Need some expert opinions here... Upgrade old comp or buy a new decent one?

[unixmandan]

Hey, here's the deal. My parents would like to upgrade the computer, or buy me my own. It's up to me. So I can either get a whole decent one of my own, or upgrade our old one into a massive beast. If i did get my own here's what it would be:

ASUS A7M266 Motherboad
T-bird 1400 MHz CPU
512 MB SDRAM PC133
40GB Hard Drive
Geforce2 GTS 64 MB DDR
16x10x40x CDR-W Drive
3.5" Floppy Drive
Mitsumi Internet Keyboard
Logitech Wheel Mouse
ATX 300w Tower Case

For 1799 CANADIAN. In american that'd be: ~1205. Good deal or no? I know there's no sound card\speakers there, so knock off a couple hundred (i would bring my sblive! and monsoon speakers from the old one over).

Here's option 2. Upgrade the current one to a (just speculation here) Athlon XP 1700, 512 megs ddr ram, nice motherboard, possible geforce3 ti200.

What do you guys think? I'm not looking for someone to make the decision for me, i just need some opinions.

 

[spikegifted]

you didn't mention what monitor would you get with your new rig? with prices being as tight as they're, the monitor can make or break a steal...

 

[unixmandan]

Oops! I didn't mention that. Yeah it doesnt come with a monitor I would bring my 19" one over and give my parents the old 15"

 

[tigerwannabe]

unless you've got a really ugly case, i'd go for the upgrade. it'll probably be a bit less expensive. of course, that depends on whether you're gonna buy a machine already built or build it yourself.

 

[unixmandan]

Well basically the guys that build em for me buy the parts from NCIX.com and then build it for $100. That's pretty good, because if i tried to build one myself and screwed up... no warranty.

How long would that comp last me for? I'm a little worried about the Geforce2, those are already starting to be considered "out of date".

 

[Packet]

looks like upgrading will get you a better computer, for cheaper.

But if it would be upgrading your parents computer, and not yours.. you might just want to get your own.

 

[unixmandan]

Yeah, that's the thing. See if I get my own, I can leave it in FreeBSD (until i want to play games), i can set up a little server, i can connect to it from school and do our C++ stuff in emacs, i can have my friends over for little lan parties, etc.

So, i dunno. I guess i'll just have to see. I'm worried about being able to play next gen games if i got my own. It would be pretty fast for next year, but then the Doom3 powered games would be slow.

 

[spikegifted]

<< then the Doom3 powered games would be slow. >>



there're few certainties in the pc/it industry, but trust me... i don't care what hardware you've now, doom3 (whenever it's coming out) will bring your rig down to its knees!! i love it!!!