Help I feel like a nub!

[Xatrix]

I built my last PC in 2004 and I feel its about that time again to upgrade. I primarliy use my PC for gaming and internet usage. I'm currently playing Call of Duty 4 with fairly abysmal results.

I can't decide on what direction to go next. I will probably need to get a Motherboard, CPU, RAM, and new gfx card... I'm not wanting to spend a lot of money, nor do I need to have a top-end machine.

I'd want to use my current HDD, PSU, case, optical, etc.

Do you think its worth upgrading at this point? I know that is like the magical question that everyone asks all of the time...

Here are my current specs:

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Winchester (90nm) 2200MHz

Motherboard: ASUS A8V-Deluxe Via K8T800Pro REV 2.0

Memory: 1052 MB of OCZ EL Platinum Revision 2 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200

Video Card: BFG 6800 GT OC Nvidia Geforce

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 SATA 200.0 GB @ 7200 RPMS

Monitor: Dell 2405 24" Widescreen LCD

DVD R/W: NEC DVD R 3500A

Sound Card: SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum

Other Components: OCZ Powerstream 520 PSU

Thermaltake xp-120 HS

MountainMods UFO-U2 Case

 

[PCTC2]

Why don't you wait a month or two for Wolfdale/Yorkfield to debut? It's as good a time as any to upgrade since new parts are coming out. Then you could build a system like:

CPU: Intel E8400 or Q9400
Motherboard: Asus P5K or similar P35 board
Memory: 2GB DDR2 800
Video Card: 8800GT

 

[sgrinavi]

Upgrade when you are ready, you will wait forever for the next price drop or the next great thing.... There is always something better comming out next month.

If you are willing to OC your system you can do a E4500, tuniq tower, a decent P35 board, 4gb of ddr800, and a 512MB 8800GT card in the $650 neighborhood. I would upgrade that hard drive too.

 

[Xatrix]

What would you recommend upgrading the HDD to? Is my PSU sufficient?

 

[sgrinavi]

200 gb is kinda small and seagate is up to 7200.11 with the 7200.10 rated at 3.0 being common place and very affordable. I bought 3 reconditioned 320 GB drives for $155. You see them on sale for $79 all the time. I would go with a 320 or a 500, depending on your needs.

You can use that 200 as a backup drive.

If it were me I would try out the PSU you have; it will probably be fine if you stick to a single 8800 GT card. If you really are just gaming then you can probably go with one of the e2xxx C2Ds and save another $40...

I just put a similar system together for my step-son, I wanted to try a 12x multi so I splurged on a e4600, but other than that it's an econo-gaming rig. It runs with near stock voltage at 3.0 and never gets over 52 degrees. He plays crysis on dx9, x64, high settings (with some config.sys mods) with out any significant issues.

 

[Denithor]

Best bang for your buck right now would be a new video card. Pop an 8800GT in your current system (assuming you have PCI-E motherboard, that is) and you should see a nice improvement in games without doing anything else. Not quite as good as a complete rebuild but not bad either (try this out before upgrading the whole system to see if it gives you the performance you need--if not, then go for the rest of the components).

200GB HDD is probably still adequate, especially for the short term. PSU should be fine for about any single GPU on the market.

If in the mood for a full rebuild, here are the parts I would recommend (I'm too lazy tonight to track down links, just search for them on Newegg).

DFI P35-T2RL motherboard (P35/ICH9R) $115
mushkin 2x1GB DDR2-800 $50
e2180 (2GHz, 1MB cache) $85

With these parts you should be able to hit 3-3.2GHz pretty easily and that will be enough power to last you well into next year, when you can pick up a Penryn dual/quad on the cheap. Or just wait one month and see if the Penryn duals launch on schedule, the e8200 or e8400 look like they are going to be awesome at a great price.

 

[Xatrix]

Yea my mobo is not pci-e... so im stuck with the 6800 right now. I'm not worried about my HDD, size wise.. I have a 200gb external that is never more than 1/2 full.

 

[cozumel]

I agree with Denithor in that the best route would be to ditch your current mobo and get a P35 that is penryn ready. Drop in the E2180, some respectable PC2-6400, throw in an 8800GT and your COD will be like a new game. You will also have a truck-load of headroom for future upgrades.

I prefer Gigabyte or Asus P35s though.

 

[Xatrix]

Thanks for the posts guys! So that would run me about $600?

 

[renethx]

My recommendations are:

- Pentium Dual-Core E2200 2.2GHz, $96
- GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L, $97
- Crucial Ballistix BL2KIT12864AA804 DDR2-800 2 x 1GB Kit, $50 (AR)
- GeForce 8800 GT 512MB, $270
- Total: $513

and you are done.

 

[Xatrix]

Looks pretty good. One final note, I will need a mobo that won't hate on my heatsink (Thermaltake xp-120)

 

[Butterbean]

Heatsinks are cheap. Look around and see what you like and you can get a heat sink for $30.

I took 5 minutes to look at Newegg quick and without evev trying for an optimal configuration I can find a nice config that is so cheap its ridiculous:

Conroe C2D 2.66 ghz 1333fsb 4M Cache = $189 (that's a joke compared to just a couple years ago)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115029

Corsair DDR2 800 6400 $37 after rebate (ha - that stuff was over $200 in fall of 06 when I built)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145590

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 $97
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128059



189 + 37 + 97 = $323.00

This is an excellent time to build. You could add in a ATI 3850 512MB for 170.00ish if you get one with the rebate.


Edit:

Actually Best Buy now has the ATI 3850 256 MB for $143

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...&cp=1&id=1194053242019

 

[renethx]

Originally posted by: Xatrix
Looks pretty good. One final note, I will need a mobo that won't hate on my heatsink (Thermaltake xp-120)

Look at this post. XP-120 fits GA-P35-DS3R. That means it also fits DS3L (as the board layout is identical with DS3R).

 

[Xatrix]

Thanks a lot renethx