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Upgrading my system...

B

BigToque

Lifer
I'm looking to upgrade my system. The first list is what I have, and the second is what I'd like to end up with. Tell me what you think.

My Current System:
--------------------------
Abit BX6-2
Celeron 300A @ 464
128MB Azen PC100 CAS-3 SDRAM
12.1GB Maxtor 5400RPM Hard Drive
ATI Xpert @ Play 98 2x AGP
Creative Labs Voodoo2 8MB

I'd Like to get:
-------------------------

Abit BE6-2 (What is a better board with better features?)
P3 650 @ 864 (How likely is that? should I go for 600E @ 800?)
128MB PC-133 CAS-2 SDRAM (Whats the best brand? Micron? Crucial?)
~20GB 7200 RPM drive. (whats good that doesnt cost too much $$$)
GeForce2 GTS (Whats the best card that will work at 133 FSB (89 agp) - any reason to get 64mb?)
 
Well, I personally like using the Micron ( a side note- isn't Micron and Crucial the same?) and the IBM/WD Expert drive. My IBM 20 gig is fast, and extremely quiet- I have to look at the light to see if it's on!, and appears to take the "odd" fsbs well
 
I agree with DDad. Get an IBM drive, and Crucial/Micron RAM.
Crucial Technology is the division of Micron that sells RAM. That is all I will use in my own systems.
 
Yo,

That's a very nice list. You obviously want a high end rig. Here's a few suggestions, based on my reviews of various articles on the web:

Consider the MSI/Microstar BX Master motherboard. It is an AnandTech Editor's Choice. It is a Slot 1 type board so you'll have to use a 'slocket' adapter (which MSI also makes) if you get a P3 in the FC-PGA format. See:
http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.html?i=1149

Get the fastest P3 you can afford, but be sure to get the CPU in the cB0 stepping for your best chance of high overclocking. You can check the stepping by getting the S-spec for the chip (that's the 5-character code on the outside of the box and on the chip) before you buy and comparing it to the table at:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/sspec/p3p.htm

You should get the P3 in the FC-PGA form and use the adapter I mentioned above to put it in a Slot 1 board if necessary. The 'flip chip' form is more versatile than the SECC2.

The likelihood of overclocking to a high level varies but the cB0's have a great record. Get the fastest one you can.

For RAM get this:
http://www.mushkin.com/cgi-bin/Mushkin.filereader?3968abe102308cf42740cdaa9b0206d2+EN/products/990489

Get one of the new IBM Deskstar 75GXP hard drives in either 15 GB or 30 GB size. That's the new king of the hill, and the HDD is very important in determining overall performance.


I don't know much about high-end video cards, but for vid cards and AGP speed info see:
http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.html?i=1270

For NVIDIA GeForce 2 GTS reviews see:
http://www.anandtech.com/articlelist.html?t=3

There are many good vendors on-line, but a good place to shop is:
http://192.216.185.10/mwave/Index.hmx?

Check out on-line vendors at:
http://www.resellerratings.com/

Lastly, check AnandTech's monthly Buyer's Guides and some their other reviews as a final check, and see his Editor's Choices at:
http://www.anandtech.com/articlelist.html?t=e


🙂

P.S.
While I'm at this let me recommend you get high speed internet access (DSL or cable) if it's available and affordable. That may be better than a faster CPU, if you surf a lot.

Over and out.
 
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