I Need Advice!

[SpeedFreak03]

Currently I have a Pentium 3 500MHz, 384MB PC100 SDRAM, ATI Radeon 9000 128MB DDR, WDC 80GB 7200RPM HDD, 16X DVD, 32X CDRW, and a couple other goodies. Around the holidays, I will have some money to spend. I was pretty set on getting a Barton 2500+, 512MB DDR400, and I forget what mobo lol. But I have read some things that have said to wait until 64Bit CPUs are available at a decent price (around December 2004 I think it said). I surf the net, email, use Microsoft Word, chat (aim, msn etc), play a couple games that stutter a bit on my computer (GTA Vice City, Unreal Tournament 2003, Madden 2004, Midnight Club 2), and watch TV (Pinnacle PCTV PCI) and DVDs. With what I do, how useful would a 64-bit CPU be to me? Should I wait? That is the question...

 

[Arcanedeath]

With your system I'd upgrade now, just get whatever fits your budget, I'd at least replace your CPU / MoBo, and Ram the rest of your stuff isn't to bad and you can upgrade it later

 

[DaTT]

32bit will be just fine for you.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

I guess I will upgrade this year. Last year I almost bought a MSI KT4V board, Athlon 1900+ with AGOGA stepping (I was gonna o/c lol), and 384MB PC2100 DDR ram. Anyway, the board I plan on getting is the EpoX 8RDA+. It gets good reviews (HEXUS.net Review EPoX 8RDA+ nForce2 Page - 10-10, and a few others), has the features I need (I know it lacks raid, but that is something I have no use for at this time cause I really don't have the $$ for another 80GB hdd), and is at a price that is affordable for me. Now the only thing I need a recommendation on is ram. Out of these, which is the best stick for under $100? I don't plan on overclocking at this time, but I might have the urge one day to bring the speed from 1.83GHz to around 2GHz (mostly so "I have" a 2ghz lol), which seems like a slight overclock compared to some people's o/cs here at atf. I guess thats really all the advice I need! Thanks again, Josh

 

[4x4expy]

Your link on the mem is broken, but the best that newegg has for less than $100 is probably going to be Buffalo 512mb of pc3200 or pc3700(it may be a few $ over, not sure).

 

[SpeedFreak03]

lol my bad about the link, still can't get it right. Anyway, the link was to the list of the 512MB DDR400 ram that NewEgg sells. Here is the buffalo ram I think your talking about: NewEgg. I also saw this OCZ ram with the aluminum heatspreaders for $104: NewEgg. Which is better? I don't mind spending the extra $14, unless the OCZ is worse.

EDIT: I browsed around and found the Buffalo DDR466 for $99: NewEgg. I will probably go with this instead of the OCZ, as it is faster ram, and I can't afford the $170 OCZ DDR466 ram.

 

[PolskiKrol]

If you are not going to overclock your processor I would suggest going with a slower rated but better quality memory... such as Crucial. You can get a stick of 512MB PC3200 for under 100$ at new egg. Also, if you ever want to replace the memory in the future the Crucial brand tends to retain more price value as compared to OCZ and Buffalo...

Good luck with your upgrade.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

So your saying that I should stick with the DDR400, but have better quality, right? Will I notice any performance hits from the slower memory? I use Crucial in most of my systems and it has served me well. Here is the stick then I will prolly buy: NewEgg. I want these parts (mobo cpu ram) to last me a good 3-4 years, so I'm trying to buy good parts lol.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

So how bout that ram? Is it good?

 

[4x4expy]

The Buffalo and OCZ are as good if not better quality then the Crucial. Crucial was the big thing a year to 1.5 year ago. They have not maintained their place in mem quality though.

The buffalo ram uses Winbond chips. What better quality do you want?

 

[SpeedFreak03]

So your saying I should get the buffalo ddr466? Is the OCZ better than the buffalo though? Decisions, decisions...

 

[JBT]

go for either the 3200 or 3700 buffalo I think 85 vs 104 respectivly I want to get the PC3700 SOOO bad I but I just bought a laptop so no more upgrading my destop for awhile =(. OCZ can be good and bad I ahve heard mixed reviews though they are starting to get better. I would still get the Buffalo w00t.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Yeah im gonna go wit the buffalo 466 then. Thanks for all your inputs, and I can't wait till i build this box!