Poll

Refurbishing an Athlon XP...

Option 176%76% - 10
Option 27%7% - 1
Option 30%0% - 0
Option 415%15% - 2
Total: 13
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,075|7229|PNW

AGP cards are definitely becoming scarce and expensive. I usually toss oddball ideas like this out on the net before making a decision with lack of sleep, so take a look at these two systems (non-detailed specs) and tell me what you think...

  • AMD64 3500+
  • ASUS A8V Deluxe
  • 2GB DDR400 RAM
  • 6800 Ultra OC
  • 550W PSU
  • AMDXP 2500+
  • ASUS A7N8X
  • 1GB DDR400 RAM
  • GeForce 2 (GeForce MX and 9600 Pro are burnt out)
  • 480W PSU


Option 1: Spend $180-$250 (7800GT; X1950 Pro) to upgrade System 1's video card to something better, transfer 6800UOC to System 2.
Pros - Better gaming on my primary system until a new PC is built.
Cons - I detest spending more (especially in the $180+ range) than a card's worth because of reduced availability; 6800UOC would have to deal with a 480W PSU on System 2; AMDXP 2500+ may bottleneck 6800UOC; A7N8X doesn't have a 'snapsinplace thingimabob' on the AGP slot for the relatively weighty 6800UOC.

Option 2: Spend $100-$179 on something ranging from 6800GT to 7x00GS.
Pros - Decent backup system; able to game recent titles for network play.
Cons - Again, extra money because it's AGP.

Option 3: Spend $20-$99 on a GeForce MX (lower-priced)/9000 (higher-priced) card.
Pros - Cheap; will work.
Cons - Many newer titles won't work for shit on any respectable detail level.

Option 4: Retain GeForce 2 or deposit System 2 components into the bin of hopelessly-outdated hardware (despite the fact that it is capable of playing Half-Life 2, with a decent 'card), along with the Pentium II and 486SX. Salvage chassis and PSU.
Pros - Extra chassis and PSU.
Cons - No extra gaming system.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2007-01-09 05:14:24)

B00MH3ADSH0T
Fresh NoobCaeks Here
+118|6848|Penrith,Nsw, Aus
Ok i dont know wtf is going on but sell it or somthing and buy a new one ?
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,075|7229|PNW

B00MH3ADSH0T wrote:

Ok i dont know wtf is going on but sell it or somthing and buy a new one ?
The fact that I already have a better system precludes 'buying a new one.' And what on Earth would I sell this used rig for anyway? $150? The GeForce 2's grossly out-of-date, and any decent replacement's gonna cost.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2007-01-09 05:13:17)

Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|7039|SE London

What I reckon you should do is to flog the old system for cheap and gradually upgrade your newer system.

Get this mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6813157092
and this CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6819115005
For a total of $248. You could put your old mobo and CPU in the old system and sell it for at least that much to finance the upgrade.

It's not an ideal upgrade, it'd be better to do it all at once, but it sounds like it'd work well for you.
younggun
Member
+28|7101
Save money and eventually buy a new one.
Naughty_Om
Im Ron Burgundy?
+355|7091|USA
Dont go AMD and use intel.
{C4C}Phoenix
Member
+8|6822
Where's the option to buy a new system altogether???
younggun
Member
+28|7101

Naughty_Om wrote:

Dont go AMD and use intel.
Not true... even though Intel's C2D lineup is blowing everything away that doesn't mean that you shouldn't buy AMD. AMD is better for people under a tight budget.
Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|7039|SE London

younggun wrote:

Naughty_Om wrote:

Dont go AMD and use intel.
Not true... even though Intel's C2D lineup is blowing everything away that doesn't mean that you shouldn't buy AMD. AMD is better for people under a tight budget.
That's complete and total lies.

All you need is an E6300, they're cheap. Intel MBs are notoriously expensive, but the savings on the CPU make up for it.

AMD 939 chips are good if on a tight budget. AM2 is shit and the new 4x4 chips look like the biggest waste of money ever. My last 5 PCs have been AMD based, now Intel are making them look like idiots.
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,075|7229|PNW

{C4C}Phoenix wrote:

Where's the option to buy a new system altogether???
Not buying a new system until later this year. I was just thinking about a relatively inexpensive option to rehabilitate this old PC. It'd operate as a good loaner, at least.

When I do buy a new PC, I'll not skimp on anything unless it makes no difference.

Bertster7 wrote:

What I reckon you should do is to flog the old system for cheap and gradually upgrade your newer system.

Get this mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6813157092
and this CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6819115005
For a total of $248. You could put your old mobo and CPU in the old system and sell it for at least that much to finance the upgrade.

It's not an ideal upgrade, it'd be better to do it all at once, but it sounds like it'd work well for you.
Yeah, that's an idea, but it does just leave me with more parts lying about.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2007-01-09 16:41:15)

Cheez
Herman is a warmaphrodite
+1,027|6896|King Of The Islands

Please for the love of god, go with Option 2.

I have
Barton 2500+
9800 Pro 128MB
1GB 400 Dual Channel
O/C'd 166 to 185 FSB (squeezed as much as I can out of the POS)

And I have 1024, Med, Med, Med, Low, Low, Off, Off, Off, High, 100 @ 40-70 FPS

As you can see, XPs are a hopeless piece of junk. Abandon it, stuff it in a cupboard, shoot it into space, whatever. Just disown it.
My state was founded by Batman. Your opinion is invalid.
Mad Ad
Member
+178|6969|England, UK
why not a?  whats the point pf buying something old already....x1950pro isnt that expensive if you are talking about wasting over half that on an outdated card
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,075|7229|PNW

Naughty_Om wrote:

Dont go AMD and use intel.
If I were building something from scratch at this time, I'd agree completely. However, this Athlon XP system's guts are staring at me.
Cheez
Herman is a warmaphrodite
+1,027|6896|King Of The Islands

Mad Ad wrote:

why not a?  whats the point pf buying something old already....x1950pro isnt that expensive if you are talking about wasting over half that on an outdated card
Why waste all that money on something so outdated. I'd understand if it were a brand new system, yes by all means by as fast as you can afford. But if you put something uberfantabulous it would not be used to its full, because everything else would bottleneck (if thats possible, having only one component that ISN'T a bottleneck)

That's why I chose B, because its a sensible price range for something dated.
My state was founded by Batman. Your opinion is invalid.

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