Small upgrade needed?

[SgtStedenko]

Let me start off by saying that I am getting money($1500) to buy parts for a high end computer at the end of this coming summer(for college). I want to upgrade my current system because it doesn't run UT2003 and Battlefield 1942 smoothly. Especially Battlefield 1942. Here is my current system and below is the parts I want to upgrade to. Is it worth it?

Current system:
Windows XP
P3 800 mhz
Intel motherboard
256 mb RDRAM
Radeon 8500 LE(Hercules)
250 watt power supply.

Upgrades:
Gigabyte 7ZXE motherboard
512 mb SDRAM
AMD Athlon XP 1700+

 

[cutty]

What? You are going back to SDRAM from RDRAM?
If I were you, I will stay with Intel so I can still use the RDRAM.
In fact, I don't think you need to upgrade your system for 1942. I have a friend who has a similar system with you, it's a P3-800(or 850?), 256MB SDRAM, a Radeon 7500 AIW (not sure), 1942 is running very smooth on his system.

 

[IanthePez]

If you have $1500, you can get a complete new system, which I would recommend.


A nice Geforce4 ti4600 or Radeon 9700 Pro would even fit into that budget.

 

[Quixfire]

You didn't mention which chipset your Intel board has, so maybe a better PIII board would be the best solution.

 

[majewski9]

I like your upgrade plan but I would go DDR and Nforce2. Also make sure to buy Tbred version of the 1700 or 1800 both are very cheap and within a few bucks of each other.

 

[DT4K]

Hell no.
Why in the world would you get a KT133A mobo and run with PC 133 SDRAM?
That is not a "high-end computer".
The KT133A was a very fast and stable chipset and was the top of the line for Athlons until DDR arrived. Now it is quite dated and NOT a good choice for a new system.

For $1500, or even a lot less, you can build a complete new system. Here are what I think are the best price/performance combos right now.

NForce 2 / Athlon XP 2100+
or
I845 PE / P4 2.4b

Pick one of those combos, add a Radeon 9700 Pro and 512 MB DDR and you will have a screaming fast system that will run any current game beautifully and will easily blow that KT133A system out of the water.

 

[Krye]

Originally posted by: Shanti
Hell no.
Why in the world would you get a KT133A mobo and run with PC 133 SDRAM?
That is not a "high-end computer".
The KT133A was a very fast and stable chipset and was the top of the line for Athlons until DDR arrived. Now it is quite dated and NOT a good choice for a new system.

For $1500, or even a lot less, you can build a complete new system. Here are what I think are the best price/performance combos right now.

NForce 2 / Athlon XP 2100+
or
I845 PE / P4 2.4b

Pick one of those combos, add a Radeon 9700 Pro and 512 MB DDR and you will have a screaming fast system that will run any current game beautifully and will easily blow that KT133A system out of the water.

I'll double post that to double enforce what he said.

 

[DT4K]

Or if you don't want to build a new system, try adding another 256 of RDRAM.
256 is not enough for Win XP / BF1942. XP likes a lot of RAM and so does BF. You are probably getting a lot of paging back and forth to the harddrive.
I don't know what mobo you have, but upgrading the CPU may also help. The Radeon 8500 LE should be able to run both of those games fairly well.
But by the time you go to the expense of buying more RDRAM and a new faster P3, you might as well build a new system.

 

[mjolnir2k]

Computer in sig cost a LOT less than $1,500 (about $600 less in fact)... You need to be a better SHOPPER

And another vote to STAY AWAY from 1: SDRAM and 2: KT133 mobo's.

 

[mrzed]

Just want to point out that SgtStedenko is looking for an interim upgrade, not a $1500 upgrade now.

That said, I agree completely with most of the previous posts. No point in buying a new board and CPU that are already obsolete. Either make do with what you have til the end of the summer, or at least get a s478 or KT400/Nforce2 Mobo so that when you get the $1500 at the end of the summer you won't have wasted you $.

I would lean towards holding off. Spend whatever you would have spent now on getting a slightly better system in the end.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: mjolnir2k
Computer in sig cost a LOT less than $1,500 (about $600 less in fact)... You need to be a better SHOPPER

Yes, indeed. I just ordered from Newegg this morning a few upgrades for my computer. They've got an awesome selection of more computer stuff than you could ever think even existed. My only complaint is that they are lacking just a little on the level of components for workstations and servers (their selection of SCSI RAID controllers and pro-level video cards is below average, and they don't carry anything other than low-end consumer level network switches). Other than that little personal issue, they're a great place to get computer stuff. Legal disclaimer: I don't claim any association or bla bla with the aforementioned company other than being a satisfied customer.

And another vote to STAY AWAY from 1: SDRAM and 2: KT133 mobo's.

Hey now, be careful. My main rig runs on a Gigabyte GA-7ZXE with the KT133A; it is a very stable board. Nevertheless, SgtStedenko would do well to choose something newer, like something with the KT400 or Nforce2 chipset. Throw in a nice Athlon XP 2100+ and the other components needed for a full computer, and you'll probably still only come to $1200 or so.

 

[SgtStedenko]

Well I just want an upgrade to last until I get my $1500 at the end of the summer. For now I want a new motherboard+processor+ram that will allow me to run games very smoothly like Unreal 2, Command & Conquer Generals, UT2003 and Battelfield 1942. I just need this upgrade to last me until the end of summer, then I will probably turn the old computer into a server or something. I don't want to spend anymore than $200. The motherboard must have onboard sound.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: SgtStedenko
Well I just want an upgrade to last until I get my $1500 at the end of the summer. For now I want a new motherboard+processor+ram that will allow me to run games very smoothly like Unreal 2, Command & Conquer Generals, UT2003 and Battelfield 1942. I just need this upgrade to last me until the end of summer, then I will probably turn the old computer into a server or something. I don't want to spend anymore than $200. The motherboard must have onboard sound.

You could get a Nforce-based motherboard, Athlon XP Tbred processor, and 256MB DDR for under $200, but you should really have 512MB DDR, and that would put things around $250, if my estimate is correct.

IMHO, there is very little sense in adding expensive RDRAM to your current system; it is money that would be wasted since the memory could not be used in a new system next year.