New base unit? Upgrade? Help!

2008-08-18 08:33:17

#1

baggs: Member; +732|6472

So truth is i go all blonde and stupid when it comes down to PC components, whats good, whats bad, whats right, whats wrong is all a mystery to me. I got a machine that serves a purpose at which i suppose is a good level but i'd like to upgrade, BF2 takes longer and longer to load along with other games and programs and i get way too many random errors nowadays. I was thinking about a simple wipe and re-install of Windows XP and that would likely solve many problems but then i still have the same old slow(ish) machine. From memory my current system is an AMD 64 3500+, 2gb memory, 2x160gb 7200rpm SATA HDD, XFX 7600GTxxx and an 'older than the internet' Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum, and the PSU is one i upgraded to which is modular and quite powerful from what i remember.

So, recommend buying a new base unit? Would i get away with just re-installing XP and upgrading the GPU, sound card and add more ram? Or should i also change the mobo, chip and ram along with the other components?

I'd like to try and use both my HDD's, the PSU and the case (uses a full size mobo btw). Was looking at spending around £400 (if possible!).

Last edited by baggs (2008-08-18 08:51:18)

2008-08-18 09:22:54

#2

Freezer7Pro: I don't come here a lot anymore.; +1,447|6465|Winland

You'll get a kicker rig for £400. Don't worry.

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

2008-08-18 09:26:07

#3

DUnlimited: got any popo lolo intersting?; +1,160|6731|cuntshitlake

baggs wrote:
So truth is i go all blonde and stupid when it comes down to PC components, whats good, whats bad, whats right, whats wrong is all a mystery to me. I got a machine that serves a purpose at which i suppose is a good level but i'd like to upgrade, BF2 takes longer and longer to load along with other games and programs and i get way too many random errors nowadays. I was thinking about a simple wipe and re-install of Windows XP and that would likely solve many problems but then i still have the same old slow(ish) machine. From memory my current system is an AMD 64 3500+, 2gb memory, 2x160gb 7200rpm SATA HDD, XFX 7600GTxxx and an 'older than the internet' Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum, and the PSU is one i upgraded to which is modular and quite powerful from what i remember.

So, recommend buying a new base unit? Would i get away with just re-installing XP and upgrading the GPU, sound card and add more ram? Or should i also change the mobo, chip and ram along with the other components?

I'd like to try and use both my HDD's, the PSU and the case (uses a full size mobo btw). Was looking at spending around £400 (if possible!).

For BF2 only you should be fine with just a windows reinstall.

If however you want more performance in newer games etc, you should consider upgrading the GPU as well as the CPU. The cheapest you can go that way is getting an AMD dualcore that fits your mobo and a 8800GT/HD3870/HD4850.

Then the last option is to do it totally new. Getting a P35/P45/X38 mobo, Core2Duo/Quad, 2-4GB of DDR2 (unless your current is DDR2), 8800GT/HD3870/HD4850/HD4870, possibly a better PSU, and then if needed, a sound card. For £400 getting a fine rig is easy.

Last edited by DeathUnlimited (2008-08-18 09:27:11)

main battle tank karthus medikopter 117 megamegapowershot gg

2008-08-19 00:23:15

#4

baggs: Member; +732|6472

After a couple conversations with some relatively clued in friends last night i think i'm going to;

Re-install XP, full fresh install with a complete wipe of both drives. (Tho i have no XP disc, just a recovery partition on my C: drive, is this a problem?)
Buy a new graphics card, maybe an ATi, i've been informed they are very very good. Any suggestions?
Buy a new sound card, likely an XFi, unless you have better suggestions?

As for the XP install issue, i could just buy an XP SP2 disc, that might save some time and some problems right?

2008-08-19 01:00:06

#5

nukchebi0: Пушкин, наше всё; +387|6592|New Haven, CT

You video card without a better CPU. You can't get a better CPU without going to ebay. Ebay sucks.

Thus, wait, until you can afford an entirely new system.

2008-08-19 02:49:20

#6

']['error.V2: Om nom nom nom; +48|6081

Re-use HD's and case. You can also re-use the soundcard, but the onboard soundcards these days also have a very good sound quality. You can sell your old parts for some extra cash. I came up with this for around 400:

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l310/stefanvdd/rig.jpg

Last edited by ']['error.V2 (2008-08-19 02:49:38)

2008-08-19 06:33:59

#7

DUnlimited: got any popo lolo intersting?; +1,160|6731|cuntshitlake

You will need a better CPU to take advantage of a new graphics card.

main battle tank karthus medikopter 117 megamegapowershot gg

2008-08-19 07:46:30

#8

']['error.V2: Om nom nom nom; +48|6081

']['error.V2 wrote:
Re-use HD's and case. You can also re-use the soundcard, but the onboard soundcards these days also have a very good sound quality. You can sell your old parts for some extra cash. I came up with this for around 400:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l310/ … dd/rig.jpg

?

