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Looking to buy new computer...

M

MattRiddle

Junior Member
Hello everyone, this is my first post.

I have this old computer. Well it's not too old but it's not even close to being new, not even 1% close. Anyways, in the past I have bought some nice hardware for it like a video card and a hard drive and some RAM. The problem I am having with the computer is that it's motherboard and processor is really old. The processor runs at 1.3 GHZ. I can't just go out and buy a new one because I am sure the slot for the new one won't fit on my motherboard, I think some repair guy told me that. ANYWAYS, I was looking to buy a cheap computer that I could install my own video card and hard drive in that would give me a better motherboard and processor. I will have to buy new RAM, I am sure of it, and I am fine with it. I am just looking for a cheap computer with a good processor and motherboard and the rest doesn't really matter. I like to play games so please take that in mind.

I've looked at Dell and they have a really nice $299 computer that would fit my taste, or I think it would work, but I don't like having shared memory. It does come with a large hard drive and with my brand new one I got last christmas, it would be awesome. But please, if people could offer their suggestions, I would be eternally grateful. What is my budget? Definitely not more than $500.

Thanks all.
 
Hmmm, sure, but I don't want to spend $1000 on a computer. My video card does me really well. My hard drive does me really well. I don't mind buying new ram. All I need is a new motherboard and processor. I rather not buy the pieces individually either as I rather not have to install them myself to ask someone to. Thanks for the tips.
 
Does it matter? I'm sure they can both fit into any computer I buy. I think my video card is a radeon 9600 or something like that. My hard drive is some brand I've never seen before I dunno. It doesn't matter though.
 
Actually it does matter. The 9600 is an AGP card. Dell uses PCI-Express now for their graphics cards. So you'll have to make it yourself.
 
What is PCI-Express, is that something totally new or something? It just boggles my mind how this relatively new, not even 3 years old card can't be used because the hardware for computers has changed that much.

Also, although I looked at a dell computer, I didn't mean for people to only suggest Dell computers. Any computer is fine. Just one that has a better processor and motherboard. I'm hoping to atleast get past 2GHZ on the processor, the more the better.
 
Update COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum/Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: CAC-T05-UW

In Stock
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$49.99 -$5.00 Instant $44.99

Update ASUS A8V Socket 939 VIA K8T800 Pro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: A8V
** This item is warranted through the product manufacturer only. what's this?
In Stock
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$93.00 $93.00

Update SEASONIC Super Silencer 400W Super Silencer ATX 400W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: Super Silencer 400W

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$75.00 $75.00

Update AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3500BPBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA3500BPBOX
** This item is warranted through the product manufacturer only. what's this?
In Stock
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$219.00 $219.00

Update CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINX1024-3200C2 - Retail
Model #: TWINX1024-3200C2

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$129.00 $129.00
Subtotal: $560.99

560 for a nice CPU, mobo, quality case, quality PSU, and corsair XMS ram. Paired with your 9600 you should have a very nice system there that will handle most games. If you wanted, you could get this to 500 or below by choosing a cheaper PSU, case and lesser CPU.

You definitely need to build.
 
pci-express is the newest video interface...agp was the standard before it. For $500 you can get a very descent computer. Most of the people you will find on here will tell you that you need the latest and greatest always, but that's just not true for everybody. Now do you want to buy a computer for $500...or build it for $500?
 
I'd must rather buy it. I am sure I could build it, but I rather not research the internet for the best deals and buy from a bunch of people and recieve it all in the mail and have to put it all together. I know I won't get as good as I could if I was building it, but I'm okay with that.

The computer i have right now has been awesome since I've got it. The processor isn't the best, and the ram isn't the best, yet it's been able to play any game I've put on it. But, the case is really getting old. The fans are getting worn out, and the wires are just getting old too. It's a very old model. I think it would be wise just to buy me a new shell I could insert my few good pieces into and retire the old stalion. The new computer I could then upgrade in the future. One piece at a time I always say. I don't have $1000 now, but if I can get some for $300 now, and then later, $300 more, and then later $300 more, I should be just as good.

Any help is really appreiciated.
 
ASPIRE X-QPACK-NW-AL/420 Black/Silver Aluminum MicroATX Desktop Computer Case 420W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811144160
(Serial #: 06MUW008000002T) $75.00

ECS 760GX-M Socket 754 SiS 760 GX Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813135194
(Serial #: K26123E51202965)
For Tech Support Please call 800-829-8890 $51.99

AMD Sempron 3000+ Palermo 800MHz FSB Socket 754 Processor Model SDA3000BABOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819104222
(Serial #: 1219067B50038)
For Retail AMD processor, please call 408 749-3060 for service after first 30 days. For OEM AMD processor, we will service for 30 days only. Please verify the Processor matches your order Prior To installation. IMPORTANT: Always pack your CPU well for return. We will refuse your RMA if we received it as DAMAGED! $94.00

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model VS1GB400C3 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145505
(Serial #: 0BZSDD04000043R) $88.50

Grand Total: $309.49 plus shipping. Now you have $200 extra to either get a new lcd or speakers or a sound card or whatever you want. A nice alternative I believe.

