Upgrade Time

[osgoor]

I am ready to upgrade my current system to get more performance. It's been awhile since I built this one so I may not remember each components specs. I'll give as much as I can.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
All around average home stuff. Mostly surfing but want better performance for online gaming.

2. What YOUR budget is.
Around $500 or less if possible. US

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
No preference

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Keeping: Keyboard, Mouse, monitor (Acer AL2016W), speakers. DVD burner (Lite-on LH-20A1H and HDD. Current hard drive is an older Maxtor 6L200P0. Everything else is up for consideration.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes but nothing to go with yet

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Nope

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Within the next 30 days


Thanks

 

[DaveSimmons]

Here you go:

~$160 ATI 4850 (cheapest brand after rebate)
~$160 intel E8400 3.0 GHz
~$100 intel P43 / P45 chipset motherboard
~$80 4 GB DD2 800 RAM

... or add $100 for a 4870 card if you want to game at 19x12.

I'm happy with my Gigabyte P43 chipset board at $95 but it does lack RAID and firewire if you care about those.

 

[Roguestar]

^ Great suggestions. Bump so others copy this setup.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

To lower the price, you can get serviceable performance out of an E7200 ($120) and an 8800GT 512MB ($120), an $80 savings over an E8400/HD4850 combo. Prices will probably change a little bit over the next 30 days, FYI.

 

[boomhower]

Definately get a E7200 with that budget. I would try to squeeze in a seagate 250GB 7200.10 410AS HD. An aging HD can kill system performance. You likely need a new PSU as well. The cheapest units I would trust would be from the antec earthwatts line.