2008-08-19 07:55:59

#9

TheEternalPessimist: Wibble; +412|6888|Mhz

']['error.V2 wrote:
']['error.V2 wrote:
Re-use HD's and case. You can also re-use the soundcard, but the onboard soundcards these days also have a very good sound quality. You can sell your old parts for some extra cash. I came up with this for around 400:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l310/ … dd/rig.jpg
?

Frankly I can't fault any of that, it'd last you a minimum of 2 years quite happily.

EDIT: Cheaper faster RAM

Good stuff too.

Last edited by TheEternalPessimist (2008-08-19 08:00:29)

2008-08-19 08:25:06

#10

baggs: Member; +732|6472

Awesome replys, thanks! I think i'm going to upgrade the GPU, Sound card and re-install windows for the time being. I found an nVidia 9800GT and an Audigy sound card for £135 locally, which suits me better as they'll also help me with the re-install etc... due to me being a complete retard when it comes to computers.

New chip, board and ram would be really nice but i've realised i got a few things to pay out for in the next couple months. So at present £135 > £350+

2008-08-19 08:30:39

#11

']['error.V2: Om nom nom nom; +48|6081

baggs wrote:
Awesome replys, thanks! I think i'm going to upgrade the GPU, Sound card and re-install windows for the time being. I found an nVidia 9800GT and an Audigy sound card for £135 locally, which suits me better as they'll also help me with the re-install etc... due to me being a complete retard when it comes to computers.

New chip, board and ram would be really nice but i've realised i got a few things to pay out for in the next couple months. So at present £135 > £350+

9800GT = 8800GT
Try finding an cheap 8800GT. But even if you buy an 8800GT, it''ll be bottlenecked by your AMD. Also, why isn't your onboard sound sufficient?

edit:

https://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l310/stefanvdd/rig2.jpg

yez?

Last edited by ']['error.V2 (2008-08-19 08:33:54)

2008-08-19 09:05:54

#12

TheEternalPessimist: Wibble; +412|6888|Mhz

New graphics in that rig as it stands will be a waste of time, the CPU simply can't keep up so it'll under perform by miles.

2008-08-19 09:38:38

#13

DUnlimited: got any popo lolo intersting?; +1,160|6731|cuntshitlake

TheEternalPessimist wrote:
New graphics in that rig as it stands will be a waste of time, the CPU simply can't keep up so it'll under perform by miles.

Yep, try to find an AMD S939 dualcore chip somewhere or you will not get very much of a performance increase out of the new GPU.

main battle tank karthus medikopter 117 megamegapowershot gg

2008-08-20 00:40:53

#14

baggs: Member; +732|6472

So absolutley no point in buying the 9800GT as opposed to the 8800GT? The price difference wasnt that much so i figured to just buy the 9800GT.

Also, i know the chip is below par, i looked around for socket 939 dual cores but they're pretty much non existent, trying scan, ebuyer etc....i do plan on getting a new board, chip and ram at some point but money at the moment would be an issue. I mean, i got enough of it but i just have to spend some soon on something that isn't a PC.

2008-08-20 02:14:42

#15

TheEternalPessimist: Wibble; +412|6888|Mhz

You'd be better just waiting then, upgrading in little steps just results in a mess.

Maybe hunt around on eBay for a really cheap x1950, that'd only be bottlenecked slightly by that CPU and it'll piss BF2 and run CoD4 on high with 2x/4x AA.

2008-08-21 06:22:57

#16

']['error.V2: Om nom nom nom; +48|6081

TheEternalPessimist wrote:
You'd be better just waiting then, upgrading in little steps just results in a mess.

Maybe hunt around on eBay for a really cheap x1950, that'd only be bottlenecked slightly by that CPU and it'll piss BF2 and run CoD4 on high with 2x/4x AA.

yeah hunt around on ebay for a x1950/7900GT for cheap

2008-08-21 06:27:35

#17

DUnlimited: got any popo lolo intersting?; +1,160|6731|cuntshitlake

']['error.V2 wrote:
TheEternalPessimist wrote:
You'd be better just waiting then, upgrading in little steps just results in a mess.

Maybe hunt around on eBay for a really cheap x1950, that'd only be bottlenecked slightly by that CPU and it'll piss BF2 and run CoD4 on high with 2x/4x AA.
yeah hunt around on ebay for a x1950/7900GT for cheap

Or 8600GT. If the system is PCI-E, not AGP

main battle tank karthus medikopter 117 megamegapowershot gg

BF2S Forums New base unit? Upgrade? Help!

baggs wrote:

']['error.V2 wrote:

']['error.V2 wrote:

']['error.V2 wrote:

baggs wrote:

TheEternalPessimist wrote:

TheEternalPessimist wrote:

']['error.V2 wrote:

TheEternalPessimist wrote:

Board footer