Sound/Video card recommendation needed.

[Kuo]

Note: I'm posting a duplicate of this in the respective forum for sound related items. Any response is always appreciated.

Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions/recommendations on what to do right now. I have just ordered some parts for a new computer, but I haven't ordered either the sound or video card yet, and I can't decide on how I should split the money between the two.

The system I'm getting is an Athlon 1.33MHz TBird (266 FSB) with the MSI-6341 motherboard (2 DDR Dimms, 5 pci, 1 4xagp, 1 cnr, etc.. - don't think the motherboard will make too huge of a difference in this discussion). IBM Deskstarr 60 gb 7200 rpm hard drive and PC2100 512 MB RAM.

Now, I have a little money left budgetted, and can't decide how to split it. The exact amount I have left I don't know - ranging from 50 to 200 bucks (yeah I know, huge range)

I'm just trying to get a feel of what's the best I can get, and whether or not it would end up being worth the money.

Anyway, right now, I plan on scrapping old parts from my other computers. The sound card is one I have no idea what it is - it came with my old Gateway Pentium Pro 180 (G6-180), and I'm assuming compared with what is offered now, it is a piece of crap. The video card I'm scraping is a Voodoo3 3000 with 16megs of Video ram (2xAGP). The speaker system I have is also old (label says: ACS41, but I'm not sure what that is...)

So, my options now are to:
- get a new sound card and speakers
- get just a sound card
- get just some new speakers
- get a new video card
- get a new video and sound card

and any of combinations that you can think of

Keeping in mind that I'm trying to keep a budget (and i know if i get a sound, video, and speaker system, that very well could go above 200 bucks)

So, anyone's opinion will be appreciated...

Even simple recommendations on what "the best video/sound card" is for a given price will be taken into consideration, since I'm mainly trying to compile information still.

Thank you for reading this awefully long message, and I hope u'll respond.

 

[amb#cog]

You should say what your intentions are for the computer. Gaming? Surfing?

What's your budget?

I'd be thinking Radeon LE from Newegg for $76 shipped, or the TV-out version for a little more if you'll use it. Then go from there. Unless you're doing games that use 3D sound (4 speakers, and a sub), and plan on actually buying those speakers, OR, the sound card you have now has problems (i.e. sounds horrible, crackles, pops, hisses, etc.). I see no reason to replace it yet.

As for speakers. Again I'd have to know what you want to do with em, and how much you want to spend.

So I'd go video card, speakers, then SC myself. Keeping in mind I could sell that Voodoo for a few bucks, and get me some better speakers.

Good luck.

 

[Kuo]

He.. I guess my intentions would effect what I should get... stupid of me to forget to mention them :X



I'll be bringing this computer with me to college, and somehow I don't think I'll get too much gaming done there. Until then (which is 2 months from now), gaming would be the main function of the computer.

If all I was going to do was gaming, then I know I would invest in video card. But, 2 months from now, I don't plan on doing too much...

Mostly, the computer would be used for gaming in the next 2 months, and then applicational use (word processing, surfing, web design, graphical art design, and a lot of programming). Oh, and I would be playing mp3s a lot

Then the following summer games again


Hope that helps clerify things.

 

[amb#cog]

Then get that Radeon LE for now, as it will fill all your needs. Then as money allows get a decent sound card (I just use regular $20 Yamaha's, because they sound great for music ), and spend the wad on speakers. Get some nice 2.1's (2 and a sub), instead of wasting cash on 4.1's which you won't really get enough use out of.

Check out some quality ones, like Midiland, Klipsch, Boston Acoustics, etc.

That's where I'd spend my money.

I have a set of Altec Lansing ADA880's, and a cheapie Yamaha set w/ a cheap Yamaha sub. Both work great for music, and the AL's have surround wich is nice in games. The AL's can be found cheaply refurbished (mine were, and work fine), or used. The Yamaha's I just got in a trade. Before this I had the Creative Labs speakers, and didn't really like em. Go to Best Buy, and listen for yourself. Sometimes you luck out, and like the sound of the cheap ones better.