CPU/Motherboard Upgrade

[JayBlay77]

Right now I have a 2.0Ghz Celeron processor on a Soyo motherboard. I've decided it's about time to upgrade. However I'm on a budget of about $250 or less. I'll be using this for a little gaming, music and video listening, and then internet and word processing. I was thinking about going with a socket 754 but not sure. Ideas?

 

[n7]

Can you please post all your system specs?

Otherwise it's rather hard to recommend upgrades, since we don't know what parts you have already.

 

[JayBlay77]

Just looking for a new CPU and Motherboard, nothing else.
But here are specs:
MB: Soyo Sy-P4VSA
CPU: 2.0 Ghz Celeron
Ram: 1.5 Gigs Sdram
GPU: Pny 5500 (crappy i know)
HD: 1 x 120gb and 1 x 40gb
Optical: Sony 540a

 

[JayBlay77]

If you need anything else let me know.
Thanks

 

[n7]

EPoX EP-9NDA3J - $89

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice - $146

This is assuming you have an AGP video card, & have useable DDR RAM...which i now see you don't...

Argh...you are going to need to get some DDR RAM.

No new mobos will take SDRAM...

mushkin Value 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) - $78.99

or

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) - $79.99


This puts you at $313.99 + shipping/GST.

 

[n7]

Since your budget is tight, i priced this s754 upgrade too.
Just add that Mushkin or Corsair RAM above to this.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103485">AMD Athlon 64 2800+ Newcastle
</a> - $120

CHAINTECH VNF3-250 - $58

$256.99 + shipping & GST.

This would likely be your best bet for a budget upgrade, & it includes 2x512 MB DDR400 RAM too

 

[JayBlay77]

oops...forgot to mention that i already bought a gig of ddr 400 ram. Thanks

 

[n7]

If you'd like to OC, the top upgrade (s939) would be the best, as that 3000+ should hit 2.4 GHz, maybe more.

 

[JayBlay77]

awesome thanks! any other suggestions or just what he said ^

 

[Painman]

Already got RAM? Good... that means video can get a little shot in the arm too.

Chaintech VNF3-250 - $60.50 shipped

A64 2800+ Retail - $120 shipped

Sapphire 9600XT 128 MB - $94 shipped

$274.50

 

[n7]

I think i recommended the wrong Epox mobo on Newegg.

Newegg's s939 AGP mobos
EPoX EP-9NDA3+ is the better one i believe.
The best for OCing is the MSI K8N Neo2, or i see they now have the DFI nForce 3 AGP one out!

Painman's recommendation is excellent though.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Bah. For $250 you can get a 3200+, Windows XP64-bit edition, and ASUS A8N-E. http://www.amd.com/techtour - hopefully it'll be in your area.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

If the AMD techtour is coming to your area, you can get the techtour bundle for $250

3200+ and Asus A8N-E

*oops*

Pentium Guy beat me to it

 

[JayBlay77]

No such luck. I'm in the chicagoland area and the tech tour passed through june 2. darn.
well anyway thanks for all the suggestions. anybody else?