Upgrade or Build?

[SGtheArtist]

I want to build or upgrade a PC to play games & DVD's in surround sound & on a LCD TV.

Should I upgrade this current system?

1.8GHz P4
1.5GB PC133 RAM
15000rpm 18GB SCSI HDD
ATI AIW 9600XT
TBSC
Antec True550 PSU
Chieftech DX-01BLD case


Or build this system?

2.4GHz Athlon64
1GB DDR400
7200rpm 80GB HDD
GF 6800GT
SB Audigy2 ZS
Enermax Maxflow CS-718B (w/460w PSU)

Or any mix and match of the two? I'm going for an HTPC so if I use the existing case I would have to re-wire it as it is highly customized and the fans are quite loud.

Don't worry about the TV tuner I have another PC I'll setup with SageTV. Also I'd primarly be playing HL2 on the final system.

Thanks

 

[knothead34]

which motherboard is that going into?

 

[imported_Kensai]

Build the second one.

 

[SGtheArtist]

The 'upgrade' system has a Gigabyte intel board.
The 'build' system would have a DFI Lan Party nForce3 250GB mobo.

Because the 2.4GHz Athlon64 is cheaper on the 745 socket. I also heard AMD will discontinue this socket in Sept of this year.

 

[SGtheArtist]

bump

 

[SGtheArtist]

bump

 

[MBrown]

Build!

 

[Silversierra]

The good thing about building rather than doing a major upgrade is that you can sell your old system, rather than just the parts that you don't need anymore.

 

[SGtheArtist]

Thats a good point, how much do you think the first system would go for? I checked ebay and it doesnt look like resale of systems is very promising when Walmart has'em for $300 & $400

 

[MonkeyWrench4000]

You should build a new one. Your mainboard using pc133 memory, thats a huge bottleneck, and I'm also guessing that he board is not new enough to support a prescott core, so its sort of finished.

 

[SGtheArtist]

Sounds like the built option is the only way to go.

Thanks.

 

[Chosonman]

Asking that question here is like throwing a piece of meat to a hungry Lion and asking it if he'll eat it or save it till later. Of course everyone in here will tell you to upgrade. This place is Anandtech. The builders forum...

Personally, I don't see much point in upgrading if you're going to us an LCD tv and don't list any specific games that'll require you to upgrade. LCD tv's only run at 1078X780 Resoultion thereby eliminating alot of need to upgrade to get better resolution and frame rate in games. You'd get better results just buying a new graphics card.

If you do plan to build I suggest buying a monitor instead of using your LCD tv. You'll notice a much bigger difference in picture quality and speed with a better system running at higher resolution. But then again that all depends on what game you plan on playing. For Movies and other things the current system is fine on the LCD.

 

[SGtheArtist]

Well I would be playing HL2 > CS:S

The LCD TV would be a 30in - 32in at a resolution of 1280x768 or 1366x768.

The resolution would be high enought that in the future I could use the LCD TV for 720p HDTV.

 

[Silversierra]

Originally posted by: SGtheArtist
Thats a good point, how much do you think the first system would go for? I checked ebay and it doesnt look like resale of systems is very promising when Walmart has'em for $300 & $400

I don't know what someone'd pay, but I'm continuouly amazed at the prices of used computers in the classifieds section. People try to sell p233mhz computers for $400, which is like $400 too much I don't know if they sell at that price though. It looks like the cheapest computers in the classifieds are about $150-200 for a penitum class machine, so a 1.8ghz, especially with that much ram and that kind of hd, should be worth a decent bit more.

Did you find a full atx htpc case? Or are you using just a regular case? Many htpcs are matx.

 

[SGtheArtist]

Silversierra,

The old system is using an Cheiftec ~ Antec 1080 case and the built PC would be an Enermax MaxFlow case not an HTPC case they both are ATX.

See after investing WAY too much into the old PC its kind of hard letting it go for so little if I sold it. I would feel good about selling it for about $1K but I know it wouldnt go for that much .

http://www.coolcasegallery.net/ccg/viewcase.php?cid=01225

 

[BurnItDwn]

I would do the build option ... except for one change ... (assuming the SCSI adapter you have is compatible with the new mobo)


2.4GHz Athlon64
1GB DDR400
15000rpm 18GB SCSI HDD <-----
GF 6800GT
SB Audigy2 ZS
Enermax Maxflow CS-718B (w/460w PSU)

 

[SGtheArtist]

BurnItDwn,

I like your suggestion.

Thanks