what shall I upgrade next?

[X14]

It's time!! I haven't put in a new part in my computer since July and I feel like I'm getting stale. I need to re-hone my computer skills and was wondering what would be the best upgrade at this point.

Current system:

EPoX 8K7A
1ghz TB @ 1.425 ghz
IBM 75GXP 30GB
512MB PC2100
MSI GF2 Pro 64MB
Plextor SCSI 32X CD and 12x8x32S CDRW
Pioneer 16X DVD

Upgrade possibilites:
Palomino 1600
Radeon 8500
GF3 Ti500
WinXP

At this point I'm just itching to fiddle with puter again...everything has been running smoothly for the past 4 months. I'm leaning towards the Radeon 8500 despite the know beta quality drivers out now, and the known incompatibility issue with Madden 2002 (the game I play most) right now. ATI said the next driver release will fix any Madden problems.

I had a Radeon last year that I could not get to work at all with Madden 2001 so that still leaves a sour taste in my mouth but something about this card is yelling "buy me." Maybe the fact that it is a non-Nvdia card is what is drawing me to it the most. I tried a Kyro II earlier in the summer, probably for the same reasons and was a bit disappointed in that card.

 

[mithrandir2001]

I think it's time to stop worrying about upgrading and start using that hardware.

 

[Budman]

How about Upgrading that IBM 75GXP 30GB before it dies on you.

 

[bigshooter]

Why would you want to upgrade that system. You are not going to notice any kind of signifcant diffrence yet. Everything you have in there is pretty much top of the line. You could replace you're hard drive to guard against failure (althought I've had my 45gig 75gxp for a year and a half almost and it hasn't given me a sign of trouble). Why not take some of that money and spend it on computer books or something and upgrade your mind instead of an already powerfull machine. Hell I'm still using a p3-866 (650@866) on a bx-133 solution. I'm waiting for something worthwhile to upgrade with and there just isn't anything yet.

 

[odog]

get a larger hard drive....

maybe a nicer case?

possibly get a new monitor?

 

[Sugadaddy]

Video card or hard drive if you need more space...