Upgrade Time!

TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Weehaw!</div> I'm going to upgrade my aging computer! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

I've already got the 3d card set, so my current setup is:

~500MHz PIII, 100MHz FSB
288 MB RAM
Gainward GeForce4 Ti4200 64MB RAM
Soundblaster PCI128
20 Gig HD
80 Gig HD
DVD Drive
CD-RW Drive

Now the part where you give me advice. I have <~$300 (boy, that's a lot of symbols), which means I've got less than $300, maybe a bit more. I plan on getting all my stuff from CompUSA, even though it costs more, because they have two wicked deals: they replace whatever you want if it breaks, no questions asked, and if you ever want to upgrade, you just bring the old thing back and pay them the difference. So anyways, how's this look?

<a href='http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product%5Fcode=50226349&pfp=compare' target='_blank'>1.8 GHz Pentium 4 </a>
<a href='http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product%5Fcode=303038&pfp=compare' target='_blank'>Motherboard with a bunch of confusing numbers in the name</a>
<a href='http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50281218&pfp=BROWSE' target='_blank'>A stick of 512 (this I'm getting for free, so it's not part of the $300)</a>

This all ads up to about $280, and hopefully I won't need to buy much more. I'm thinking about switching my ribbon cables to those cool round cables they sell at ThinkGeek.com, but that might be over my budget. I'm hoping my current power supply will support everything, but if it doesn't, I'll try to scrounge together the cash for that (looking over them, they don't seen too bad pricewise) <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->

I know the 1.8 is kind of slow, but hey, it's not like I can afford better at this point. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo-->

Any tips you want to give? Do you think I'll be able to install a new mobo myself (I've put in hard drives and 3d cards and stuff, but this is sort of big...)? Do I need to do something to my BIOS before I make the switcheroo? Is there a point in backing up my stuff if I'm not doing anything to the hard drives? Would you like to donate money so I can get a 2.0GHz thingie?
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Comments

  • OttoDestructOttoDestruct Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7790Members
    Thats just about what I'm running, except I'm using a GeForce2 Ultra. But by the time september rolls around with HL2 I'm going to have around $1000 dollars to spend due to extra scholarship money. College = Teh winnar! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • NecroticNecrotic Big Girl&#39;s Blouse Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 53Members, NS1 Playtester
    You definately need a new PSU, one running a 500mhz pentium will _not_ run a 1.8 gig.
    I also recommend you back up all your files and wipe your OS hard drive, because windows does _not_ like waking up with a new motherboard and you'll prolly just end up having crazy resource conflicts.
    And 1.8 is hardly slow...think its three times faster than your current computer, and also its better value for money than going all out and buying bleeding edge technology which will halve in value in 2 months...
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  • HawkeyeHawkeye Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1855Members
    Well, what you have to do is add the cost of the pieces it takes to upgrade to your ideal computer, and then customize a computer at dell website or gateway website and compare and contrast.

    If it is even 200 dollars more expensive than buying the pieces, do it. In the long run, it'll save you a lot of headache.
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  • OttoDestructOttoDestruct Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7790Members
    <a href='http://www.pricewatch.com' target='_blank'>Pricewatch</a> pwnz everything else for online computer shopping.
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  • MonsieurEvilMonsieurEvil Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    edited June 2003
    Rather than using CompUSa, I would recommend ordering from <a href='http://www.newegg.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.newegg.com/</a> . Then you could have:

    a nice new Intel P4 <b>2.6</b> Ghz for about $180 and a great P4 800Mhz FSB HT motherboard for about $60.

    Then you still have 60 bucks left over for that copy of HL2 when it comes out...

    NewEgg.com > all...
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Jun 21 2003, 01:44 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Jun 21 2003, 01:44 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Rather than using CompUSa, I would recommend ordering from <a href='http://www.newegg.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.newegg.com/</a> . Then you could have:

    a nice new Intel P4 <b>2.6</b> Ghz for about $180 and a great P4 800Mhz FSB HT motherboard for about $60.

    Then you still have 60 bucks left over for that copy of HL2 when it comes out...

    NewEgg.com > all... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yeah, but they don't have the upgrade deal or warranty deal that CompUSA does. And I'd like to get a second opinion on Necrotic's statement, even though it's probably true: do I need a new PSU?
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  • LegionnairedLegionnaired Join Date: 2002-04-30 Member: 552Members, Constellation
    1) Yes, you need a new PSU.
    2) Trust me, unless you're a moron, nothing you get is going to break. Buy with confidence from Newegg.
    3) As for the upgrade deal, the money saved pretty much nullifys it.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Legionnaired+Jun 21 2003, 02:15 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Legionnaired @ Jun 21 2003, 02:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> 2) Trust me, unless you're a moron, nothing you get is going to break. Buy with confidence from Newegg.
    <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That's what I thought, until my first GeForce 4 stopped working one day. Luckily, I had bought it from CompUSA, so I got it replaced, but boy was I happy to not have to start using my VooDoo3000 again. They couldn't figure out what went wrong either, but it's nice to not have blown 200+ dollars.
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  • PulsePulse To create, to create and escape. Join Date: 2002-08-29 Member: 1248Members, Constellation
    edited June 2003
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->AMD Athlon XP™ 3000+ "Barton" 333 FSB PROCESSOR CPU- RETAIL...$256.00...No International/Canadian shipments.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    This is torture.
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  • HawkeyeHawkeye Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1855Members
    Take a tip from me and don't buy any "3Com" internet cards. They work fine until you take it out and put it in another slot. After that it'll never work right again. Don't ask me why.
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  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    You definitely need a new PSU

    I recommend the Sparkle 300w, which is what I have. Rated total output of 395W and a 3.3+5V output of 200w, yeah baby!
    Newegg only charges like $30 for it too!
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