Need your help! My computer isn't hip!

[Blu Skye]

Hello!

I am in a serious debate on upgrading my computer. I know I need to, and I want to, but I don't know what needs immediate attention! So, I look to you for some help on what I should do.

Here's what I currently have in my rig:

Case: Cooler Master Wave Master (Silver)
Motherboard: ABIT IC7-Max3
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3.00 (Northwood)
Video Card: Sapphire ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (256 MB version)
Power Supply: Antec TruPower 480w ----- Just got a OCZ Modstream 520 to replace the TruPower ----
Hard Drive: Seagage Barracuda 7200 200GB SATA Drive
Memory: Kingston Twin-X 1GB - Dual Channel KHX3500AK2/1G 1GB 434 DDR (PC3500) SPD timings = 2.0, 3, 3, 8
Audio: Audigy 2 Platinum ZS
Mouse: Logitech MX-1000
Monitor: Dell UltraSharp 2001FP 20.1"
Cooling: Zalman CNPS7000B-AlCU Cooler, ArcticCool VGA Silencer (not sure which version), 3 Vantec Stealth Case Fans (2 intake, 1 out)
DVD-RW: Pioneer DVR-107D
Operating System: Windows XP Pro

Right now, the temps are not the greatest. Running Everest, I show the CPU is at 46C Idle and about 58C under load. The GPU temps are 44C Idle and about 55C during loads, sometimes even to 60's depending upon the game. Should I change up the cooling? The computer is a bit noisy right now, and I think it has to do with the northbridge fan and the ABIT mini fan for the back of the case. I also think the powersupply is underpowering and a bit noisy too, so the new OCZ should take care of that!

I play games like Doom3, Half-Life 2, FarCry, Battlefields, Medal of Honors, City of Heroes, etc. and am a HUGE graphics whore!

Anway, any help you could provide would be great! The budget is good, so I'm open-minded!

Thanks!

 

[UsandThem]

Start here.

I mean, I was expecting a PIII system listed in here.

 

[Blu Skye]

LOL! And here I thought I was super outdated already! It's old, but not that old!

Thanks for the link, I'll browse there while I wait for more replies.

 

[Sqube]

And... what exactly in that system is so terrible that you need to upgrade it? The only thing I could see changing at this point (and even this is debatable) is the video card; get a 6800GT.

Other than that, your system is quality. I think you've just got the fever since there's new hardware to be had.

 

[devilfish]

SAD... this is WAY better than my computer and mine is NEW to me... haha

 

[Blu Skye]

Uh oh, I think I might have that upgraditis that seems to be going around! LOL!

Okay, here's my reasonings...

I play Half-Life 2 and City of Heroes like no tomorrow. My framerates aren't the greatest (stuttering and some serious lock-ups), and I've had several issues.

1) I have had video lockups and crashes for no reason at all. I can only attribute it to poor cooling, video card issue or memory. I've done a solid reinstall of XP and still have some errors. This is without overclocking.

2) I pulled the memory from my previous board and have thought that I could speed things up by going with a different type of RAM. I don't recall seeing the memory on Kingstons site that supports the IC7-MAC3, but I could be wrong.

3) I started things off with the power supply because my voltages on the +12 V are 11.78-11.85 which seems low to me. Actually, they are all under the spec. Since day one I haven't felt "secure" about that Power Supply. Probably because I got it at Fry's and it was probably open. LOL!

4) The motherboard I have is known to underpower the memory and the video card. I've adjusted accordingly to the ABIT IC7-Max3 posts, but again, I still don't think I'm running as stable as I could be. I've got the latest BIOS and drivers for everything. Something just isn't right to me!

So, I hope I'm not offending anyone. I'm just trying to get things stable and up to date. Thanks again for your help!

 

[farscape]

Vid card upgrade and it'll be like a new system

 

[PhoenixOrion]

I wouldn't change a single thing.

