Looking for upgrade options - or should I build new

[Eirgorn]

EDIT from later post - I think I'll scrap my 8250 and use the proceeds to rebuild:

I was looking at this post on SDs to build a decent cheap computer and it got me thinking:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=437044

Would it be smart to return the 7600GT I jsut bought from Newegg (AGP - cost $175 with $30 rebate I havent clipped/mailed) and suffer a ~$25 loss on restock and shipping costs and add that to an approximate $200 I can get on ebay for my 2-256 and 2-128 PC1066 RDRam sticks and an extra $100 or so to have a current easily upgradeable system that is PCIe and SDRam based??

I think I would need the Mobo $110
CPU $163 <cheaper if I hold off til April?>
Memory 1G $75 <get more later>
GPU $90 <same as I have now>
Case FAR
PSU FAR
Hard Drive - reuse current until later
Disk Drives - reuse current until later

Total : 438 - 200 sale rdram - 150 return gpu = $88

Anything wrong with that?

Any feed back welcome!



OP:

Hey guys - Im wondering if there is anyway I can upgrade my current system without incurring too much expense.

Right now I have an old Dell 8250 P4 2.67 w/768 mb rdRam and an AGP 7600gt. The CPU/RAM is the bottleneck for me and I was wondering if it is feasible to just buy a new Motherboard that can use ddr instead of RDRam and perhaps get a faster CPU.

I know since it is a Dell I cant really OC what I have, and that the MoBo mounting is abit wierd, but if I got a new case and PSU (maybe the FAR ones in HotDeals/SD?) to put those in, would it be possible to eek some more out of my system?

To upgrade my current RAM to 1.5G it would cast me about $200 on ebay and I cant see myself spending that for this old system. Im looking at new Mobos on newegg, and there seem to be several with an AGP slot for around $45 (want to keep my new 7600GT I guess - or I could return it for a PCI card + Mobo probably).

I guess I just need someone to tell me to save up and build a real system after this one is completely worthless. That's just depressing because Im not sure when that will be - any cheap ways I can improve what I have would be great.

Thanks,

 

[Boyo]

Trying to upgrade that PC on the cheap is not going to work out. I think you would be better off either buying an upgraded Dell or build your own, which is the route I would recommend.

 

[Eirgorn]

Ok, I guess I knew you were right before I posted - Im just not sure I can convince my wife to let me build a new computer since we have a baby due in 2 months hehe.

Oh well, I'll keep this one on life support as long as I can.

Thanks!

EDIT !!!

I was looking at this post on SDs to build a decent cheap computer and it got me thinking:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=437044

Would it be smart to return the 7600GT I jsut bought from Newegg (AGP - cost $175 with $30 rebate I havent clipped/mailed) and suffer a ~$25 loss on restock and shipping costs and add that to an approximate $200 I can get on ebay for my 2-256 and 2-128 PC1066 RDRam sticks and an extra $100 or so to have a current easily upgradeable system that is PCIe and SDRam based??

I think I would need the Mobo $110
CPU $163 <cheaper if I hold off til April?>
Memory 1G $75 <get more later>
GPU $90 <same as I have now>
Case FAR
PSU FAR
Hard Drive - reuse current until later
Disk Drives - reuse current until later

Total : 438 - 200 sale rdram - 150 return gpu = $88

Anything wrong with that?

Any feed back welcome!

 

[Eirgorn]

Man I'm all confused on what to do now - I guess I have my 30day window with my GPU return to work with though.

I just read about the price drops on April 22 and I am wondering if I should just hold off until then to build my new cheapo computer. I guess I can RMA my 7600GT later this month and just use my old 9700 until I get all my new parts ordered.