Need Advice: want to gradually upgrade my computer

[JuffoWup]

Hi, I'm new to the forums.

Lately, I've been noticing my computer falling well behind the tech curve; it can no longer run newer games well, especially the latest crop of MMORPGs. (City of Heroes, WoW)

I was planning to upgrade sometime next summer, but considering how my computer is suffering now, I'm wondering whether there are any quick upgrades I can do now that won't be obsolete a year from now. To give you an idea of what I'm working with, here's what I'm running right now (built 3 years ago):

MSI KT3 ultra-ARU mobo
AMDathlon XP 1500+ processor
256MB DDR-266 PC2100 RAM
AOpen 128MB GeForce 4 Ti4200 (slightly overclocked)
No sound card (use mobo internal sound)
Some crappy CD drive (doesn't really matter)

Although my processor is probably the crappiest thing there (although none of it is very impressive), I'm not sure I can upgrade it now without having to replace my motherboard and RAM as well, which is tantamount to getting a new system. Also, with the speed at which new videocards are being put out, I'm not surean immediatevideocardupgrade is in my best interest.

Therefore, I'm considering buying a 512 MB stick of RAM, and replacing my current RAM. I figure I can get faster ram (like 3200-4000) and get a newer mobo and processor to match later. However, I'm wondering whether such an "upgrade" would even affect performance that much. (not to mention RAM prices sorta suck)

Ultimately, I want to have a nice mid-range rig next summer, but I want to start building it now without blowing my wallet. Is this realistic or possible? Aside from the options I've mentioned above, is there anything I've missed that I should consider? Please let me know what you think would work, and thanksyour help, it is appreciated.

 

[Viper96720]

get a new video card first

 

[snidy1]

I would start with a new MB, CPU, and memory and upgrade the rest as the funds become available.

 

[myocardia]

Yeah, get the motherboard, memory, and cpu first. Replace the video card last.

 

[Migroo]

RAM is really the main thing that steps out.. idealy you'd have 512 or 1GB

I concur with the others. Get a new MB/CPU/RAM combination and get a new video card last.

 

[Schadenfroh]

your more CPU/RAM/MOBO limited than CPU limited, im running 1gb of pc3200 corsair xms, nforce2 ultra 400, and athlonxp 3200 on a geforce 4200

 

[Cerb]

Your CPU is slow, but you only have 256MB RAM. The RAM is really crippling you.
Get a NForce2 mobo, some new RAM (1GB would be ideal, 512MB min), and a Barton.
Overclock some .

Your video card is still OK.

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

$400 spent on a mobile 2600(to run at 3200+ with cheap cooling), a motherboard, and ram will last you a good while if your power supply can handle it.

you might be still bottlenecked by hard drive speed though which would defeat the whole purpose. what do you have now?

i was forced to make the upgrade because my 1700+ motherboard died. the speed increase is fantastic.


even still, a mobile 2600 and a 256meg stick added on to your current setup would still be a nice upgrade.

 

[JBT]

I would say RAM is the main problem here depending on how much you can spend with the first evolution of your system I would reccommend geting a stick of 512 PC3200 ram if you have more money to spend next I would say get a Nfroce2 board then if you have even more a new CPU.

I know the RAM speed is more than your current mobo will run but with MMPRG's they like ALOT of ram.
The new mobo will give you the option of a faster CPU and then grab the new CPU in that order.

After all that then grab a new video card.

512 PC3200 ~$100
Shuttle AN35N ~ $65-70
mobile Barton ~$90

so for around $260 you can have a pretty fast system esspecially if you OC.

 

[naddicott]

I would expect additional RAM will take care of your main roadblock to acceptable WoW performance, reportedly it's playing well on some pretty low-end systems. Any MMORPG is going to make good use of any RAM you give it, at least up to the 1GB mark.

As a slight tangent, does anyone know of any recent CPU/GPU scaling reviews on the web? One with recent hardware and games? The last AT one I can find is this one.

I'm dealing with a similar gradual upgrade situation with my gaming rig - a P4S533/ P41.6A@2.3 / 512 2700 RAM / GF4 ti4400. My next move is a CPU since 2.8/533s aren't that expensive these days. Then perhaps a mid-range NV40 card in the fall if one is available by then. I'm hoping that'll be adequate for WoW. I don't like the prospect of buying RAM at these prices, especially since I'll probably be needing DDR2 when I finally upgrade my MOBO.

 

[paladiin]

Interestingly enough, seems that the latest BIOS upgrade for the KT3 Ultra gives support for the mobile 2400+ and 2600+ CPU's (found some talk on some boards that verify this). So if you were really strapped, you could forgo the MB upgrade and go with one of those CPU's (which you could then move onto a newer MB when you could afford it).

You'd probably have to move up on your RAM speed rating, so it would be a good excuse to make a 512MB purchase of some PC3200. Might be worth investigating.

 

[Alkaline5]

Originally posted by: paladiin
Interestingly enough, seems that the latest BIOS upgrade for the KT3 Ultra gives support for the mobile 2400+ and 2600+ CPU's (found some talk on some boards that verify this). So if you were really strapped, you could forgo the MB upgrade and go with one of those CPU's (which you could then move onto a newer MB when you could afford it).

You'd probably have to move up on your RAM speed rating, so it would be a good excuse to make a 512MB purchase of some PC3200. Might be worth investigating.

If your strapped for cash this is probably the way to go.

$84 Mobile Barton
$96 Mushkin PC3200 CL2.5
$180 total and you've got a decent little system

 

[zodder]

Listen to the trouts.

 

[beatle]

I second the RAM upgrade. Adding a 512 meg stick of PC3200 is something you can keep for your next upgrade. Welcome to the forum, btw.