I'm looking to upgrade from my currently Pentium 4/6800 GT system to more up-to-date sockets and hardware. It's gotten to the point where this system of 3-4 years just isn't cutting it anymore. I'd love to do the hardware selection myself, but I've lost touch with tech news after the dual core debut so I don't trust myself to get the best for the money.
I think this is what I need: Motherboard, CPU, RAM, Video Card.
My current TT TR2-550 ought to work with the new hardware.
Motherboard: I don't need overclocking or SLI/Crossfire. What I do need is at least 1 PCI slot, 2 would be nice, and 2 IDE cable slots for 2 HDDs and 2 ODDs. I'll eventually get some good SATA drives, but not in this escapade. And pretty much whatever will fit the following.
CPU: I'm partial to Intel, nothing over the top but just a good midrange proc will do.
RAM: I'm using XP and have been using 2 gigs for a while and it's done fine so I don't want any more.
Videocard: Games will be the main concern, I usually play CS:S (and other source games)/Eve and while they can run at 1280x1024 there is often a bit of lag and I've got the settings on low. I'd like to bump those up and be able to get some more performance out of newer games. Not like Crysis on high, but smoothly on low/med would be excellent. I've always used nVidia (BFG/eVGA) and would prefer it, but ATI is not out of the question if price/performance is better. If there is any leftover money, I'd want it to go here first.
I've got $633 exactly in the computer parts pool, though that will go up by the time of the order, preferably from Newegg. Absolute roof of the budget would be $700 with shipping and what not.
I think this is what I need: Motherboard, CPU, RAM, Video Card.
My current TT TR2-550 ought to work with the new hardware.
Motherboard: I don't need overclocking or SLI/Crossfire. What I do need is at least 1 PCI slot, 2 would be nice, and 2 IDE cable slots for 2 HDDs and 2 ODDs. I'll eventually get some good SATA drives, but not in this escapade. And pretty much whatever will fit the following.
CPU: I'm partial to Intel, nothing over the top but just a good midrange proc will do.
RAM: I'm using XP and have been using 2 gigs for a while and it's done fine so I don't want any more.
Videocard: Games will be the main concern, I usually play CS:S (and other source games)/Eve and while they can run at 1280x1024 there is often a bit of lag and I've got the settings on low. I'd like to bump those up and be able to get some more performance out of newer games. Not like Crysis on high, but smoothly on low/med would be excellent. I've always used nVidia (BFG/eVGA) and would prefer it, but ATI is not out of the question if price/performance is better. If there is any leftover money, I'd want it to go here first.
I've got $633 exactly in the computer parts pool, though that will go up by the time of the order, preferably from Newegg. Absolute roof of the budget would be $700 with shipping and what not.
