then upgrade all at once... prices should have dropped by then anyway. 🙂
 
You could get another 256MB of RAM for $20. Other than that, most of those components are on the same level; you'd be looking at taking most of the system up a notch:
Get an nForce2 motherboard, and a Barton 2500+, plus 2 sticks of 256MB PC3200.
Prices are from Newegg.
Abit NF7-S - $82
2500+ - $90
2x256MB PC3200 - $88
----------------------------------
$260

Then a Radeon 9600 Pro for $140, and you're right at $400. Then sell off your old motherboard, CPU, videocard, network card, and soundcard (the nForce2's sound is excellent, and it's got a NIC built-in), for a nice rebate.🙂


And Beatle, I started posting before you, so stop copying what I was thinking before you knew I was thinking it! 😛
 
Jeff hit it on the nose. No need for one gig of memory. Especially if you are looking for a midrange system *Don't hate me for saying that* you won't need that much RAM.
 
does anybody know if the FIC au13 is a good board? and where to get the max at the cheapeast and best retailer? thanks
 
I'd agree with Jeff, but I'd hold off on the video card and get a 9700 or 9800 when you get the extra money in Jan/Feb.
 
Originally posted by: Shanti
I'd agree with Jeff, but I'd hold off on the video card and get a 9700 or 9800 when you get the extra money in Jan/Feb.
Click to expand...

That'd work too; I love my 9700 Pro.
 
Wow, prices really dropped. Depending on what games you're planning to play, 512 megs may not be enough. I found Unreal 2, SC4, and BF1942 to use way over 500 megs of memory on their own. Gameplay was much smoother down the road. You can always add a 512 meg stick later if you like. If you don't plan on overclocking your chip, PC2700 will save you some additional dough. If you do plan on overclocking, budget at least $20 for a good HSF.

And Jeff, I know you can type faster than that! 😛
 
I'd say first off, get the Radeon 9800 for $200 this week at Circuit City. Sell some stuff and then amass a tad bit more money. Then:

Athlon XP 2500+ $90
Abit NF7-S board $99
1x512 PC3200 $85

Yes, you'll be over, but get the vid card first since this deal isn't going to last.
 
you won't get anything good to run halflife2/doom3 with only $400.
Better save the money now (buy your gf dinner) and wait for a few more months.
 
I believe you stated that your sister would be getting the old stuff, so selling it isn't going to be an option, correct? Personally, I think you should hold off until you get the other money. Prices will be lower, and you'll be able to buy what you want off of the people who upgraded this holiday season. Or maybe just find a deal at a time, they'll be proliferate. If you must spend something now, then personally I would buy a barton 2500+ retail, an Abit NF7-S v2.0, and 2x512 PC3200, and then spend the money you get in Jan/Feb on a 9800 pro and your new case. Try to fit in a new HD somewhere in there if you can, I suggest you look in the for sale forums, because the CPU/Mobo/RAM I listed seem to be rather proliferate lately. Hope this helps you out.
 
Hows this from Newegg:

AMD Athlon XP 2500+ "Barton", 333 FSB, 512K Cache Processor - Retail-$90
Sapphire Atlantis ATI RADEON 9600 PRO 128MB 8X AGP DVI/TV Bulk- $149
Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM- $89

One Day Sale, Ends 12/02/2003 4 PM PST
Biostar Motherboard for AMD Athlon/Athlon XP/ Duron Processor, Model# M7NCD- $47

Total- $375 shipped


 
I know $400 isnt much to spend but total i will be spending by early feb is $800-1k the $400 now is because of christmas deals thatll be showing up. Is the Abit NF7-S with 2500+ barton better then getting a Abit 865PE IS7 2.6c for gaming/school/multitasking but most importantly stability. Does CL2 make enough of a difference from CL3 that its worth spending that much more money just on ram? I was first planning on Abit 865PE IS7 2.6c 512 pc3200, then when i get more money jan1(koreans should know what im talking about) a HD + 512 ram, early feb tower + video card. Most important/hardest thing for me right now it to pick a motherboard but it seems u guys really like the Abit NF7-S.
 
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