What should i upgrade?

[Serp86]

I have this system;

Athlon XP 2600+ (333fsb)
ABIT KD7 KT400 Motherboard
512Mb PC 2700 RAM
Radeon 9700Pro
Onboard AC97 sound
16x dvd-rom
40x12x40 TEAC cd-rw
Onboard LAN
TV-Tuner (bt 878)
80Gb WD HD.

What should i upgrade/add for $200?

 

[Serp86]

i want to upgrade because my government gives students a SMART card and refills it with $200 each year, so we can buy computer parts.

Alternatively, can someone suggest a good computer-related product?

 

[MDE]

I'd spring for an nForce2 motherboard, and then if you have cash left over an XP 2500 and overclock it. Just curious, what kind of wonderful government hands out $200 a year for toys, I mean, PC parts?

EDIT: Your RAM may hold back a FSB overclock, so YMMV.

 

[xSauronx]

sell your mobo/ram and get a nforce2 with the soundstorm (mcp-t should be noted in the details iirc) and some pc3200

...unless you have need for a new monitor or would prefer sound/speakers

 

[Serp86]

was thinking about that too


About the gov, i live in Malta, and when we go to colledge we get $200 yearly - for books and pc parts - but i already have all the books i need (i am at the second year). Also, we have a monthly maintenence grants of $100, with which we can do whatever we want (i buy weed ).

Next year, when i go to university, i get $1500 on the smart card (i think i'll buy a decent laptop with it), and $800 yearly for as long as the course takes. Also, 1st year i will get $140/mo, 2nd $180 /mo, 3rd $220 /mo, 4th $250 /mo.

This was introduced about 10 years ago by a government that was in his last year ( in hopes of being elected again), and 3 years later, the government tried to remove it again - MAJOR MISTAKE - protests and all that stuff, in the next election he went out of the window.

So, no gov ever tried to remove it since - but it has it's advantages - much more people are going to the university now

 

[mbackof]

I would upgrade the monitor (you don't list what you have) or add a DVD Burner if you think you need one. Your system is in really good shape for the next year.

Mike

 

[Regs]

Audigy 2 with some 5.1 speakers. The speakers don't have to be top-o-line. Just as long they can channel sounds.

 

[thraxes]

Ditto on the sound, the rest of the system is good enough that you wouldn't notice much difference when installing an NForce 2 board.

Get a nice Audigy 2 and some good speakers.
A new monitor (TFT?) would be nice but a really good one wouldn't fit into the budget, CRT or TFT.

 

[Serp86]

got 17" samsung xiod full flat

 

[Regs]

You really need better sound. AC97 is not even Direct X capable . You will be amazed what a 5 piece speaker set w/ sub woofer and a Audigy can do for your gaming experience. Like night and day, it will bring a lot of life to your gaming

 

[sniperruff]

moniter/sound/speaker

i dunno about your current moniter/speaker. but since it's on-board i'll assume the speaker is inferior too

get a turtle beach sound card from CUSA and a set of Z560 when it's on sale at dell