Need Upgrade!

[eminemrh25]

Here are my system specs

Intel Pentium 3 500Mhz
384MB Registered PC100 ECC Ram (Crucial)
nVida 8MB GFX Card
Aureal Vortex 2 8830
USB 2.0 Add On PCI
Askey TV Tuner
Netgear FA311
Toshiba 8x DVD-RW Drive
Iomega Zip100
Maxtor 40GB Hard Drive
Maxtor 60GB Hard Drive
Windows XP Professional Retail

I need a new
MoBo (I would like for it to have intergrated nic, USB2.0 and audio so I can get rid of my xtra cards!)
Processor(at least 1.6Ghz)
RAM (at least 512)
Video Card (64MB or more)

I have only been able to get as cheap as $250... does someone know where I cna get this stuff CHEAP?

 

[nick1985]

$250 is scraping it for all of that hardware...save up $100 more.

 

[justly]

You may be better off getting integrated video at that price. Video can be upgraded later if you need it, and nowdays 64MB on a video card means it is either old or an entry level card. Either way modern integrated video should be fine for basic computing and even light gaming (especially when compared to your 8MB card).

BTW $250 is pretty cheep for what you have listed, this makes me wonder (and a bit concerned about) what you are considering.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You're probably going to want a new power supply while you're at it...

Let me look around a minute and I'll see if this might be possible... (I doubt it)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well.... how about this?

antec case + power supply

512mb corsair ram

chaintech nforce2 ultra400

sempron 2400+ socket A

geforce mx4000 video card

$256 before shipping...

This is going to give you a decent boost in performance. I think the weakest link here is the videocard. If you're going to be gaming with this new rig, I'd suggest saving up until you can get something like a 9600pro. If you need to do it on this budget, maybe check out FS/FT forum and see if you can get a used geforce4 or something for under $50.

EDIT: actually, I think I like that integrated graphics idea.

Instead of the chantech mb and mx4000, maybe this would be better for your budget and it has an AGP slot for you to upgrade the video later if you want.

Total is now $248 before shipping.

 

[krcat1]

Originally posted by: nick1985
$250 is scraping it for all of that hardware...save up $100 more.

I happen to agree with this. Even with $300 your going to get much better system.

I also believe that you might need the new case.

At Mwave, I can find a Sempron 2200 bundle with 512 mem and a generic case for about $225.

But if you goto 300, you could get go from a runable system, to one that will last a few years.

 

[fredweis]

Why don't you get a tualatin cpu adapter and run 1.4Ghz off a brand new tualatin cpu chip. You can get a tualatin adapter off HardwareCooling.com for $4.99. You also pick up a stick of 64MB memory for $10 at the computer show or flea market. Im not sure about the hard drive but i'm pretty sure you can get a used hdd off a friend.

Hope this helps.