Need some upgrading advice

[tomp8442]

I need to upgrade my current system because ultimately id like to eventually have vista and play better games but do this without completly overhauling my entire system as I do not have the money for it.

Current system
? Case = APEVIA X-Dreamer II ATX Mid Tower Case
? PSU = 420W Power Supply
? Mboard = ASUS A8N5X 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard
? Video = EVGA GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported
? Processor = AMD Athlon 64 3400+ Venice 2.2GHz Socket 939 Single-Core Processor
? Ram = Patriot Signature Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400
? HDD = Western digital 80gb ide
? Dvd rw = asus dvd rw dual layer

ok Id like to upgrade my processor. What kind can I get, will an am2 fit in that board? can I get a dual core processor?

Id like to add another gig of ram - do I need to get the same brand ram or I can I just pick up crucial valueram 2 x 512

I need a bigger Hdd since Im all out of space, should I get an sata drive or an external hdd if so can anyone recommend a decent hdd

My Dvd/rw player still works.. but the door does not open anymore... so I cant really use it unless I use a screwdriver to pry the door open. can anyone point me to a more reliable drive.

and finaly video
I cant SLI obviously since my mboard wont do that. whats the best card I can get for what my mboard is. Im prepared to upgrade my PSU if needed.

any advise would help
I got about 500 to spend
whats should I do?

 

[MarcVenice]

Hehe, same mobo as I have. No AM2 will NOT fit. Yes you can get a dualcore processor. Do you overclock ? Basicaly there's 2 options.

Option #1: You buy another 1gb of ram, for 40$ or so ? Buying the same ram would probably be the best. Then you have to buy a new CPU, something like a x2 3600 or 3800+ and overclock it to 2.5ghz or higher.

Option #2: Buy a abit ip35-e for 60$, a e2200 for 90$ or so and 2-4gb of ram for 35-60$. This combo will easily overclock to 2.6ghz and higher, making it capable of running pretty much any game you want.

The sata HD and videocard are somewhat irrelevant for those 2 options, because they will work in both pc's. You have a PCI-e 16x slot, and you can throw in a 9600gt/8800gt/HD3870 etc etc just fine. You COULD replace the 7600gt with a new videocard, till you have more to spend on a new motherboard/cpu/ram combo, and then use the new videocard in the new motherboard. With just 1gb of ram and that singlecore CPU you're going to be bottlenecked a bit though.

In the end, I think I would go with option #2, it would cost slightly more money, but buys you a better rig, and you still have your old rig intact, meaning you can reuse/sell it. I went with option #1, but that was 9 months ago or so. Right now, I would go with option #2 if I had to chose again. For a new videocard chances are you also need a new PSU btw. A decent one will run you 55$. Decent HD would be a 500gb Sata drive, for 100$, like a samsung or seagate.

 

[tomp8442]

nice to know you have the same mboard, it was very popular in 2006.

some concerns I have with your suggestions Id like to talk about. I wasnt aware x2 processors would work in a socket 939. If this is possible could you possibly link me to something?

All the 9600gt cards are pci-e 2.0 x16... are they backwards compatable?

and lastly heres what im thinking of going with are there any glaring issues, is there anything I can do better?

ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA $36.99

Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $69.99

XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 $64.99 w $30.00 Rebate

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 $39.99

AMD Opteron 180 Denmark 2.4GHz Socket 939 110W Dual-Core Processor $139.99
(not to sure about this one.. I need more advice on a processor)

im not worried about spending an extra couple of bucks if its a good deal.
just that every time I put together another rig It ends up costing to much which is why im just upgradingnow.

Thanks so much for the advice

 

[MarcVenice]

Well, I'm running a x2 3800+ @ 2.6ghz on my a8n5x, isn't that proof enough

Yes, the videocards are backwards compatible. I wouldn't buy a 8600gt, it's in fact not that much better then your 7600gt, they are pretty much equal. The HDD is fine, realize that for 30$ more you get twice the space. And, the opteron 180 isn't a bad cpu, it's rather expensive though. You should check ebay instead for example, newegg.com isn't a good place to look for s939 cpu's. Look at it this way, a opteron 180 costs 140$ and the ram is 40$. For 180$ you can buy a abit ip35-e for 60$, a e2180 for 80$ and 2gb of ddr2 800mhz for 40$ = 180$. Same price, and far less of a hassle, far better upgradibility. The e2180 is probably equal to a opteron 180. And when you overclock the e2180 a modest 400mhz, it's lots faster.

This leaves you with your s939 rig, which can be sold. Even if you sell it for 50$, then you come out on top big time. So I strongly suggest against upgrading. S939 is as dead as it possibly could be, and a new rig thats equally if not faster then upgrading costs the same. New > old, at least, in this case.

 

[tomp8442]

yeah 939 is dead as a doornail

all the amd x2 's left on newegg are socket am2.

maybe I should upgrade the board. my only real issue with your number 2 suggestion is the thought of ever buying another a-bit board makes me dry heave. I wont do it. my knowlege and expirences sway me far from that company.

what about a different board, like an asus m2n e- sli ? its a hundred bucks though.
im not a huge overclocker, though I will dabble when im bored.

 

[MarcVenice]

You should dabble There's plenty of threads on overclocking and doing it safely. Pushing a e2180 from 2.0ghz to 2.4-2.8ghz is so easy, most of the time all you have to do is change the FSB from 200 to 240 or 280 or 300 if you are feeling lucky, and the chip will just run at 2.4ghz or higher, without having to do anything else.

A different yet affordable motherboard could be this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128059

Nothing wrong with the abits though, many people here have bought them and had great succes with them as well. Up to you if the 30$ extra is worth sleeping a bit better at night

 

[tomp8442]

thanks very much for the help, I will let you know which way I go.
its nice to know I have a bit more options.