Need advice opn upgrade..

[phlip]

rite had my current system is as follows :

Athlon T-bird 950
AOpen KT133A
256Mb Crucial RAM
40GB Maxtor 7200 RPM
ATi RADEON 64Mb DDR (original radeon)
Enermax 350W PSU ( 2 fans)
Enlite midi tower case + 2 system fans


bascially ive got about £400-500 to upgrade: i use my pc mainly for the internet and work, but also occasionaly as a gaming pc.
I'd like it to be significantly faster than my curren system and be stable, and be quieter than my current system..

maybe upgrade CPU/mobo/RAM, the graphics would get a performance increase as well from that... 'flower' heatsink for the CPU maybe? perhaps even a new case if it would improve cooling, less need for so many fans

any suggestions much appreciated

 

[murphy55d]

Admittedly I don't know how much that is in USD and I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'd go with something like this:

Epox 8k3a+ $108
Athlon Xp 1800+ $103 USD
2x 256MB DDR from Crucial.com (something like $90 total now, check bensbargains.net for info)

As for a case, I like this one, I own it, and it is a MUCH cooler case than my previous one:
EVERCASE E4252W005A (just run a search for it at newegg.com, or whatever site/shop you may use)

Also a Thermalright Sk6 heatsink/fan would help in cooling too.

 

[Athlon4all]

Your system is prolly more than adequate for office work and internet. In the latest games, it definately needs a boost though. If I wanted to upgrade that to run games better, I'd get the following:

EPoX 8K3A+ $100
Athlon XP 1600+ $90
256Meg Crucail PC2100 $60 after $20 cupon
nVidia GeForce4 Ti 4200 $170
Total:$420 Will give a significant boost in newer games

 

[phlip]

just been working out the prices in pounds...

what sort of RAM should i get? on Overclockers.co.uk they suggested that Corsair RAM worked well with the Epox 8k3a..?

is there anything i could do thats relatively cheap to make it run quieter?


cheers

 

[murphy55d]

Originally posted by: phlip
just been working out the prices in pounds...

what sort of RAM should i get? on Overclockers.co.uk they suggested that Corsair RAM worked well with the Epox 8k3a..?

is there anything i could do thats relatively cheap to make it run quieter?


cheers

If you want to overclock, go with something like Corsair XMS or Mushkin Enhanced. Otherwise just go with Crucial..they are reliable, and now VERY nicely priced, especially compared to XMS and Mushkin.

As far as quieter, get a Panaflo fan for whatever heatsink you get, and some Vantec Stealth case fans.

 

[phlip]

im a bit out of touch with DDR memory, what do the numbers mean.....PC2100 PC2700?
theyre only compatible with certain chipsets am i right in thinking?

what would be best for my system?

cheers

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

For a quiet systems from overclockers.co.uk (you may know other places with better prices that ship to the UK), get:
- P4 1.6A + Abit BD7 combo - 203 pounds
- 2 x 256 MB Samsung Original PC2700 - 112 pounds
- Hercules Radeon 8500LE OEM (clocked 250/250). - 114 pounds

=================================
Total 429 pounds +shipping

Once you have this, overclock it to over 2 GHz and you should have a screaming system. In addition, the Radeon 8500LE with recent drivers is nipping at the Ti4200's heels (Linkage)) for a $100 less

-Ice

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: phlip
im a bit out of touch with DDR memory, what do the numbers mean.....PC2100 PC2700?
theyre only compatible with certain chipsets am i right in thinking?

what would be best for my system?

cheers

the "2700" in PC2700 is for the theoretical maximum bandwidth that this speed of memory can provide. In reality, it's more marketing than anything. Just know that PC2100 runs at 133 MHz (similar to 266 MHz since it's DDR), 2700 MHz is 166 MHz = 333 MHz DDR, PC3000 is 175 MHz = 350 MHz DDR, PC3200 is 200 MHz = 400 MHz DDR.

Almost all recent Athlon chipsets are DDR compatible eg Via KT266A/KT333, nForce, Sis 735/745
For the P4 you have the Intel i845D (this is the one people have most success OC'ing with), Sis 645/645DX

-Ice

 

[murphy55d]

Originally posted by: phlip
im a bit out of touch with DDR memory, what do the numbers mean.....PC2100 PC2700?
theyre only compatible with certain chipsets am i right in thinking?

what would be best for my system?

cheers

Go with PC2700.

 

[Migroo]

If you intend getting an Athlon XP system, I wouldnt bother with overclocking - You wont really get very far without spending a lot more on soecialist overclocking memory etc. Also you would have to go with one of the noisier CPU coolers - I think you want it to be a bit quieter than your current system dont you?

Any stable XP board + XP 1800+ (or whatever, a 1600+ if you want to be stingy..) + 256 = one hell of a fast system.

You can upgrade the RAM at a later date, so theres not much point going for 512 right now.

The video card bit is entirely up to you, and depends upon how much you want to spend etc - you get what you pay for.