Pokoyo
Member
+2|6213
So I decided to look into upgrading my computer after recently looking at laptops and realising that any good laptop beats my desktop.

Thing is, I know very little about what to get, so I decided to ask you guys. Here's what I've got.

CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz (x86 Family Model 4 Stepping 2 Genuineintel ~3200Mhz according to System Info)
RAM: 1gb
Graphics card: NVidia GeForce 6600 GT
Motherboard (not so sure about this one): Intel D915GAG

Right now, my computer is a bit iffy about playing TF2 even with everything on low(drops to around 10-15fps in the middle area of 2fort). Ideally, I wanna play it on all high. I can't play BF2 for the low fps, I wanna fix that too.

Any other information that you need I will get, but assume I don't know how to get it. I'm in Australia, so Australia specific advice or prices would be appreciated. Upper cost limit is around $1500. Naturally, I want to spend as little as possible.

As a side note, the fan leading from my power box to the outside doesn't work. It hasn't worked for around half a year now, my computer isn't going to blow up, right?
AussieReaper
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
+5,761|6432|what

Get another 1gb of ram. And an 8800GT card.

Does your motherboard support PCI-E ?
https://i.imgur.com/maVpUMN.png
mtb0minime
minimember
+2,418|6933

TheAussieReaper wrote:

Get another 1gb of ram. And an 8800GT card.

Does your motherboard support PCI-E ?
What he said. I was gonna say videocard first, but the extra gig of RAM wouldn't hurt at all, and it's super cheap anyway.
Pokoyo
Member
+2|6213
I have a schematic sticker of my motherboard and it has a PCI Express x16 slot, and a x1 one as well. I even know where they are, so there's no chance of me accidentally melting my computer. Helpful sticker.

Which 8800 should I get? How do I go about getting one? How do I find out which RAM I need?
mtb0minime
minimember
+2,418|6933

Well for RAM, you need to find out some specs of your motherboard.

How many pins?
What speed can it handle?
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6732|The Twilight Zone
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
Cheez
Herman is a warmaphrodite
+1,027|6717|King Of The Islands

mtb0minime wrote:

Well for RAM, you need to find out some specs of your motherboard.

How many pins?
What speed can it handle?
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboar … 027104.htm

DDR1.
My state was founded by Batman. Your opinion is invalid.
Pokoyo
Member
+2|6213
Thanks Cheez, that looks right.

Sup that computer would cost me $1600.
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6732|The Twilight Zone

Pokoyo wrote:

...Upper cost limit is around $1500. Naturally, I want to spend as little as possible...
1096 EUR = 1.443,65 USD
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
Pokoyo
Member
+2|6213

.Sup wrote:

1096 EUR = 1.443,65 USD
While that may be true, I'm not in America. Australian money is worth less. Which sucks.
Little BaBy JESUS
m8
+394|6427|'straya
Well everyones been suggesting decent upgrades. but if u have $1500 to work with u can build a very good brand new computer.

otherwise. Graphics card needs upgrade. at least another GB of ram. but doing that u may need to replace ur PSU as well... so more specific info would be good

Last edited by Little BaBy JESUS (2008-01-28 05:13:42)

Freezer7Pro
I don't come here a lot anymore.
+1,447|6476|Winland

For that computer:

1GB more RAM.
7800/7900/X1950.

Not worth spending much more, seeing how crappy your motherboard is.

If you get a new P35 chipset mobo and a new CPU cooler, you could overclock your CPU to 4-4.5GHz and have a half-decent system to run an 8800GT with.
The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
Pokoyo
Member
+2|6213

Freezer7Pro wrote:

For that computer:

1GB more RAM.
7800/7900/X1950.

Not worth spending much more, seeing how crappy your motherboard is.

If you get a new P35 chipset mobo and a new CPU cooler, you could overclock your CPU to 4-4.5GHz and have a half-decent system to run an 8800GT with.
Could you be a lil more specific? All these new brands and specifications are hard to understand. I'm starting to think I don't have enough money.
']['error
Banned
+630|6923|The Netherlands

Pokoyo wrote:

Freezer7Pro wrote:

For that computer:

1GB more RAM.
7800/7900/X1950.

Not worth spending much more, seeing how crappy your motherboard is.

If you get a new P35 chipset mobo and a new CPU cooler, you could overclock your CPU to 4-4.5GHz and have a half-decent system to run an 8800GT with.
Could you be a lil more specific? All these new brands and specifications are hard to understand. I'm starting to think I don't have enough money.
Lol no, for $1500 you can buy a whole new computer that kicks ass! even for $1200 you can build an awesome machine!

plan:

- sell old computer on ebay
- use $1000(from the $1500 max you are willing to spend) + money profit from the computer you sold = around $1200

- then buy(we'll help you out):

p35 chipset mobo
8800GTS G92 512mb
4 gigs of ram
core 2 quad / core 2 duo
nice PSU around 600watts

- profit!
Nappy
Apprentice
+151|6508|NSW, Australia

i would have to agree with error,

also what area do you live in? why dont you go around to some computer shops and get quotes on all that stuff^^

get the cheapest stuff you can (its good stuff too!)

save more money by building it yourself, we will help you
']['error
Banned
+630|6923|The Netherlands

Nappy wrote:

i would have to agree with error,

also what area do you live in? why dont you go around to some computer shops and get quotes on all that stuff^^

get the cheapest stuff you can (its good stuff too!)

save more money by building it yourself, we will help you
It's Terror!

