Okay. Right. So.
I'm fairly new to computer buying/upgrading/tweaking/everything. I've been looking through these forums as guest for about a week or so now and thought I'd chime in to see if I can get some help on upgrading my computer.
Originally a friend of mine put together this computer for me. I mostly needed it for CD/DVD burning, utilities like that, plus document making. The graphics card is a GeForce 6200 (256mb) AGP card, and runs everything I currently play fine (WoW, TF2 recently, etc) but I'm thinking now with dx10 coming out I need to upgrade hard and fast.
I've just come into some inheritance and thought its now or never and I've been mostly browsing through computer parts and shops, looking at the new things, grabbing the reviews and information I can. Which lead me here. I need your help, please!
Budget isn't a problem. I'm not a millionaire if thats what you're thinking, but I have enough to upgrade nicely. I don't want to buy a new computer, super fast hulk of a machine and blow it all, I just want a stable upgrade that'll allow me to relax for the next few years while I save up.
I'm Australian, which makes things increasingly difficult, so any Aussies out there that could link me to lower prices (I don't want to have to wait for shipment oversea's) that would just be super.
So, now that that's out of the way, I'll post my rig:
CPU: AMD Sempron, 1600 MHz (8 x 200) 2800+
Motherboard Chipset: VIA K8M800/K8N800, AMD Hammer
Motherboard ID: 12/07/2005-K8M800-8237-6A7L1G04C-00
RAM: 512 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
GFX: NVIDIA GeForce 6200 (256 MB)
Monitor: LG L1919S [NoDB] (1702103580)
Hard drive: SAMSUNG SP0842N (74 GB)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Pretty sure thats it. Don't ask me about power supply and cooling. Since this computer was built for me I don't know the specifics, and unfortunately the friend passed away recently.
So lets rehash. I need a fairly decent, nothing over the top, computer to play the new-gen games on. Medium settings on maybe 1280x1020. I usually play games on 1024x768 now, so I wouldn't mind that either.
I've taken it upon myself to find a few items I'd consider replacing what I have. I'm not sure about power supply/cooling stuff, so if you could enlighten me as to the importance of that, I'd be very appreciative.
Stuff I'm considering on:
CPU: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod...M2-Athlon-X2-5200.html (I'll learn to overclock later on, so maybe something lower? I dunno)
RAM: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod...-6400-PK-4-4-4-12.html (No matter what I'll be upgrading RAM. I'd prefer if it was DDR2, however, and for that I'd have to upgrade mobo)
Mobo: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod.../ASUS-M2A-VM-HDMI.html
Hard drive: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod...250GB-ST3250310AS.html (Currently on 80gb now, and I don't really need more space. Maybe another 80gb instead of a whole new primary?)
Power Supply: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod...SilverStone-ST50F.html (No idea about this. Short Circuit protection is the thing that caught my protection, I live by the sea and power surges are pretty common)
Cooling: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod...hermaltake-TMG-A1.html (It's cheap, it's small, it's not loud. Computer is in the lounge room, so it being loud isn't preferred)
Thats all I have for an upgrade so far.
My situation is that to get better RAM I need a better Mobo. Since I'm buying a better Mobo I might as well upgrade the graphics card. I'm completely clueless as to how computers work, and the information I got above for my rig was mostly copied from Everest.
I know I'll need to upgrade my graphics card. My question is: Now or later? I don't want to have to spend 400 dollars on a graphics card if I don't have to. I will, I suppose, but I'm really hoping I don't need to. The newer ones look nice and all, but going all-out right at this moment on top of everything else seems to be silly for what I *need* the computer to do.
If you could advise me on graphics cards in particular, I'd love that. Feel free to link link link.
ANY and ALL comments are absolutely welcome. My ego is checked at the door, and I'll understand if you can't be bothered tackling my case if you think its hopeless.
Just as a last comment, if any Aussie buyers frequent any particular parts store, chuck us a link? I'm completely new to online shopping (period) so I'd appreciate that.
