Upgrading Computer: What To Get?

[l33t]

Looking to upgrade:
-Abit BH6 Mobo
-Slot1 Pentium III 500mhz CPU
-256MB Crucial pc133 SDRAM
-128MB Compaq pc100 SDRAM
-Voodoo 3 3000 pci

Current stuff I will recycle:
-Enlight 7230 Case + 300W psu (similar to this) + 80mm vantec stealth exhaust fan at the back
-PCI SB Audigy oem
-PCI Linksys 10/100 NIC
-IDE 12GB Seagate 5400rpm hdd w/2mb cache
-IDE 80GB WD "SE" 7200rpm hdd w/8mb cache
-PCIATA/133 controller (for 80gb drive)
-IDE 48X TDK VeloCD cdrw
-IDE Compaq DVD drive (est. 16x cd speed)
-Rounded IDE/Floppy cables

Budget: ~$300-$350 max

I'm thinking:
-256mb pc2700 ddr ram
-epox 8k3a mobo
-athlon 1500-2200xp (balance with vid card for best bang-for-buck)
-and good cpu HSF (dunno what tho)

Whatcha think? :/

I'd like a main stream system with a mainstream vid card to run today's game's (morrowind, ut2003, bf1942) and hold me off until xmas next year when hopefully nv30 card won't cost me my newborn son and a kidney. Not really looking to OC heavily (can't afford to fry this) so stability > oc'ability.

 

[xXgambitXx]

you're on the right track for what you have to upgrade.

1.) i hear good things about the XP1600's at NewEgg. Supposedly able to reach XP2000 speeds at the drop of a hat
2.) use whatever money you have left over for memory. get at least 256 of PC2100, maybe more/faster depending on how much you have left over.
3.) don't know much about mobo's right now, ask around the "motherboards" section for that
4.) for video, get at least a GF4 ti4200, that should suffice. snag something higher if you can sniff out a good deal
5.) as for HeatSink. if you're a quiet freak then get the AX-7 / panaflo combo. if you don't care about noise just get any ol' heatsink that is rated high enough.

Good Luck

 

[DeathByDuke]

Grab an 1800+, that Mem and board you mentioned and try and find a Radeon 9700 (non-pro) for about 200 but if you can't just get a Ti4200 and any money left get something to go with the setup (new speakers? maybe a Optical mouse)

 

[tart666]

Budget: ~$300-$350 max

With that budget, look at Anand's value system guide.

Asus A7N266-VM: nforce 220 with GF2MX, eth, 5.1 sound, 4 USB Edit: all this for $69 shipped at newegg

I know GF2MX is pretty low-brow, but good enough for most games. I have two systems with a7n266-vm and XP1600+ and love them. They pull cs at 1024x728 at 60 fps no prob, and even Serious Sam 2 800x600 at 40 fps.