Rate my upgrade

[mramd64]

Hi everyone, looking for some input on the upgrade that I'm planning to do. The machine will be used as a midrange gaming rig. I want to keep the price at around $500. Here are my specs.

mobo: MSI k8n Neo4-F Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce 4 --- $88.00

cpu: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice core --- $147.99

ram: Corsair ValueSelect pc3200 Dual channel kit (cas 2.5) --- $80.00

video: Leadtek PX6600GT TDH Geforce 6600GT PCI Express ---- $164.00

Any suggestions or comments?

 

[DavidoFoo]

Maybe change to the Chaintech vnf4 board? I've heard it's a good budget board, but I don't really know how the Neo-F and the nvf4 compares.

 

[mismajor99]

I like it, but I would spend a little more on a video card.

Bravo

 

[theMan]

the neo4-f is really good. but still not sure how it compares to the chaintech. looks very good. do you have a psu already?

 

[mramd64]

I'd like to spend more on the vid card, but that would just blow my budget. The 6600GT will be a big jump over my 9500PRO anyway.

edit: I have an antec smartpower 300watt psu....probably not enough, right?

 

[Ike0069]

The smart power might be able to run it, but it would be a real good idea to go ahead and upgrade the PSU also.
Everything else looks great.

 

[mramd64]

Any other thoughts on the power supply? Anybody else running a similar system on a 300 watter? I probably should, but I really don't want to drop another $75 dollars on a 430 True Power if my current PSU is gonna work out.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Yeah, get a better PSU. 300W is really pushing it... Go at least like 350W. Even that is kinda pushing it...

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: mramd64
Any other thoughts on the power supply? Anybody else running a similar system on a 300 watter? I probably should, but I really don't want to drop another $75 dollars on a 430 True Power if my current PSU is gonna work out.

Whenever I am building a system for myself I never go below a 460w PSU, but thats just my rule of thumb. As you upgrade in the future and add more components to your system, you will also have an increase of power needed, so if it were me I would spend a fair amount for a good and powerful PSU.