Keep your hard drive and video card.

All from www.newegg.com
 
If you were willing to spend a little more money, i think you should go the PCI-E route. But, if you want to hold out with your current card for a little while longer (9600 is fine for todays games), get parts similar to what i mentioned for about 500 and use your 9600. You'll be able to upgrade the video card later on to something like a 6800ultra or maybe better.
 
Originally posted by: MattRiddle
I'd must rather buy it. I am sure I could build it, but I rather not research the internet for the best deals and buy from a bunch of people and recieve it all in the mail and have to put it all together. I know I won't get as good as I could if I was building it, but I'm okay with that.

The computer i have right now has been awesome since I've got it. The processor isn't the best, and the ram isn't the best, yet it's been able to play any game I've put on it. But, the case is really getting old. The fans are getting worn out, and the wires are just getting old too. It's a very old model. I think it would be wise just to buy me a new shell I could insert my few good pieces into and retire the old stalion. The new computer I could then upgrade in the future. One piece at a time I always say. I don't have $1000 now, but if I can get some for $300 now, and then later, $300 more, and then later $300 more, I should be just as good.

Any help is really appreiciated.
Click to expand...

This is the beauty of newegg =) go to www.newegg.com you can build your ENTIRE system there for good prices. They have excellent return policies too. My advice: get all the parts from newegg and build it. It really isnt that complicated, much less than you probably think.
 
Originally posted by: ones3k
Originally posted by: MattRiddle
I'd must rather buy it. I am sure I could build it, but I rather not research the internet for the best deals and buy from a bunch of people and recieve it all in the mail and have to put it all together. I know I won't get as good as I could if I was building it, but I'm okay with that.

The computer i have right now has been awesome since I've got it. The processor isn't the best, and the ram isn't the best, yet it's been able to play any game I've put on it. But, the case is really getting old. The fans are getting worn out, and the wires are just getting old too. It's a very old model. I think it would be wise just to buy me a new shell I could insert my few good pieces into and retire the old stalion. The new computer I could then upgrade in the future. One piece at a time I always say. I don't have $1000 now, but if I can get some for $300 now, and then later, $300 more, and then later $300 more, I should be just as good.

Any help is really appreiciated.
Click to expand...

This is the beauty of newegg =) go to www.newegg.com you can build your ENTIRE system there for good prices. They have excellent return policies too. My advice: get all the parts from newegg and build it. It really isnt that complicated, much less than you probably think.
Click to expand...



Amen...i always buy from newegg. Now you can search and save yourself $13, but just get it from newegg and save yourself the hassle
 
Both of those system listed above are great for the price. Buy from newegg as said, it will show up in 3-5 days, and you can put it tobether in a couple of hours. You will be much happier than with a DELL for gaming.
 
hmmm wow, I can't believe they have gone and upgraded the hardware once again.

I'm looking to spend as little as I can on the pc case. As long as it can keep my computer cool, it can look horrible and I'd be fine with it. 1.8 is the best you can do? That's not much more compared to my 1.3. Maybe the wiser thing to do would be to deposit some money and hold onto it so when I get more money, I can get me something better. I could save up for it.

I'm still open for reviews. Let me bring up the Dell model I was looking at. It's the Dell Dimension 2400. It's has a 2.4 GHz processor. It has a nice case. But alas, my video card would not work.

Here's another option. I could buy this Dell or something else that has a newer video card slot. Have 2 computers, let my mom use the new one for her stuff. Then when I get more money buy me a better video card for the dell computer and give my mom my older computer. Would that work? I guess that would work just as well as the saving thing.

I kind of like the idea. Any ideas of a computer I could buy that has the new video card thing, a nice case, a nice motherboard and processor that I could upgrade later?
 
Dell is actually looking pretty horrible in my eyes. IMO, dont build that sempron based system that was recommended. Get the athlon 64 3200+ or 3500+ socket 939 w/ an AGP mobo. You can buy the CASE, power supply, CPU, MOBO, and RAM for about 500. The system i listed was 560 because im totally against Antec PSUS (although they make good cases). IF you want to get it down to 100 get a cheaper case and PSU. I chose a fancy looking case and a very nice PSU because i like nice cases and PSUs =) My advice is to build the following system:

athlon 64 3500+ socket 939 or athlon 64 3000+ or athlon 64 3200+ depends how much you want to spend
1gig corsair XMS memory
socket 939 Asus AGP mobo
cheap case
decent power supply. You dont want to go too cheap with these!

You should be able to snag all of these compoents for 500 off newegg, possibly less depending on how cheap you go on the PSU and Case. With your (still good) radeon 9600 you will have a formidable system. You will also have upgrade paths available by either 1) getting a new AGP graphics card down the line suich as a 6800ultra or 2) buying a new PCI-E gfx card and a new PCI-E mobo down the line.
 