Based on what you use it for and what you currently have: no need to put more money into that box.

All you have to upgrade NEXT YEAR will be your videocard to play NEXT YEAR's games.

 

[airfoil]

Do nothing. It's just fine the way it is - you could squeeze a little out of it by upgrading the Video card but its not going to be worth the money. Save it until you can expect at least a 25% gain in performance (more like 50%).

 

[PhoenixOrion]

If you really want to spend money burning a hole in your pocket:

Buy dangerden water setup and waterblocks for cpu, gpu and northbridge. OC both cpu and gpu.

CPU should get you at least 3600mhz.
GPU should get you at least XT speed 412 (or higher) and memory (assuming 2.8ns) 700 to 730mhz (XT speeds).

 

[bob4432]

first i would fix the stability issues. run memtest to make sure your ram is good and prime95 do that. you may want to get a better cooling vga cooler and o/c the card but that is about it.

 

[Blu Skye]

Based on what you use it for and what you currently have: no need to put more money into that box.

I run at 1600 x 1200 (native res for my monitor) and games like Doom3, City of Heroes and Half-Life 2 with full blown settings (without AA and AF, or actually it's just at program settings), the framerates are all over the board. In intense battles, it's from 12 to 25 fps. Horrid. Some cases it will jump up, so let's say about 25-30 average.

Toms Hardware had a recent review on Gigabyte's Radeon X800, and the results on Doom 3 at 1600x1200 4xAA and 8xAF (which I can get nowhere near) were 11.5 FPS for my card and 41.4 for the 6800 Ultra.

I guess it's coming down to video card (from your feedback...thank you!) and now it's a debate on a GeForce 6800 Ultra or a Radeon X800 XT PE or something like that!

As for the water cooling, it sounds cool, but I'd screw it up somehow!

 

[Blu Skye]

bob4432,

Which cooling option would you suggest for the video card? There are 3 it seems that are the most common.

1) Zalman Heat Pipe (I'm guessing the dual one)
2) ATI Cooler (which is an update to the one I have, which I think kinda sucks since the fan port going out the case isn't flush with the case. I'm probably blowing the air back in the case! I think these new ones fit my board better)
3) Zalman's new cooler which is like their CPU coolers.

I am also tinkering with the idea of removing the Firewire/USB panel ports on the top of the case and making it into a chimney fan. That might help temps a bit in there.

 

[Blu Skye]

Bump

 

[HappyCracker]

Originally posted by: Blu Skye

I run at 1600 x 1200

There's your problem. Turn your settings down. That's about as taxing as it gets for a video card. Even for the current generation of cards, this is quite a load.

 

[mauiblue]

I'd stay where you are with your system. If you wanted, you could go with a BFG 6800 Ultra OC or a 6800GT video card. Other than that, you are good to go.

 

[fishmonger12]

you're running hl2 at high res. feel free to upgrade to an agp 6800gt (the pny one is selling for 334$ at gameVE right now, not sure if that's a reputable dealer but that's a damn good deal on a 6800gt), but everything else in the system is pretty comparable to what you would get for an ~1000$ upgrade.

 

[Arcanedeath]

The only thing worth upgrading there as said is the video card if you want good frame rates at 1600x1200, I'd suggest a 6800GT as it's got the best price / performance at the high end for AGP.

 

[Blu Skye]

Perfect. Anything less than 1600 x 1200 on my monitor doesn't look that great.

Video card it is!

How's the ATI x800 XT Platinum compared to the 6800GT?

 

[Accipiter22]

someone wanted to brag about their system so they made a thread

 

[stevty2889]

6800GT would be a great upgrade. I wouldn't worry about your temps since Abit seems to report them high, and a 3ghz northwood should overclock fairly well.

 

[Blu Skye]

someone wanted to brag about their system so they made a thread

Yeah, that's hardly the case. This system is "average" in my opinion. At least compared to what I've seen out there!