Thanks guys! Eagerly awaiting being told what's what. :thumbsup:
I'm fairly new to computer buying/upgrading/tweaking/everything. I've been looking through these forums as guest for about a week or so now and thought I'd chime in to see if I can get some help on upgrading my computer.
Originally a friend of mine put together this computer for me. I mostly needed it for CD/DVD burning, utilities like that, plus document making. The graphics card is a GeForce 6200 (256mb) AGP card, and runs everything I currently play fine (WoW, TF2 recently, etc) but I'm thinking now with dx10 coming out I need to upgrade hard and fast.
I've just come into some inheritance and thought its now or never and I've been mostly browsing through computer parts and shops, looking at the new things, grabbing the reviews and information I can. Which lead me here. I need your help, please!
Budget isn't a problem. I'm not a millionaire if thats what you're thinking, but I have enough to upgrade nicely. I don't want to buy a new computer, super fast hulk of a machine and blow it all, I just want a stable upgrade that'll allow me to relax for the next few years while I save up.
I'm Australian, which makes things increasingly difficult, so any Aussies out there that could link me to lower prices (I don't want to have to wait for shipment oversea's) that would just be super.
So, now that that's out of the way, I'll post my rig:
CPU: AMD Sempron, 1600 MHz (8 x 200) 2800+
Motherboard Chipset: VIA K8M800/K8N800, AMD Hammer
Motherboard ID: 12/07/2005-K8M800-8237-6A7L1G04C-00
RAM: 512 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
GFX: NVIDIA GeForce 6200 (256 MB)
Monitor: LG L1919S [NoDB] (1702103580)
Hard drive: SAMSUNG SP0842N (74 GB)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Pretty sure thats it. Don't ask me about power supply and cooling. Since this computer was built for me I don't know the specifics, and unfortunately the friend passed away recently.
So lets rehash. I need a fairly decent, nothing over the top, computer to play the new-gen games on. Medium settings on maybe 1280x1020. I usually play games on 1024x768 now, so I wouldn't mind that either.
I've taken it upon myself to find a few items I'd consider replacing what I have. I'm not sure about power supply/cooling stuff, so if you could enlighten me as to the importance of that, I'd be very appreciative.
Stuff I'm considering on:
CPU: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod...M2-Athlon-X2-5200.html (I'll learn to overclock later on, so maybe something lower? I dunno)
RAM: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod...-6400-PK-4-4-4-12.html (No matter what I'll be upgrading RAM. I'd prefer if it was DDR2, however, and for that I'd have to upgrade mobo)
Mobo: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod.../ASUS-M2A-VM-HDMI.html
Hard drive: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod...250GB-ST3250310AS.html (Currently on 80gb now, and I don't really need more space. Maybe another 80gb instead of a whole new primary?)
Power Supply: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod...SilverStone-ST50F.html (No idea about this. Short Circuit protection is the thing that caught my protection, I live by the sea and power surges are pretty common)
Cooling: http://www.pcparts.net.au/Prod...hermaltake-TMG-A1.html (It's cheap, it's small, it's not loud. Computer is in the lounge room, so it being loud isn't preferred)
Thats all I have for an upgrade so far.
My situation is that to get better RAM I need a better Mobo. Since I'm buying a better Mobo I might as well upgrade the graphics card. I'm completely clueless as to how computers work, and the information I got above for my rig was mostly copied from Everest.
I know I'll need to upgrade my graphics card. My question is: Now or later? I don't want to have to spend 400 dollars on a graphics card if I don't have to. I will, I suppose, but I'm really hoping I don't need to. The newer ones look nice and all, but going all-out right at this moment on top of everything else seems to be silly for what I *need* the computer to do.
If you could advise me on graphics cards in particular, I'd love that. Feel free to link link link.
ANY and ALL comments are absolutely welcome. My ego is checked at the door, and I'll understand if you can't be bothered tackling my case if you think its hopeless.
Just as a last comment, if any Aussie buyers frequent any particular parts store, chuck us a link? I'm completely new to online shopping (period) so I'd appreciate that.
Thanks guys! Eagerly awaiting being told what's what. :thumbsup:
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