Computer Hardware Update
Ashaman_Joe
Join Date: 2003-11-11 Member: 22559Members, Constellation
Join Date: 2003-11-11 Member: 22559Members, Constellation
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Tis the season to get free stuff!</div> This Christmas I plan on having my computer get a hardware overhaul. Unfourtunately, I don't know more beyond bigger numbers=better performance, I am kinda lost on what to get. I have now:
RADEON 9000 64 MB with driver version 6.14.10.6396
AMD Athlon XP 2500+
512 DDR RAM
And have a choice of what to upgrade. I can either get a RADEON 9800 256 MB or an AMD Athlon 64 3200. If I dont do that, I could upgrade both of them and get a RADEON 9600 256 and a AND Athlon 3000. I might be able to add in more RAM to either of them, either 256 DDR or another 512 DDR.
Can anyone help me?
RADEON 9000 64 MB with driver version 6.14.10.6396
AMD Athlon XP 2500+
512 DDR RAM
And have a choice of what to upgrade. I can either get a RADEON 9800 256 MB or an AMD Athlon 64 3200. If I dont do that, I could upgrade both of them and get a RADEON 9600 256 and a AND Athlon 3000. I might be able to add in more RAM to either of them, either 256 DDR or another 512 DDR.
Can anyone help me?
Comments
Only a Nub caek would choose better Video performance over all around better performance.
But than again you already have an OK Processor, so take the Vid card.
I would get both the 9600 and Athalon 3000, its a good combo. Although I would get the Athalon 64 then save up and get one of those spiffy Radeon XT around April next year. Why? Look at it like this:
-Radeon XT is $400 now.
-Price drops happens every few months
-HL2 release date is going to be around April by all indications
-By April you might be able to get a Radeon XT for $300 plus the HL2 rebate which is essentially saving you $50. So depending on how you look at it, if you wait to upgrade your GFX card you will not only be saving ~$100 but an additional $50 from the HL2 rebate and will be able to run HL2 just fine.
Like others said, you have a good processor. Moving to a 3000 wouldn't improve performance much. Getting a Athlon 64 would probably require a new mobo, which is a hassle. Plus, your video card needs upgrading. If you play graphic intensive games at all, the 9800 is the way to go here.
How much ram do you have exactly? Same processor as me.
I would go for the processor. Your graphics card can be held back by your processor, but your processor won't be held back by your graphics card (except actually STOPPING you playing some games, but it's a 9000 so I wouldn't worry about that). As far as my limited grasp of a computer's internal workings goes...
I swiched over to STEAM recently, which dropped me from 72 FPS w/custom models to 60 without. May just be a Steam thing, but I'm afraid to add custom models now. I fear for my computer when HL2 comes out...
From <a href='http://apps.ati.com/ATIcompare/' target='_blank'>ATI's comparison tool</a>, comparing the three 128MB models of 9600, the differences are:
CLOCK SPEED:
9600: 325e/400m
9600 pro: 400e/600m
9600 XT: 500e/600m
PIXEL FILLRATE:
9600: 1.3 Gpixels/sec
9600 pro: 1.6 Gpixels/sec
9600 XT: 2Gpixels/sec
GEOMETRY RATE:
9600: 162.5 Mtriangles/sec
9600 pro: 200 Mtriangles/sec
9600 XT: 250 Mtriangles/sec
all other given stats are equal between the three models.
And given that I just boosted up to an Ath64 3200+ myself, I'd warn against it for anyone considering making the jump... it's very overpriced for the power it provides, due to the fact that there are NO 64-bit OSen that are really easily available to take advantage of the added architecture. Well... Linux, but very few people are comfy with CLI.
Though I've seen an Ath64 3200+ with a R9800 XT... PAINFULLY fast.
Again, go for the video card. Your CPU is sufficient for the time being.
BTW, how does the Radeon compare with Nvidia?
TenSix: I can't wait unless I put it off till June. Christmas= influx of money in form of gifts. June= my birthday, and influx of money if form of gifts. I have to upgrade now, or hold my peace for 6 more months (which wont be fun).
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Is there any way to figure out if your mobo can handle a video card without buying the card?
I'm thinking about upgrading but I'm running off of a pretty old P3 600MHz system so I'm not sure what it can handle. I'm upgrading to an AMD Athalon 2600 Pro if I can. Anyone know how to figure out what motherboard you have? And yes, I am a nub with computers so I don't want to have to tear the damn thing apart. Thanks for any help.
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ATI(Radeon)>Nvidia(GeForce) hands down.
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Is there any way to figure out if your mobo can handle a video card without buying the card?
