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What should I upgrade?

T

TheUltimateNewbie

Member
This is my current setup.

Intel Pentium 4 2.4B @ 3.0GHz
Asus P4PE-X
1024MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM
Radeon 9600XT
80GB Western Digital SE + 20GB Maxtor
Audigy 2 ZS
Winfast TV2000XP Deluxe

I just got a Dell 2001FP and I have $110 and a $50 gift card at CompUSA left. I was thinking about either getting the ATI HDTV Tuner(I do some video recording and encoding so this would be an improvement over the TV2000XP) or maybe sell the GC and buy a 6600GT or something so I could play CS Source at 1600x1200. My Radeon 9600XT can't handle it at all. CS Source is about the only game I play so I figure a 6600GT would be enough. I don't have enough money to get a whole new CPU/PCI-Express mobo combo. Third option of course would be to get another hard drive since I am running low on space.
 
More HD space = nice, but you can get by with burning to DVD.

TV tuner = Possible improvement

Gcard = Definite improvement.

One of the last two if you ask me. They would show the greatest improvement. (although you can pick up a new 120 gig for tuppence these days)
 
A hyperthreaded P4 chip (say a 3.0C) would make a big difference in your rig. Have you considered that option?
 
Originally posted by: Bobthelost
More HD space = nice, but you can get by with burning to DVD.

TV tuner = Possible improvement

Gcard = Definite improvement.

One of the last two if you ask me. They would show the greatest improvement. (although you can pick up a new 120 gig for tuppence these days)
Click to expand...
How future proof would getting a AGP 6600GT be? I'm kinda worried about getting an AGP card when PCI-Express is now mainstream. But tt's not like I have a choice since I don't have enough money. Any recommendations on what brand to get for the 6600GT? I was thinking eVGA, but I hear the heatsinks on them are rather loud, and that means I would have to get a new one and replace it but I've never done that sort of thing. Would I need to get new thermal paste as well?

Originally posted by: Megatomic
A hyperthreaded P4 chip (say a 3.0C) would make a big difference in your rig. Have you considered that option?
Click to expand...
I'm sure it would definitely decrease the time it takes for my video encoding, but it wouldn't really help me play CS Source. How much does the hyperthreating actually help in normal usage?
 
Thanks for the links. However, it looks like the processor will be slightly out of my price range. I'd much rather get the other three upgrades that I listed also.
 
Originally posted by: bladefd
I would go with the videocard if you got no other choice. What is your total budget? Also, cant you get your gift-cards for compusa cashed out and add 40 bucks to the money you get from the giftcards? If so, get this videocard --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102002
It is definately better than the 6600GT.
Click to expand...


I agree with bladefd. A great card for 195. Then sell your Radeon 9600XT
and put the money towards a HD for additional storage space.
 
Originally posted by: bladefd
I would go with the videocard if you got no other choice. What is your total budget? Also, cant you get your gift-cards for compusa cashed out and add 40 bucks to the money you get from the giftcards? If so, get this videocard --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102002
It is definately better than the 6600GT.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if I sold the gift card, I would expect to get around $40 for it(Leaving me with $150). Technically my budget would also go up since I can also sell the 9600XT off, but I would be without a video card for a few days then. How much could I expect to get from my 9600XT? Nice suggestion, I hadn't even thought about it. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie
Originally posted by: bladefd
I would go with the videocard if you got no other choice. What is your total budget? Also, cant you get your gift-cards for compusa cashed out and add 40 bucks to the money you get from the giftcards? If so, get this videocard --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102002
It is definately better than the 6600GT.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if I sold the gift card, I would expect to get around $40 for it(Leaving me with $150). Technically my budget would also go up since I can also sell the 9600XT off, but I would be without a video card for a few days then. How much could I expect to get from my 9600XT? Nice suggestion, I hadn't even thought about it. 🙂
Click to expand...

You would get 40 bucks for a 50 buck giftcard? ugh, I don't like that. Also, I think you should just keep your 9600XT for now. Order the x800GTO and when you get it, put it into your system. Right after that, sell your 9600XT. i doubt you will get much money though for that videocard. maybe 45? 50? highly doubt you will get more than that.
 
Originally posted by: bladefd
Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie
Originally posted by: bladefd
I would go with the videocard if you got no other choice. What is your total budget? Also, cant you get your gift-cards for compusa cashed out and add 40 bucks to the money you get from the giftcards? If so, get this videocard --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102002
It is definately better than the 6600GT.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if I sold the gift card, I would expect to get around $40 for it(Leaving me with $150). Technically my budget would also go up since I can also sell the 9600XT off, but I would be without a video card for a few days then. How much could I expect to get from my 9600XT? Nice suggestion, I hadn't even thought about it. 🙂
Click to expand...

You would get 40 bucks for a 50 buck giftcard? ugh, I don't like that. Also, I think you should just keep your 9600XT for now. Order the x800GTO and when you get it, put it into your system. Right after that, sell your 9600XT. i doubt you will get much money though for that videocard. maybe 45? 50? highly doubt you will get more than that.
Click to expand...
Well when you sell giftcards, there has to be some incentive for the buyer to buy it. I could maybe sell it for $45 but that's not too much of a difference. Looks like I'll have to borrow $50 from my brother and pay him back with the money from the 9600XT.
 
Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie
This is my current setup.

Intel Pentium 4 2.4B @ 3.0GHz
Asus P4PE-X
1024MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM
Radeon 9600XT
80GB Western Digital SE + 20GB Maxtor
Audigy 2 ZS
Winfast TV2000XP Deluxe

I just got a Dell 2001FP and I have $110 and a $50 gift card at CompUSA left. I was thinking about either getting the ATI HDTV Tuner(I do some video recording and encoding so this would be an improvement over the TV2000XP) or maybe sell the GC and buy a 6600GT or something so I could play CS Source at 1600x1200. My Radeon 9600XT can't handle it at all. CS Source is about the only game I play so I figure a 6600GT would be enough. I don't have enough money to get a whole new CPU/PCI-Express mobo combo. Third option of course would be to get another hard drive since I am running low on space.
Click to expand...



You mention the only game you play is CS:Source. How often do you play? What else do you use the PC for?
 
Originally posted by: Bonesdad
Originally posted by: TheUltimateNewbie
This is my current setup.

Intel Pentium 4 2.4B @ 3.0GHz
Asus P4PE-X
1024MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM
Radeon 9600XT
80GB Western Digital SE + 20GB Maxtor
Audigy 2 ZS
Winfast TV2000XP Deluxe

I just got a Dell 2001FP and I have $110 and a $50 gift card at CompUSA left. I was thinking about either getting the ATI HDTV Tuner(I do some video recording and encoding so this would be an improvement over the TV2000XP) or maybe sell the GC and buy a 6600GT or something so I could play CS Source at 1600x1200. My Radeon 9600XT can't handle it at all. CS Source is about the only game I play so I figure a 6600GT would be enough. I don't have enough money to get a whole new CPU/PCI-Express mobo combo. Third option of course would be to get another hard drive since I am running low on space.
Click to expand...



You mention the only game you play is CS:Source. How often do you play? What else do you use the PC for?
Click to expand...
I play maybe a few hours during the week, and a couple more hours during the weekend. Other than that, the only real intense usage is video encoding that I do once a week.
 
You can buy a P4C in the for sale/trade forum in your price range. But a good gaming card upgrade would be nice, too. You can get a used 6800 for what you have to spend.
 
:heart: HDTV tuners (if you'll use it a lot, of course). However, if you're already concerned about running low on space...recording the transport streams generally takes up 5-8gb of space per hour 😛
 
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