Want to build a new CPU

[qarlandZ]

I'm a noob in building, but through trial and error, I can usually get a CPU up and running within a day. It's been about 3 years since I've built my first CPU and now I want to upgrade. I have about 300 dollars to spend. I'll be transferring over my DVD-RW, 60 gig HD, my case, cd-rw. What I want to know is what Video Card and how much RAM I will need to play the newest FPS games: Half Life 2 (predominantly), Doom 3, the good stuff. So what do processor, vid card, ram, etc do I need to get? TIA!

 

[Stark]

for $300? you can get a new video card, that fastest CPU that your existing mb supports and maybe an extra 512MB of memory.

what are your current specs?

P.S.
CPU = central processing unit = P4/Athlon64 etc.

 

[roguerower]

I dont know that you can get decent ram and a decent video card for 300 bucks to play those games. More info on your specs please

 

[IlllI]

actually, if your current computer is over 3yrs old (if i read correctly) i would highly suggest you upgrade your processor and motherboard as well. a 3yr old processor will not cut it with today's games

 

[qarlandZ]

Thanks for the replies!

Current Specs:
AMD Athlon 1800+
CHEAP @$$ KS75A (sp?) The board bundled w/ the processor when I got it back at Fry's
Geforce3 Ti 200
256 DDR Value Ram XD

So what upgrades should I get?


Edit: Remember the $300 limit! I can just get the Vid Card/Ram upgrades if it lets me play.

 

[IlllI]

if you live near a fry's then look to see if they have any of those cpu/motherboard combos. if you get one, you will probably need to get some new ram.

also, with a 300 limit, you would probably be looking for a video card around the $100 range


cpu + mobo $100
video card $100
512mb ram $100

something like that ^

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: qarlandZ
Thanks for the replies!

Current Specs:
AMD Athlon 1800+
CHEAP @$$ KS75A (sp?) The board bundled w/ the processor when I got it back at Fry's
Geforce3 Ti 200
256 DDR Value Ram XD

So what upgrades should I get?


Edit: Remember the $300 limit! I can just get the Vid Card/Ram upgrades if it lets me play.

Have you tried overclocking the Athlon? You should be able to go up a few speed grades.

Don't know what the guy above me was smokin' but you can get good RAM for much less than $100.

512mb RAM

With the rest of the money either get an Nvidia 6600gt or scour FS/FT for someone selling a Radeon 9800pro for $160 or so. Then you can have some cash left over.

 

[IlllI]

i wasnt smoking anything. 100 was a ~GENERALIZED~ price thank you very much.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

OK, sorry, didn't mean to offend... just this guy is making it very clear that he's on a pretty tough budget for what he wants to do, and ~$35 probably would have a large impact on him, so he needs specifics.

 

[roguerower]

Is there anyway that you can scrounge up anymore money? What are the specs for your old mobo? AGP 2X/4X/8X, how many ram slots, do you have one stick of 256 or two of 128, blah blah blah. I have a P4 so im not real sure about the whole AMD comparision clock rate and pricing. But you definitely want at least another stick of 256 and better yet a stick of 512, and you definitely need a new vid card. I would also recommend a 9800 pro. Had one until i updated to my x800 and loved it. first order of business would be to check mobo and processor and see if you have to update those first. I dont think you can a decent mobo and processor for 100 bucks, more around 200. good luck though.

 

[roguerower]

BTW AMD or Intel, ATI or NVidia?

 

[roguerower]

I built a quick PC for you. Uses Intel, ATI, a Soyo mobo:
SOYO "SY-P4I865PE Plus DRAGON 2 V1.0" 865PE Chipset Motherboard For Intel Socket 478 CPU 73.00
Intel Pentium 4/ 2.26 GHz 533MHz FSB, 512K L2 Cache Processor (processor only) 118.00
Newegg stick of ram
Wintec 512 Mb-60.25 PC3200 (lowest priced stick available)
Rosewill ATI 9600 XT 128 Mb AGP 4X/8X 129.00

So for 380.25 you could have a relatively good PC. Try and scare up the extra 80. Sorry, thats the best for the least that I could find. Mind that this is Intel, and AMD's do cost less. And this is a P4 so you could go with a Celeron, but a Celeron would probably die the first time you tried to play HL2 on it. Hope this helps.

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
OK, sorry, didn't mean to offend... just this guy is making it very clear that he's on a pretty tough budget for what he wants to do, and ~$35 probably would have a large impact on him, so he needs specifics.

no problem. i just gave generalized prices b/c i was too lazy to look things up

 

[Stark]

here are the preferred specs for running HL2

Preferred System Configuration
2.4 GHz Processor
512MB RAM
DirectX 9 capable graphics card

so, the cheapest newegg has in those categories are:
AMD Sempron 2400+ Socket A Retail = $63
MSI "K7N2 Delta2-LSR" NVIDIA nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset = $64
Kingmax 512MB DDR PC-3200 = $64.50
That leaves you $110 for a video card. You can get the MSI ATI Radeon 9600 Pro for $108.

grand total $299.50

not the greatest system, but it will work.

 

[resStealth]

i dont want to come off as a smartass but cpu is central processing unit. you want to make a pc. if you can make a cpu, you must be an engineer from intel or amd

 

[IlllI]

Sempron not so good for gaming though..

 

[roguerower]

The only CPU that you want for HL2 gaming is a 2.4+, or a AMD64/FX.

 

[randumb]

CPU/Mobo combo if you live near a Fry's, more ram, and a new graphics card

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: roguerower
The only CPU that you want for HL2 gaming is a 2.4+, or a AMD64/FX.

i was going to suggest that as well, but getting an and64+new mobo would eat half his budget.

 

[roguerower]

With his budget, I dont think that he can get a respectable system to play HL2 well. But he definitely cant have a Sempron or a Celeron if he's planning on playing HL2. I had a 9800 Pro and a 3.0 P4 and it lagged at some spots.

 

[21stHermit]

Originally posted by: roguerower
The only CPU that you want for HL2 gaming is a 2.4+, or a AMD64/FX.

Not being a gamer, what gives with HL2? What exactly shows you don't have enough CPU?

I always thought, perhaps incorrectly, that any CPU plus a wicked high frame rate video card was gamer heaven.

I just ordered a A64 w/ 2GB and a cheap video card for stitching photo arrays, my laptop takes 4 hours for medium sized arrays.

 

[icarus4586]

I'd say get a new, good CPU & motherboard, 512MB RAM if you have enough left over.
:n newegg::
Gigabyte KBNS-939 (NForce 3 Ultra, socket 939), $85
AMD Athlon64 3000+, $155
Kingmax 512MB PC3200, $63.75
total, $303.75

your current video card will run those games (albeit at lowered settings), until you can get some more money together for a new one
i'd also suggest an additional 512MB RAM, as that will allow dual-channel mode, and, really, windows xp doesn't start to stretch its legs until you have more than 512MB