I'm thinking about upgrading but I'm running off of a pretty old P3 600MHz system so I'm not sure what it can handle. I'm upgrading to an AMD Athalon 2600 Pro if I can. Anyone know how to figure out what motherboard you have? And yes, I am a nub with computers so I don't want to have to tear the damn thing apart. Thanks for any help. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Easiest way to find out what your motherboard supports is to check the manual or manufacturer's website for specifications. If you bought it from a company such as Dell, IBM, Sony, Toshiba, Compaq, Emachines, etc. instead of building it yourself, you'll have to navigate that company's website and find your model of computer. You'll also have to pray that they aren't the sort of money-hungry company that intentionally uses hardware that's tough to upgrade, forcing you to buy specific hardware (or even a whole new system) from them.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Is there any way to figure out if your mobo can handle a video card without buying the card?
I'm thinking about upgrading but I'm running off of a pretty old P3 600MHz system so I'm not sure what it can handle. I'm upgrading to an AMD Athalon 2600 Pro if I can. Anyone know how to figure out what motherboard you have? And yes, I am a nub with computers so I don't want to have to tear the damn thing apart. Thanks for any help. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Your likely going to need a whole new motherboard. I have a Athalon XP 1800+ and a MSI VIA Ultra2 motherboard, which isnt very old. And according to MSI's specs I can't run anything more then the 1800+ I have right now. If your computer is OEM (Compaq, Dell, Hewlett Packard) you can pretty much be assured the motherboard won't work with any other proccessors. Either due to the motherboard itself, or other OEM parts. OEMs don't like giving their customers the ability to make a $400 upgrade when they could instead be forced to purchase a new $1000 computer from them.
You might be able to upgrade of course, usually the Motherboard info is printed right on the board itself. Your not going to get the same speed though due to older/OEM parts.
Not to mention many older motherboards can't handle DDR RAM, which is required by basically every processor now.
If your on a system older then 3 or 4 years, you would be better off just buying a whole new system minus whatever parts you could possibly salvage from your old system. Its not as expensive as it sounds. You can usually use some stuff from your old computer and save a good $100-$900:
-Hard drive, I have an old 8GB drive from a 4 year old computer that I use as a backup and virtual swap. Works fine.
-CD Drive, usually not top of the line fast, but sufficient for CD to CD copies.
-Monitor, this will usually save you tons. Sure you won't be getting a shiny new 21' Sony, but Im still using the monitor from my second computer with no problems at all. Plus its a good $200-$900 saved.
-Mouse & Keyboard, not the most expensive equipment, but alot of builders try to hit you up on everything. Add a 50% markup to a $20 mouse and $20 keyboard and you can see how this can save you a bit.
You will save alot more money if you buy a bare bones computer with nothing but the essentials, and then buy the rest of the parts yourself either on sale or from Pricewatch.
Ok, thanks, I'll check it out. It is from Dell and, believe it or not, my parents bought it for me so it's got some pretty old tech in a not so old system. Hopefully it'll be able to upgrade without much trouble, hopefully. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->
*Edit* Well, damn, looks like I'm going to need a new system. Since it's from Dell, and after looking at the mobo specs I don't think the upgrades I want are going to work. I guess I can live with this old piece of junk for a little longer, at least until HL2 comes out. Thanks guys.
(Note: this may take 3/4 days, as I am on vacation.)
The new videocard may not give you a huge performance boost in NS - but more demanding recent games, and certainly HL2 will love you for it. The videocard upgrade will give you a more dramatic improvement in recent games than your other upgrade options.
And just to water down some of the hatin on Dell, nobody anywhere makes a motherboard that can support both a P3-600 and an Athlon XP, sorry :)
To whoever is making that jump, you'll also want new RAM to go with your new motherboard and processor. You may also need a new videocard+soundcard, as it's quite possible your current system uses onboard sound+video. In otherwords, yes your best bet is to just buy a new system, minus the monitor and anything else you can salvage.
Nvidia's DX9 performance may not be as apocolyptically bad as it's being made out to be (New drivers apparently give a 50-100% performance jump in the DX9 apps the previous drivers were dying in), but i would still go with the ATi cards for the time being, to be on the safe side.
In short, for the moment, ATi are the top performer. nVidia rested on their laurels, not expecting any real competition. ATi busted *ss and came out with a card that spanked them soundly for two entire release revisions. And ATi already had their next component coming out and *on the shelves* before nVidia's 'triumph' card was even shipping tech demo samples.
Personally I'd still go with the XT if you're already laying out cash... the HL2 voucher cuts fifty bucks off the price (assuming, of course, that you're going to buy HL2 anyway), and you get to laugh at all the slower machines limping along, while you blast your way through the newest games at buttery-smooth framerates.
50 bucks off the price? Does that imply it will cost MORE than 50 bucks?