Upgrade Time.

[87x]

Alright its getting close to christmas time and I officially need some awesome ideas to post what I should get in the way of pc upgrades to make my only form of entertainment, that much more entertaining.

I guess I should start with what I have, then tell me what I should get instead or in addition to. Simple enough, lets start.

System
Host Name : 87X
User :
Domain : WORKGROUP

Processor
Model : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+
Speed : 2.19GHz
Model Number : 4400 (estimated)
Performance Rating : PR6568 (estimated)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Default Monitor
Adapter : RADEON X600 Series
Adapter : RADEON X600 Series Secondary
Imaging Device : CX6330 Zoom Digital Camera

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : WDC WD800JD-00LSA0 (75GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : AOPEN COM5232/AAH PRO (CD 52X Rd, 52X Wr) (DVD 7X Rd)
CD-ROM/DVD : TSSTcorp CD/DVDW TS-H552U (CD 48X Rd, 40X Wr) (DVD 6X Rd, 5X Wr)

Logical Storage Devices
1.44MB 3.5" (A: ) : N/A
Hard Disk (C: ) : 75GB (12GB, 16% Free Space) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (D: ) : N/A
CD-ROM/DVD (E: ) : N/A

Peripherals
Keyboard : Easy Internet Keyboard
Mouse : PS/2 Compatible Mouse

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit (5.1 surround sound)

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Professional (Win32 x86) 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)

Network Services
Adapter : NETGEAR WG311v2 802.11g Wireless PCI Adapter
Adapter : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC

Im also working with an Acer al1912 19" Flat Panel LCD monitor


If there is anything else you guys need to know, just ask.

Edit, Forgot the Mother Board.

Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID 07/21/2005-RS480-SB400-6A666M4DC-00
Motherboard Name MSI RS480M2/RX480M2 (MS-7093)

Front Side Bus Properties:
Bus Type AMD Hammer
Real Clock 200 MHz
Effective Clock 200 MHz
HyperTransport Clock 800 MHz

Memory Bus Properties:
Bus Type DDR SDRAM
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 199 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 398 MHz
Bandwidth 3182 MB/s

[Hx10]

RE: Upgrade Time.

Why would you need to upgrade your system, it's doubtful you will need anything more powerful than what you have got? Maybe in the future when Microsoft release a stable 64bit edition of their operating system you may consider upgrading to that. Or maybe get yourself a projector. Just a question; What is the estimated total price of your system?

[Tps222]

RE: Upgrade Time.

Well, I guess you could buy some more hdd space. Maybe upgrade from SDRAM to DDR2. I know Patriot makes it.

[87x]

RE: Upgrade Time.

Estimated price of my system is 1500.

Tps222- What type of Hdd space? External or Internal. Also what suggested Size. Also, will my system even handle DDR2, or do they even make DDR2 1gb sticks. I don't want dual 512's.

[Moogy]

RE: Upgrade Time.

Dual 512s will work better than a 1 gig one.

Always get internal harddrives. Everyone I know with an external has had problems with it. 200 gig harddrives are cheap nowadays, pick one or two of those up.

PS: lol

[Tps222]

RE: Upgrade Time.

Externals are always a pain, if your power supply is sufficient, go with a 200. I doubt you would ever need more than that for PC space unless you are a movie or music junkie.

I'm pretty sure they have 2 gig patriot sticks out there that would fit your board. Now, these won't be completely used until a 64-bit operating system is released, but if you want the best of the best, that's it.

Perhaps get a video input card and watch some T.V on your comp.

[tnyhwk900]

RE: Upgrade Time.

Get a new video card. Good god. With a X2 4400+, a 7800GT should be complimenting that baby.

Definately get more storage. It doesn't matter internal or external, just get a 200 gig or so and move all of your media and your My Documents folder to it, leaving only your program files and Win XP on the main.

Also, I don't know if I told you previously, but fucck you for having an X2 and not knowing about computers. ***.

[87x]

RE: Upgrade Time.

Nope, never told me that. But thanks.

Anyway, Moogy, why are 2 512's better than 1 gig stick. I got room for 4 rams slots so Whatever I could do to optimize that would be great.

Tony, I know I need a new video card, but they are expensive. I'll have to pick one up myself if I decide to go big with it. I just want to know what is actually worth getting. What is actually the best of the new? And what is actually a waste of money?

Also, to anyone, what type of HD? I know 200 gig, but what specifically am I looking for? 7200 rpm, 10000 rpm, Sata, etc..
Also this goes for the ram too. Im not really knowledgeable on the ram lingo, so Im going to need help with those specifics also.

[QreepyBORIS]

RE: Upgrade Time.

For hard drives, I see no need to go above 7200 RPM. Sure, 10000 is faster, but they're crazy expensive and they aren't as big (from what I've seen). I don't think you could get a 200 Gig at 10000 RPM; if you could, it would be quite a pretty penny.

As for video cards, if you have 500 bucks to throw down, do with what Tny suggested.

[tnyhwk900]

RE: Upgrade Time.

Unless you game, there's no need for a better video card. But if you play 3D games (unreal tournament, battlefield 2, counterstrike, etc), I'd suggest investing in this. Sure, it might be a little overkill, but so is that X2.

For a storage harddrive, you don't want 10,000 RPM. The only SATA harddrives that are 10,000 RPM are the Western Digital Raptors, which only come in 36.7 and 74 GB. If you wanted more storage at 10,000 or 15,000 RPM you'd need an SCSI drive. Not only are they very expensive, you need a controller for them, which will run you about $500 by itself.

So for a harddrive, get this. Cheap and very reliable.

Also, even though dual 512's may be a little better than 1 GB in theory, it's not worth the extra money. I forgot to clear this up, as well: DON'T UPGRADE TO DDR2. Dunno what TPS is smoking, but DDR and DDR2 have different slots. You'd need a whole new motherboard.

[emccky]

RE: Upgrade Time.

tnyhwk.. he doesn't need a fucking 7800. No one needs a 7800. You can get a 6800GT for like 150 now and it will be more then enough for every game on the market right now.

[87x]

RE: Upgrade Time.

I was told to get a 9600 pro 256 mb....

[emccky]

RE: Upgrade Time.

wtf is a 9600 pro? you mean 9800 pro 256? that's basically equivalent to a 6800.

[87x]

RE: Upgrade Time.

Remember, I was TOLD, I don't anything about this stuff. I do remember 9600 pro or no pro. I was told it is affordable and good. But not to get the 512 because thats the All-in-wonder. Make it out for whatever its supposed to be.

[emccky]

RE: Upgrade Time.

don't get a 9600. It'll bottleneck your system. Get a 6800 GT 256mb or a 9800 pro 256mb