Don't just get the cheapest, there's allot of rubbish between all the cheap stuff!
And it seems that you don't have much experience with computers, therefore I think it is safer to let us decide what parts you need to get for a certain budget.

Now, give us your country and a maximum budget, and we'll figure out a great configuration for you
Pokoyo
Member
+2|6213
I'm in Australia. Brisbane to be precise. I'm not really sure about the maximum budget. I have money but I need to buy a laptop for uni, and still have a large safety net because I don't have a job yet. I'm slowly working on the job thing.

For a new computer I would set the limit at $2500. I have no idea what kind of computer that buys right now. Hopefully a good one.

I'm pretty sure I can build it myself so all I need to do is find the right parts.
Little BaBy JESUS
m8
+394|6427|'straya

Pokoyo wrote:

I'm in Australia. Brisbane to be precise. I'm not really sure about the maximum budget. I have money but I need to buy a laptop for uni, and still have a large safety net because I don't have a job yet. I'm slowly working on the job thing.

For a new computer I would set the limit at $2500. I have no idea what kind of computer that buys right now. Hopefully a good one.

I'm pretty sure I can build it myself so all I need to do is find the right parts.
$2500 can get u an excellent computer.

but u dont need to spend anymore than $1500.
Pokoyo
Member
+2|6213

Little BaBy JESUS wrote:

$2500 can get u an excellent computer.

but u dont need to spend anymore than $1500.
Great, $1500 sounds about right. So all I need to do is fill out this table and then go buy the stuff. Tell me if I'm forgetting anything.

ComponentType$
Motherboard
CPU
RAM
Graphics Card
Power Box
MonitorAlready have - LG flatron ez T730BH0
OS
CaseAlready have - but no idea0
DVD DriveAlready have - Some LG thing0
Wifi cardAlready have - D-Link AirPlus DWL-G520 Wireless PCI adapter0
SpeakersAlready have - Altec Lansing Model 2210
KB and MouseAlready have - Generic Microsoft things0
Total0


But I think it might be a good idea to replace all of the things I've put as already have. With the monitor I got now the screen shakes, plus they're apparently bad for eyes, compared to LCD monitors.
nukchebi0
Пушкин, наше всё
+387|6603|New Haven, CT
I would suggest a new case, new monitor, and new mouse (MX518/G5).

Also, how long are you willing to wait for this. Intel's new Core 2 Quads are bing released in February or March, and will be better than the current offerings.
Pokoyo
Member
+2|6213

nukchebi0 wrote:

Also, how long are you willing to wait for this. Intel's new Core 2 Quads are bing released in February or March, and will be better than the current offerings.
I could wait till around the end of February, but not much longer. Wouldn't new stuff cost more than old stuff though?
Pokoyo
Member
+2|6213
ComponentType$
MotherboardXFX nForce 780i-SH9 Motherboard 429
CPUIntel Core 2 Quad Q6600/ 2.40GHz/2x4MB Cache/ 1066FSB/ LGA775 330
RAMCorsair DDR2 4GB PC-6400/800 (2xXMS2 2GB) TWIN2X4096-6400C5 Ram 205
Graphics Card Gigabyte NX88T512HP 8800GT, 512MB, 256bit, DDR3, PCIE2.0, 2xDVI-I, TV-Out, HDCP390
Power BoxIncluded with case 0
MonitorAlready have - LG flatron ez T730BH0
OS
CaseAntec Sonata Plus Black/Silver Tower Case (550W)220
DVD DriveSome generic type50
Wifi cardAlready have - D-Link AirPlus DWL-G520 Wireless PCI adapter0
SpeakersAlready have - Altec Lansing Model 2210
KB and MouseAlready have - Generic Microsoft things0
Total1624


Here's what I have right now. I fully expect someone to say 'that CPU won't fit with that mobo', or something, because I have no idea how to tell if it will or not. The prices are taken from Centre Com for general reference. They're in a different state and I've never heard of them before so I probably won't end up buying from them.

It's probably too expensive for my budget though, so if anyone can find cheaper but similar parts that'd be great. They have a Core 2 Duo E8400 for $250, but I can't tell which is better.

I also don't know to just go with Vista or find a copy of XP. DRM seems like thing thing you should avoid without another computer running XP.
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6732|The Twilight Zone
You don't need 4 gigs of memory and get the Q9300. Btw check if PSU is good enough to power everything.
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
Little BaBy JESUS
m8
+394|6427|'straya

.Sup wrote:

You don't need 4 gigs of memory and get the Q9300. Btw check if PSU is good enough to power everything.
he doesnt need 4 GB but if he is buy other good components (CPU, motherboard etc) 4GB at todays prices is not to bad and i think in the long run it would be better. (RAM prices are supposidly going up again)
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6732|The Twilight Zone

Little BaBy JESUS wrote:

.Sup wrote:

You don't need 4 gigs of memory and get the Q9300. Btw check if PSU is good enough to power everything.
he doesnt need 4 GB but if he is buy other good components (CPU, motherboard etc) 4GB at todays prices is not to bad and i think in the long run it would be better. (RAM prices are supposidly going up again)
Everything above 2 gigs is bull right now. He can buy another 2 gigs later. Besides he should invest in faster memory 1000+.
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png

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