Upgrade my PC

[linkfreak]

Hello, my computer is soon to reach its 28th dog year in age and with some great titles coming out for the PC, I need to upgrade my current setup. What I primarily need is a graphics card, but as I understand that needs a new power supplies, and then a new cpu to support it, and then a new motherboard to hold that cpu. Snowball effect = bad.


Anyways, I would like you guys to pick my parts for me

So in order for that, here are a few facts to keep in mind.

- My monitor is a 19" 1280x1024

- I wish to play most games at pretty good decent settings, no maxing out crysis here.

- I have Windows XP and do not plan on buying Vista or Windows 7

- I only really game on my computer, no multitasking whatsoever at all

- I do not plan to overclock anything as to not void my warranties

- I am wanting items in the bang for your buck category, no spending dubious amounts of money for only a few frames.

- I do not favor either company in all areas of the components, whatever company is the best overall compared to its competition

- I do not really mind noise

- I do not plan to Crossfire/SLI

- I am not going to use Eyefinity, I am only using one monitor

- I can't really state a budget, because I want to keep the cost as low as possible and it depends on the items suggested.

When I look at Tom's Hardware's best gpu/cpu for the money, the components that I had in mind were for resolutions greater than my own, so I think I am tending to over exagerate my needs. So please help me .


In case if it is of concern, my current setup is:

GPU: Intergrated ATI Radeon XPRESS 200

CPU: AMD Sempron 3400+

Motherboard: Socket 939

PSU: 250W

Thank so you much guys, remember I am looking for products in the value category, that is the most important thing.

 

[TemjinGold]

1) Do you have any aversion to buying stuff used (i.e. ebay)?

2) How much and what kind of ram do you have?

I ask because, at 1280X1024, and not playing anything too demanding, the cheapest option might be to pop in a decent dual core AMD into your existing mobo (something like a 6000+ X2?), get a nice video card (do you have PCI-E?) and to up the PSU. This would allow you to keep most of what you have.

 

[Arkaign]

1) Do you have any aversion to buying stuff used (i.e. ebay)?

2) How much and what kind of ram do you have?

I ask because, at 1280X1024, and not playing anything too demanding, the cheapest option might be to pop in a decent dual core AMD into your existing mobo (something like a 6000+ X2?), get a nice video card (do you have PCI-E?) and to up the PSU. This would allow you to keep most of what you have.

Socket 939 = Maximum 4800+ X2 chip, and they are $$$$. Also the FX-60, but both are too expensive to make any sense.

OP should do a budget buildup, keeping only his existing DVD/HDD to save the $50 or so.

CPU : Athlon II 240 $58
Board : ASUS M4A78LT-M LE AM3 $65
Ram : 2GB Corsair DDR3 $50 (or 4GB for $80)
Video : 4670 GDDR3 $55
Case/PSU : Rosewill w/350w $30

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103688
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131619
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145183
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127448
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147010

I've used those exact Rosewill cases/PSUs many times with no problems with integrated or relatively low-power video (like the 4670).

Anyway, OP, don't pour any $ into that old Socket 939 setup, it's just a waste at this point. For between $200-$300 you can build a pretty darned decent budget gaming PC, reusing your HDD and Optical drive, and for 1280x1024 you should be able to play most games on max, if a little low on the AA, and still have good framerates. Compare that to the prices of the higher-end Socket 939 duals, ouch!

 

[toyota]

I really would not waste any money on that pc. you would do better to just sell it on craigslist and apply that money to a new pc. you can buy a brand new $350-$400 pc that will blow yours away. then all you would need is a $50 video card and you would be set for the next couple years.

also I would look at getting a modern monitor when you can afford it. I would rather gouge my eyes out then play games at 1280x1024. thats a 5:4 aspect ratio that is even more square than than using the older 4:3 resolutions like 1280x960. games are designed for widescreen and in fact some games dont even support that resolution anymore. its absolutely terrible because you cut off so much viewing area on the sides that its really ridiculous.

 

[Arkaign]

Toyota has a point with just outright buying a new PC, then adding a 4670 or so.

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/190709

"Asus Essentio CM5570-AP002 Intel Dual-Core 2.6GHz Desktop (REFURB/6GB/640GB) $339.99 w/ PayPal, Dec. 23 11 AM

TigerDirect has the Refurbished Asus Essentio CS5111-AP007 Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2200 Desktop Computer for $349.99 Free Shipping. Tax in FL, NC, IL.

