Parts for a new system- help me decide what to get

[zCypher]

Hello,

I hope this is the appropriate forum for this. Please let me know if this is incorrect. In a few months from now, I am looking to either completely replace my current setup, or replace some parts. You decide what should be done :

Case: Medium ATX generic
PSU: 300w
Mobo: ECS K7S5A
CPU: AMD Tbird 1.333/266
Mem: 256MB PC133
Vid: 32MB TNT2
HD: 20GB 7200RPM/2MB
nic: dlink 10/100 pci (DFE-538TX)
Sound: Sblive value
monitor: 15" optiquest
cdrw: HP CD-Writer 8x4x32
spkrs: 2.1 (10w sub 2x4w sats)

Ideally I would assume that 512+ DDR memory and bigger/faster HD would be appropriate. But what would you recommend? And would you buy a whole new system or just pick certain parts to replace out of this one?

Thanks in advance.

 

[amdskip]

Case: Medium ATX generic - Personal preference basically
PSU: 300w - Hopefully a name brand
Mobo: ECS K7S5A - Cheap but good motherboard, supports all of the xp processors if I'm not mistaken
CPU: AMD Tbird 1.333/266 - not too bad but there is room for improvement
Mem: 256MB PC133 - DDR is nice if you can afford it
Vid: 32MB TNT2 - huge improvement can be had here with a geforce 3 ti200 or geforce 4 of some flavor
HD: 20GB 7200RPM/2MB - more space is a definate plus
nic: dlink 10/100 pci (DFE-538TX) - fine
Sound: Sblive value - works fine for basic sound
monitor: 15" optiquest - ehhh, I'd replace this
cdrw: HP CD-Writer 8x4x32 - great drive but the new ones are much faster and extremely cheap
spkrs: 2.1 (10w sub 2x4w sats) - personal preference

 

[zCypher]

Thanks for the input. So if it was up to you, what would you do?

 

[IanthePez]

The monitor and the video card look like they need and upgrade the most.

A nice 19 inch monitor and at least something equivelant to geforce 3 or would be nice.

 

[zCypher]

You guys aren't listening.. suggestions, specific examples please!

I don't know what to get. ESPECIALLY when it comes to mobos. I don't really like this one all too much. So what is a good one I would be happy with?

 

[amdskip]

What aren't you happy about with your motherboard, specifics please I've had great luck with that motherboard personally. I'd check into video cards at www.newegg.com and pretty much everything they sell there is very good. I would upgrade that monitor and definately consider going to a lcd if the money is there. Watch for deals on this stuff in the hot deals forums. Sometimes you are better off buying a monitor locally than risking having a place ship one because they can get damaged so very easily. I would get a 32x or 40x liteon burner from newegg too. I would go with seagate or maxtor on a new hard drive, seagates are extremely quiet.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Give us a budget, and then we can give better examples.

 

[BuddyAtBzboyz]

Originally posted by: zCypher


Case: Medium ATX generic
PSU: 300w
Mobo: ECS K7S5A
CPU: AMD Tbird 1.333/266
Mem: 256MB PC133
Vid: 32MB TNT2
HD: 20GB 7200RPM/2MB
nic: dlink 10/100 pci (DFE-538TX)
Sound: Sblive value
monitor: 15" optiquest
cdrw: HP CD-Writer 8x4x32
spkrs: 2.1 (10w sub 2x4w sats)

Replace the ram 256 or 512 of ddr 266 or greater if you overclock.
Replace the vid card with something new like a radeon 8500, 9000, 9700 or a Geforce 4.
Get a 48x cd burner as they are cheap right now.
Get a 15" lcd and use the dual monitor capability of the vid cards I recommended to get a dual monitor setup going. I have such a setup right now.
Lastly get some decent speakers I suggest the Logitech z560 they are decent priced and powerful 400W to be exact.

My setup:
K7S5A
1700+
256Mb Micron PC2100
Generic case and 300W ps
8x DVD
Radeon 8500 64Mb
60Gb Maxtor 7200 rpm
Audigy OEM
17" CRT
15" LCD
Logitech Z560