Need help with upgrade ideas!!! -please

[dan2k01000100]

Hey everyone. I need your expertise

Here's my system

celeron 533, 128 megs ram, stealth 3 s540 32 meg

i'm pretty embarassed about my computer, but i cant afford a new one. I have about $260 canadian, and I want to upgrade one of these components. I'll be playing games like tribes2, halo, and Anarchy Online.

Do you think i should get a GE force 2 MX, 128 more megs ram, or a new processor? keep in mind, that's $260 canadian. Any opinions would be appreciated.

-dan

p.s.

I'm interested in overclocking my CPU if i dont buy a new one after i buy a bigger fan. I use the softmenu 2, but even f i barely overclock (to like 550 or 600) my computer doesnt boot up and i need to restart 3 times to get the settings back to default, anyone know what that problem is?

 

[RSI]

Upgrade the video..

Another 128 megs of RAM wouldn't help the games all that much.. wlel it would, but not worth that money, as much as a new CPU or video card... I think your CPU is fine too.. go for video

 

[BttrThnU]

get a geforce mx and overclock that celeron and umm buy some cheap used ram

 

[Howard]

Yep, your processor is fine for the time being .

A Geforce 2 MX is a little expensive in Canada because it's so new, maybe you should check out the ATi Rage Fury MAXX. At http://www.logiccomputerhouse.com/ it's only $176 + tax. It's based in Markham, if you want to know.

The MAXX is a little slower than the Geforce SDR. The MX's performance is basically on par with the SDR, although it may be a little higher in some situations. Are you willing to spend $50-$70 more on a little better performance which may even be limited by your processor?

 

[Howard]

A Celeron 533 PPGA doesn't overclock very well, considering that the multiplier is 8. If you were to change the bus speed to 100MHz, you would have a 800MHz Celeron, which is pretty much impossible for a Celeron PPGA. 83MHz would yield 664MHz, and 75MHz, 600MHz. Both are pretty much out of the range of its .25micron core, although 600MHz may be achieved by better cooling.

 

[SCUBA]

ur proc is fine it can be O/C to 900 mhz stealth 3 got to be changed i mean how do u even think of buying one and i guss every one agree wed me in this furom about that as about ur celeron cheak this sits out http://www.overclockers.com/
http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/
http://www.ocworkbench.com/
http://www.flipchip.net/index.htm
http://www.hardocp.com/
http://www.cluboverclocker.com/
http://www.tweaktown.com/
http://www.fast-mhz.com/
http://www.overclockershideout.com/
http://nfs.hwextreme.com/
http://www.hexus.com/
http://www.arstechnica.com/index.html
http://www.bxboards.com/
http://www.tomshardware.com/
http://www.anandtech.com/
http://www.sharkyextreme.com/
buy a GF MX and O/C it http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1299
http://www.extremehw.com/reviews/3dvideo/geforce2_mx/index.html
by the way what mother board do u use

 

[Mem]

Dan2k01000100, what do you mean embarrassed LOL... I still have my cel-333 until next week at least. On your question, you should buy a Geforce2 MX.

 

[dan2k01000100]

Thanks for the help guys!! I was leaning towards a new video card, but i still wanted to see what the fine folks at anandtech had to say. thanks!

-dan

 

[Rand]

If your processor is a FCPGA Celeron 533 then you should be able easily overclock it quite a bit, however if it is a PPGA Celeron 533 than you won't be able to hit any more than 600MHz at beast and may not be able to overclock at all.

More RAM likely won't help you to a considerable degree, certainly not as much as a processor or video card.
The best buy for you right now would likely be a new video card, I would personally go with a GeFore2 MX based card.

BTW, what motherboard are you using?

 

[dan2k01000100]

It's not very good. it's a DTK PRM-00801


that's what it says on the manual

 

[Mem]

Dan2k01000100,btw welcome to Anandtech.

 

[dan2k01000100]

thanks mem!

 

[chansen]

My god man, you're computer is far from an embarassment. Don't try to compete with these people, some of the are crazy by their own admission.

For an upgrade, GeForce MX.

For overclocking - I wonder if you are trying to change the clock multiplier as well as the Front Side Bus speed. The Celeron, along with every Intel CPU for the last few years, is multiplier locked. That is, any applied multiplier other than the CPU default will not work. Your multiplier is 8 (8X66=533 (sort of)). Typically, the next available FSB speed is 75MHz, which would give you 600. Most should be able to make use of the 83MHz FSB, giving you 664

If I'm off base and you already know all of this - my apologies, eh.

Craig

 

[dan2k01000100]

nope i didnt know that! thanks! so in the SOFTMENU II thing, to over clock, what do i increase? sorry i just wanne be sure



-dan