Get $10 off $100 when you Checkout with PayPal.

Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5300 @ 2.6GHz; 6GB RAM; 640GB HDD; DVD burner; 802.11n + gigabit ethernet; Vista Home Premium; card reader; HDMI; 90-day warranty"

If you got that, you'd only really want to drop a video card in, and you're done with it

EDIT : This $399 package includes a 19" Widescreen LCD :

http://www.techbargains.com/news_displayItem.cfm/190354

 

[linkfreak]

Yes, I am a little hesitant towards used things. And Yes, I have one PCI-E x16 slot. In my possibly ignorant reply to toyota, I really fail to see the logic in buying a new system all together. My case is just fine, my harddrive is working just fine. That money can be saved because I do not need it. All I really wanted in the very beggining was a new graphics card, but that lead into the other aforementioned 3 items needed. Is there a reasonable reason for me to buy a new system, because I have pretty much discarded that idea from my options at this point.

Also are you sure that a 4670 would do well on my resolution.

Also also , is my monitor really that bad? I mean it seems just fine to me. I really don't want to spend $200-$300 dollars for a a few more inches. If I didn't have a monitor at all and I was buying one then sure, I would get it, but I already have one. And I'm pretty content with it, I can make due I think. I'm not dying in agony for every possible visual enhancement, I'm just a kid that doesn't get allowance that doesn't want to burden his parents with such unneccesary costs. That's why I am confined to the price/performance category of things.

 

[Arkaign]

Personally, I think your screen is fine.

The logic in buying the new system is the value you can get : new OS, and that one above comes with 6gb of ram and a fast 640gb hard drive.

There is definitely no value in upgrading a socket 939 system at this point. They were GREAT workhorses, but it's 2010 now for all intents and purposes, and even the best (and very expensive!) upgrades will only get you to circa 2006 levels.

4670 is a GREAT card for 1280x1024. I have one in my media box, and can play games at 1680x1050 pretty smoothly (C2D E7200 @ 3.4ghz, 2GB DDR2-800)

If you wanted to split it out for a while, you could grab the card now, then get the rest of the parts down the line a little bit.

 

[linkfreak]

But isn't a "system" defined by the parts that make it up? If I get a new mobo and all that stuff, it wouldn't even be considered a socket 939 "system" because it would have one of those new holders for the new CPU I would be getting. So essentially, I'm turning my socket 939 "system" into another "system" without actually buying a whole new setup. I can see your standpoint though, the new OS and the new harddrive. As of the moment, my hard drive is no where near full and I'm perfectly content with XP. I do not have the cash to pay $200 for DX 11.

Anyways, I'll look into the components that you guys have suggested me. Thank you for all your help

 

[Arkaign]

Definitely, if you upgraded the mobo and all that good stuff, it would pretty much be a new rebuilt system. By 'upgrade the socket 939' I meant just upgrading cpu/video on the existing mobo. The flipside is that it's next to impossible to build something like the above, with the 6gb ram, 640gb hdd, OS, and so on, for the same $.

If you can do the upgrades yourself, and are confident re-loading XP on the rebuild, then you're in good shape and that should do great for you

Happy gaming and holidays to you!

 

[cbn]

I would go buy a new box from Best Buy/Fry's and then put a HD4670 in it.

 

[cbn]

OP should do a budget buildup, keeping only his existing DVD/HDD to save the $50 or so.

CPU : Athlon II 240 $58
Board : ASUS M4A78LT-M LE AM3 $65
Ram : 2GB Corsair DDR3 $50 (or 4GB for $80)
Video : 4670 GDDR3 $55
Case/PSU : Rosewill w/350w $30

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103688
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131619
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145183
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127448
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147010

I've used those exact Rosewill cases/PSUs many times with no problems with integrated or relatively low-power video (like the 4670).

This is a good idea also.

 

[Kyanzes]

1280x1024? Dude, that's so yesterday's news. OMG. You just got defrosted or something? Just joking really.

Seriously, jump on the widescreen wagon. Make sure you don't buy anything with a smaller height than your current 19". E.g., a 19" 16:10 will be smaller in height.

check www.tvcalculator.com

You need a 22" 16:10 to have the same height.