Give me an OT Computer System Tune Up

[Total Refected Power]

OK. I have a birthday coming up and its time to generate a list. I have neglected the core of my PC for some time and would like to improve the specs.

What I have now:

BE6 Abit motherboard
Celeron 300A @ 450
384 MB of CAS2 133 RAM
20 GB IBM 7200 rpm ATA66 HD
TNT2 Ultra 32 MB card
3X DVD-ROM/Toshiba
12/10/32x Plextor Burn Proof CD-burner.
Mid-level case
Diamond MX-300 Sound Card
Netgear 10/100 NIC
Netgear Router
Intellimouse (wheel)
MS Force Feedback Joystick
HP Laser
HP 1100 inkjet (accepts Smart media cards)
Olympus Dye-sublimation printer
Umax Scanner
Olympus Digital Camera
Altech Lansing cube speakers with sub woofer (old)
Mitusubish 19 in Trinitron
Windows ME

So the areas that need work are the CPU (thinking P3 700, o/c to 933), the video card (buggy) and the case. Not sure about the sound card but seems to work OK.


Thanks

 

[Napalm381]

New processor like you mentioned would probably make you much happier. That would be my number one upgrade on that system.

A Radeon or GF2 (depending on your preference) would also make a noticeable difference.

Bigger case if you're short on space, or overheating, but if that isn't a problem, why bother?

Maybe a bigger hard drive if you need more room, but if you're not an MP3 junkie or anything 20 GB is plenty.

 

[Double Trouble]

If you're not a gamer, go with the Matrox G450, I'm very happy with the clarity of the video with it on both monitors.

I would spring for another 20G IBM hard drive and a cheap promise raid card for some nice striping action.

And, for the coup de grace, have a chat with Compuwiz about getting a nice little 1G processor in there for not too much cash

 

[Killrose]

If you can, get a "Flip chip on a Rack" 700@933, that way when you migrate to a new motherboard you'll have a flip chip for it.
Get rid of the TNT ultra and the 300@450, and with that money get a hold of a decent used DDR GeForce1, unless you have more to spend, one of the newer cards. In 2-3weeks They'll be a lot of GeForce2 cards showing up for sale on the forums

 

[Total Refected Power]

OK. Ordered a P3 @ 1Ghz from compuwiz1.

Next up is a video card.

 

[Emulex]

nothing less than a geforce 2 will suffice for 1ghz of power

and we're not talking about the MX those suck.

 

[shiznut123]

No need to get a new sound card. The MX300 is an awesome sound card. Try to buy a geforce2 gts in the FS forums

 

[Stark]

Looks like i'm too late, but t-bird is the way to go in your situation.

from a cranky tech's employer:


<< MSI K7TPro2-A w/Athlon 1000Mhz CPU
US$ 312.00
1 Year Warranty!
Includes a Microstar K7TPro2-A motherboard, AMD &quot;Thunderbird&quot; SocketA 1000 Mhz OEM CPU, and Super Cool SocketA - Ball Bearing fan/heatsink. >>



Match that up with a geforce card, and you're good until 64-bit becomes reality!