What do you mean 1.8 ? The Venice 3000 at 1.8 ? Thats about 3 times the power of your 1.3, you can't compare mhz to mhz.
 
The newer processors you see running at 1.8 ghz or 2.0 ghz clock speed are much faster compared to that Athlon(?) 1.3 than just what the bare clock speed numbers suggest. What they say about getting an AMD 64 3000+ is right on. Even your old 1.3 ghz is really not that bad, compared to what a lot of people are running for average use home computers. I suspect your perception of it getting old is at least partially due to a partially or totally hosed windows install (spyware, virii, bloatware, etc.). A fresh install can do wonders to make a computer seem brand new. I recommend learning how to put the parts of your system together instead of buying a premade system - there are lots of people available to help with any roadblocks you come across, and it is so much more rewarding to create your own 'baby' than to adopt it.
 
I'm not looking to play any games on MAX or anything, just be able to play them. Now that I'm at home, I can give you all the information about my processor and such. It's an AMD Athlon processor with 1.34Ghz. I have a Radeon 9600. My hard drive is less than a year new so that should work fine. Actually, with this being the half of the year that I do get the most gifts and money, thanks to my birthday and christmas falling around the same time, I am really liking the idea of just building...yes I said building...me a nice computer that has nothing spectacular other than a nice processor and a motherboard with the slot for the new video card and a very very generic cheap video card. Later on in the year I can get me some upgrade parts like a better video card and some more ram. Thanks everyone for all the work, I know they might seem tiresome, but I really have no idea what I'm doing 🙂

So, could any suggest some parts to make a very simple computer that works by itself that needs nothing extra to work (other than monitor/keyboard/etc.) That I could upgrade later. I'm looking for the best processor and motherboard I can get and the motherboard to have that new video card slot and a very cheap video card. I don't know what all a computer needs. I guess it'd be a motherboard, processor, video card, hard drive, power supply, wires of course, fans, uhhh cd drive, yeah, and RAM. Please, I don't want 1GB of ram, I can buy that later. Thanks so much guys for all the awesome help. I would end up with that lame Dell without you.
 
Originally posted by: MattRiddle
Hmmm, sure, but I don't want to spend $1000 on a computer. My video card does me really well. My hard drive does me really well. I don't mind buying new ram. All I need is a new motherboard and processor. I rather not buy the pieces individually either as I rather not have to install them myself to ask someone to. Thanks for the tips.
Click to expand...
eMachines Athlon64, if you want to buy one.

Otherwise...well, forget not getting 1GB of RAM. Seriously. I can eat over 512MB w/o gaming one little bit. Programs are only going to get more bloated. Also, RAM prices aren't likely to get cheaper, unless you're using DDR-II, but that'd be too expensive, anyway.
 
it really sounds to me, if you are satisfied with a cheap video card, like you don't need to do an upgrade of anything now except maybe some more ram - like I said before; your windows setup probably needs a reinstall, and 1.33 ghz is great for many people. My previous setup was a 1.33 ghz athlon, 512 mb ram, ati radeon 8500 video card, and it worked great for me until I got into photoshop, video editing, and other high intensive stuff - so I moved to an athlon 64 3200+ with 1gb ram and ati 9800 pro video. It doesn't sound to me like you are in need of anything new at this point - a 9600 is able to play games, your processor is fine - not great, but fine. What games do you want to play and how do you expect to play them (1600x1200?, etc.) ? Because that is really the only deciding factor as far as I can see as to whether an upgrade is called for.
 
buy a barbones computer that supports agp. You'll have to do you research to find a barebones kit that has a mobo that will work with your vid card (has agp)
 
I don't exactly how much money I will have. The money I get will go into the more important things like clothes and bills, and then whatever is left, that is what I have.

Like I said earlier, I am liking the idea of building a computer that has very average specs other than it's motherboard and processor. I don't think that should be as expensive as buying all the good parts all together. Once I have this starter computer, with a really nice motherboard and processor, I can start to switch out components for better versions. I could probably get some good ram for my bithday and then some other stuff for christmas and then the final kick butt video card in jan. So all I need is the parts to make a computer work, and a really nice motherboard and processor. So I guess that would probably be:

-Really nice processor
-Really nice motherboard
-Decent Case, nothing super special, just something that can keep my pc cool and offers usb in the front of the computer.
-20-40GB hard drive (all that's need to run windows plus alittle bit of space)
-a cd-drive
-a video card (just something that meets the minimal requirements to run windows and the internet lol)
-a power supply (i guess those dont' come with the case?)
-about 512 RAM (256 is required to run windows, so I need more) (please not the top of the line ram either, just something half decent)
-everything else needed as cheap as they come.

Can anyone help with this?

Thanks
 
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