Suggestions Requested On a Major Upgrade...

[necromancyr]

I'm begining to seriously think of a system upgrade, as I begin to encounter programs/games that are having some issues (speed and framerate wise, respectively) with my current configuration. My current config is:

Abit BX133
Cel566@808
576MB Memory
LeadTek GeForce2 Pro

Another big issue is that I am a graduate student. So, money is a HUGE issue here. Some things I'm having 'conflicts' over are...

...is now a good time to upgrade? or should I wait a few months for another price cycle to occur?
...should I grab the Ti4200 on sale at Best Buy right now? (for 90$)
...should I just use a Socket Adaptor and put a Celeron Tualatin 1.1-1.4 into the machine for ~$60....
...should I go intel or AMD with the next upgrade (biggest bang for the buck decision)...

etc...

Any suggestions/ideas/etc. would be appreciated...I value the expertise that's floating around here.

 

[Markfw]

You don't say what your budget is, what hard drive, what case, what parts are needed, etc. I think you will find that many will recommend a Epox 8rda+ (I think that is that model number) and a XP1700+ and 2x256 meg PC2700 memory. The video is entirely up to you, but I like (depending on Budget) Radeon 9100, then 9500 pro at $90 and $150 (I think, approx). If you don't have a good HD I highly recommend a Maxtor 7200 rpm 8 meg cache (not sure the model number). That should get this thread kick-started.

 

[necromancyr]

Sorry...my mistake.

Budget is...well...no more then $500, and thats pushing it. The lower the better.

What would be needed, without a doubt, would be a new MB/CPU/Memory. That's a definite. Everything else (case, sound, video, etc.) I have and can wait on if need be for the time being. The sound (Santa Cruz) is definitely not being replaced. I included my video card because I was curious as to whether upgrading the proc/mb/mem would make that card basically just bottleneck the system completely.

Though...I may want a lower priced case...I have a horrendous full tower now that is just ASKING to be replaced with a normal sized case thats been modded a bit.

So...I guess $500 with a video card, $400 without.

(I already have a TV card, so an AIW is not needed - though I would like a vid card with a decent TV-Out).

Lastly, IDE controllers...more the better IMHO. (More HDD expansion ease since I already have 3 HDDs)

Also, why the 2x256 and not the 1x512 for the memory? (I VAGUELY remember reading something about it, but I thought the single stick was better then the 2 sticks...). And that proc was the one I was looking at when I did my 'trial run' at new egg.

 

[Markfw]

OK, don;t hold me to these, but they are close estimates, Motherboard $102, $35x2 (2 256 meg uses dual channel, faster) CPU XP1700 retail $61, video $177 (off a bit from my estimate). I would go for the XP2100 though at $88

Total so far =$437 including faster CPU and better video card. (not shipping)

 

[4fingerwu1]

Hi
I just bought a ti4200 at best buy and like it a lot
Some of the cards are mismarked
I got the 128 mb version in the 64mb package
Ricardo