Upgrade time!

[Alferd Packer]

So it's been over two years since I put this computer together, and it has retained its current configuration for that entire duration (minus a format and upgrade to XP) and I think it's due for an upgrade. So I'll run down the current specs:

AMD 1.3 Ghz T-bird
512 Mb PC2100 DDR
80 gig 7200 RPM HD
ASUS A7M266 mobo (I think)
12x DVD ROM
16x10x40x CD-RW
GeForce 3 (not Ti200 or 500; this one's an orginal)
Creative Labs X-Gamer 5.1
Generic Modem
Generic NIC

Of these, I'm satisfied with everything but the heart of the machine, that is: the mobo, RAM, processor, and vidcard. I think it's time to upgrade.

So, what do ya'll recommend? I am willing to make the jump over to Intel and RAMBUS, but if I can, I'd just like to get away with more PC2100, since it's probably dirt cheap. I like nVidia, but would be willing to consider ATI. And I'm totally in love with ASUS, so unless someone else has the best motherboard EVER, I'm probably sticking with them.

All input is, as always, greatly appreciated.

[Shogoki]

You have to tell us how much you are willing to spend and if you want to be able to play the next gen games (HL2, Doom 3)

[Alferd Packer]

You have to tell us how much you are willing to spend and if you want to be able to play the next gen games (HL2, Doom 3)

And that's the million dollar question. Hm. Well, OK, sure. For argument's sake, yes, I want to be able to play the next generation games. What do I need?

[Pu-239]

I think you can live awhile till AMD64 comes out though. Wait till next year (never buy the first generation of any processor, so don't buy AMD 64 processors this year).

[Shogoki]

Well, that's half the answer, .
How well do you want to play the next gen games,

A) Nice FPS but most detail turned off
B) Nice FPS with mid detail
C) Smooth play with all or at least most detail turned on.

[phongn]

So, what do ya'll recommend? I am willing to make the jump over to Intel and RAMBUS, but if I can, I'd just like to get away with more PC2100, since it's probably dirt cheap. I like nVidia, but would be willing to consider ATI. And I'm totally in love with ASUS, so unless someone else has the best motherboard EVER, I'm probably sticking with them.

Intel is abandoning RAMBUS in favour of dual-channel DDR SDRAM. Most new processors require PC2700 or PC3200 SDRAM as well. Asus makes good motherboards, but their quality has gone down a bit as of late.

You might want to wait awhile for Prescott (next-generation P4) to come out.

[Uraniun235]

I think you can live awhile till AMD64 comes out though. Wait till next year (never buy the first generation of any processor, so don't buy AMD 64 processors this year).

There's always something better around the corner. Buy what you need when you need to upgrade.

Better CPU/motherboard, then vid card, then RAM, in that order. How far you go is dependant on how much you're willing to spend.

I realize that the higher-end CPUs will be bottlenecked by the slower RAM, but they'll still work and still be faster than what he's got now.

[Pu-239]

What's wrong with what he's got now? Heck, I'm stuck with a PII-450/256M RAM/RIVA TNT2/40GB HDD for years to come.

[lukexcom]

I'm basing my recommendations below with a price cap of $1500...

Lets start off of that equipment as our base setup:

AMD 1.3 Ghz T-bird
512 Mb PC2100 DDR
80 gig 7200 RPM HD
ASUS A7M266 mobo (I think)
12x DVD ROM
16x10x40x CD-RW
GeForce 3 (not Ti200 or 500; this one's an orginal)
Creative Labs X-Gamer 5.1
Generic Modem
Generic NIC

What I would do is to buy some parts and switch them in. Mainly....

I would keep the sound card and the DVD and CDRWs, and the Hard Drive, and the generic modem and NIC. Set the rest aside. I would buy this equipment:

AMD-based setup:
1. Case: Lian Li PC-65 w/ Antec TruePower 430W PSU ---- $200 or so
2. Processor: Athlon XP 3200+ (2.2GHz/400) ---- $445
3. AMD Heatsink-Fan: Thermalright SLK-900A, Panaflo fan ---- $50 or less
4. Motherboard: ASUS A7N8X Deluxe nForce2 ---- $122
5. Memory: 2 X 512-MB Corsair TwinX XMS DDR400/PC3200LL ---- $312 ($166 each)
6. Video Card: ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB ---- $305

Intel-based setup:
1. Case: Lian Li PC-65 w/ Antec TruePower 430W PSU ---- $200 or so
2. Processor: Pentium 4-3.0 GHz (800 MHz) Retail with default fan ---- $390
3. Intel Heatsink-Fan: Default with retail packaging of processor
4. Motherboard: ASUS P4P800 Deluxe ---- $134
5. Memory: 2 X 512-MB Corsair TwinX XMS DDR400/PC3200LL ---- $312 ($166 each)
6. Video Card: ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB ---- $305


Optional:
7. Hard Drive: Western Digital 200-GB Special Edition 8MB ---- $172



Total Costs:
1. AMD-based setup without optional HD:
$1434 (quite high)
1a. AMD-based setup with optional HD:
$1606 (busted the price cap by $106)

2. Intel-based setup without optional HD:
$1341 (quite cheap, and mostly faster than the Athlon variant above)
2a. Intel-based setup with Optional HD:
$1513 (busted the price cap by $13)

To that you throw in the stuff you have in your old computer (sound card, hard drive, dvd-rom and cd-rw, and modem and NIC), and you're all set to go with some 1337 equipment.

I would recommend going with the Intel setup, it's faster, and a LOT better for some easy and safe overclocking.

I used http://www.sharkyextreme.com (high-end gaming PC guide June 2003) for choosing some of the equipment and some of the prices (they have weelky updates of CPU and memory prices). Note that their weekly RAM prices don't cover the high-end memory sticks like Crucial (listed above) or Kingston, which are more expensive naturally.

I also used http://www.pricewatch.com for finding the cheapest prices on some of the items (like the Crucial memory sticks or the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro). I recommend you use pricewatch.com to find the cheapest prices on any computer part you buy off the net.

[phongn]

Luke's Intel suggestion is good.