First time poster: Need upgrade advice

[fylmz]

Hello all,

First time poster here after reading your message board for a few days. Alot of knowledgeable people here it seems, so I figured I would seek your help for my Christmas gift.
You can pretty much consider me a starving college student and my parents asked me what I want for christmas...told em they could help me upgrade my computer.

Here's the skinny:

My current specs are as follows.

P4 1.7ghz Intel
Asus P4T-E Mobo (up to 2.66 i believe)
512mb RDRAM
350W power supply (in an ugly case)
Geforce 4ti-4600
Audigy 2 Zs
80gb Seagate Barracude 7,200rpm.

I'm trying to figure out upgrade options. I don't really OC and I have always gone with Intel..due to incompatibilty problems I had one time when I had a Tyan Mobo. The via all in one drivers still give me nightmares...anyway I digress.
Everyone's been telling me to go Athlon..which I'm not opposed to because I've seen benchmarks and they don't lie.
People have mentioned the MSI Neo2 Platinum is the mobo to get on different occasions. No one has really mentioned any good intel ones rather. I'm such an AMD noobie I've got trouble just figuring out what the difference between 3200, 3500, and 3500+ means.

So anyway I wanna upgrade my motherboard, processor, ram, video card and POSSIBLY power supply. (is 350w enough for current video cards) My extremely tenative list is as follows:

MSI Neo2 Platinum
3500+
1gb of value corsair 3200 (dual-channel)
Geforce 6600 agp

Thanks again folks...love the board.

 

[fylmz]

Let me re-emphasize that I'm not at all opposed to staying Intel. I'm definantly more familiar with their products... I do alot of video and music production as well as gaming on my system if it makes any difference. I head AMD does worse in those kinda applications? Maybe i'm wrong
thx again

 

[magomago]

If you wanna game make sure that your card is a 6600GT....there is a pretty big difference between the two

and 3500+ and 3500 are the same thing...some people are too lazy to keep adding+ at the end

 

[NarcoticHobo]

Originally posted by: fylmz
Let me re-emphasize that I'm not at all opposed to staying Intel. I'm definantly more familiar with their products... I do alot of video and music production as well as gaming on my system if it makes any difference. I head AMD does worse in those kinda applications? Maybe i'm wrong
thx again

Intel is better for video and music production, however the gap is small between a 3500 and a comparatively priced intel. AMD is far better when it comes to gaming though.

So keep that, stick with the motherboard and cpu and ram, change the geforce to a 6600 GT, and tell me what kind of power supply that is. If it's one you just got with your case it is probably very bad, and I would not reccomend using it, but if it is quality then 350W should be fine.

 

[jimikim]

Get a 6800GT

 

[Goi]

Your tentative list looks mighty fine, just make sure the 3500+ is a Winchester 90nm core. I'm not sure if they have anything else, but Winchester's the one to get now. Also, like magomago mentioned, definitely get the 6600GT rather than the plain 6600 if you're gonna game.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: fylmz
I'm such an AMD noobie I've got trouble just figuring out what the difference between 3200, 3500, and 3500+ means.

First off, 3500 and 3500+ are the same processor, many people just don't bother putting the plus at the end. Im assuming you mean the socket 939 3200's and those run at a clock speed of 2.0 ghz, while the 3500's run at 2.2 ghz. If you are going to get the 3500, try and be sure to get one of the new 90nm ones (winchester core). They run cooler than the other A64's and use less power.

Originally posted by: fylmz

So anyway I wanna upgrade my motherboard, processor, ram, video card and POSSIBLY power supply. (is 350w enough for current video cards) My extremely tenative list is as follows:

MSI Neo2 Platinum
3500+
1gb of value corsair 3200 (dual-channel)
Geforce 6600 agp

That looks fine for parts, as long as thats a 6600 GT agp. And as long as the amperage rating for your power supply on the 12v line is in the high teens it should be able to run that system fine.
Good luck with the system, it looks great.

 

[fylmz]

Originally posted by: NarcoticHobo

Intel is better for video and music production, however the gap is small between a 3500 and a comparatively priced intel. AMD is far better when it comes to gaming though.

So keep that, stick with the motherboard and cpu and ram, change the geforce to a 6600 GT, and tell me what kind of power supply that is. If it's one you just got with your case it is probably very bad, and I would not reccomend using it, but if it is quality then 350W should be fine.

First off I appreciate the advice....the powersupply says "Turbolink Switching Power supply: 350ATX-12v"

 

[Goi]

I don't think Turbolink makes high quality power supplies. They make the generic stuff. I'd suggest getting a decent quality but still cheap Fortron 350W or higher.

 

[fylmz]

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs
And as long as the amperage rating for your power supply on the 12v line is in the high teens it should be able to run that system fine.

I'm looking at it now...and I'm not really sure which number you are referring to.

this line?

VOLTAGE
115/230V
|+3.3 | +5 | +12|
| 14A | 35A| 17A|

 

[CheesePoofs]

so 17 amps on the 12 volt line ..... i think that would run the system, but it might be worth your money to get a higher quality power supply, even if its only a 350 watt. a quality 350 watt power supply can often out-perform a generic 450 watt power supply. I have an Antec Truepower 330 watt power supply and its running fine. Granted, im not running as much power hungry parts as you will be, but i wouldn't be worried to put in so nicer and more power-consuming parts.

 

[fylmz]

Okay so it looks like I am settling for the following parts. Will finalize with my mother tommorrow.

Motherboard - $157.00
MSI "915P NEO2 PLATINUM 7028-020" 915P Chipset Motherboard For LGA 775 CPU -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-130-461&depa=0

CPU - $290.00
AMD Socket 939 Athlon 64 3500+, 2.2 GHz, 512KB L2 Cache 64-bit Processor - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-494&depa=1

RAM - $145.11
Corsair Value Select Dual Channel Kit 184 Pin 1G(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-145-480&depa=1

Video Card - $219.00
XFX GeFORCE 6600 GT 128MB AGP RETAIL
http://www.gameve.com/gve/stor...s.aspx?sku=VC-XFX-035c

CASE - $49.97
Logisys Skyrise Gaming Computer Case ? Black
http://www.xoxide.com/logisys-skyrise-black.html
This case is pretty cheap when I add the 480w powerlab power supply in it.

 

[fishmonger12]

Woh woh woh hold on dont order

that's an INTEL motherboard you are buying. It only supports LGA 775 intel processors!!!!

see, different brand procs require different motherboards. you want the AMD version, this:

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-130-468&depa=1

scared me. i would recommend a different power supply. it's a risk, ordering a generic PSU, even with the high wattage.

 

[nick1985]

an intel motherboard with an AMD cpu....wow.

 

[fishmonger12]

can't you just see him jamming that 200$ proc onto that motherboard? it woulda been hella bad.

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

Originally posted by: fishmonger12
can't you just see him jamming that 200$ proc onto that motherboard? it woulda been hella bad.

Wouldn't want to break that fancy new CPU but that would be pretty funny to see. Good thing he posted those specs before he bought.

 

[fylmz]

haha yea i was just keeping everyone on their toes. GJ!

LOL