So I want to upgrade...

d4rksabre · 10-09-2007, 11:00 AM

But I just can't figure out what I should do. There are so many options out there. I'm pretty proficient in doing my own tinkering, my computer was a custom built that I bought about 4 years ago. It's got a nice Antec case and at the time the motherboard was good and so was my video card. But since then my stuff has gotten out dated.

So basically I want to put together a nice motherboard, processor, power supply and video card combo. My current video card is a Radeon 9550 but it's an AGP (

). I'm running a Pentium 3 at like 996 mhz (off the top of my head, I'm posting this from work).

But I just can't figure out what I should go with. Everyone has personal preferences and I get so many conflicting opinions. I'd like a pretty fast yet stable machine that can handle some games, but it doesn't have to be an über gaming computer because I really don't game much, I just want to have the ability for when I do every now and then. I'd like to not spend more than $500 for everything which I think is possible. I just can't figure out what to choose, there are too many choices.

So I'm putting this to you guys. What do you recommend?

~Carter

Daze · 10-09-2007, 12:09 PM

Personally, I'm a big fan of ASUS motherboards. I've had two that have been, and still are, rock strong. I don't even think I've updated my BIOS on the last one I installed since I got it 3 years ago. Find one without onboard video, unless you find a decent board with one on it. You can always just disable it in BIOS to use your video card. Make sure that whatever you buy has enough of the right connections for you. Within the past two years, hard drives have moved to a new type of data and power connector, CD/DVD-ROMs are just starting to make the switch. If your drives are all older IDE style drives, make sure the motherboard you find has enough connectors. Some these days on;y come with one (which can service two devices). If you have two dvd/cd drives and one hard drive, that won't be enough. Even boards with two IDE ports will have at least two SATA ports (the new standard) for future additions.

I like Intel's processors over AMD these days. I'm not even sure why, really. I just know that the Core Duo line is a nice set of chips. I would stay away from high end P4s, they were extra-hot power hogs. BUT, you can probably find a cheap deal one a mobo/P4 combo deal from newegg or Tiger Direct if you look.

Power supplies aren't something I worry about too much, just find something over 400W with the connections you need(IE, do you have STAT drives, or older IDE models). Antec makes good psu's, but I normally won't pay for them. You can find 500 watt psu's for 40-50 bucks. Heck, buy two and keep one for a spare.

Video Cards can get expensive, fast. Thankfully, most games these days aren't pushing the limits the way they did two or three years ago (Battlefield 2, I'm looking directly at you, jerk). The new Unreal Tournament can use something as old as an ATI Raedeon 9600, but only recommends a Raedeon x1300. You can get one with 256 onboard RAM from newegg.com right now for 93 bucks for an AGP slot, 114 for the PCIE version. I like ATI branded cards and ASUS branded cards with ATI chipsets. I got a couple of bad nvidia cards years and years ago and can't force myself back.

d4rksabre · 10-09-2007, 12:37 PM

Well I know for sure I don't want to go AGP. PCIE is the route I want to take with this upgrade.

As far as my devices go, I'm running two hard drives, a CD-RW and a DVD, all of which are the older IDE style.

amcfall · 10-09-2007, 12:55 PM

Just get decent parts. I love Asus boards, they are rock solid. My personal system is running an Athlon 64, but Core 2 chips are nice also. Doesn't really matter, you'll be happy with Core2's or Athlon X2's. Just get a good board, power supply, and memory and you should be all set. These are the items that I tend to see the most problems with cheap versions of.

Avery

Walking_Target · 10-09-2007, 01:09 PM

been looking at a gaming computer for myself for a good while....

Start off with a good case, airflow is everything unless you want to do liquid cooling.

i prefer Thermaltake for both the case and PSU, but Antec and Coolermax both make good cases.

the rest of the components are highly subjective but here's a brief rundown.

ASUS SLI Motherboard (your choice of model)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 (AM2 Socket)
2 Gigabytes Kingston RAM
ASUS Gforce SLI card (again, too many to list)
2x SATA 160gb HDD (to be used in a RAID array)

all with an extra juicy Super multi combo drive...

d4rksabre · 10-09-2007, 01:23 PM

I'm not sure I want to do a complete system build just yet, I'd rather start with my weakest links and then go from there and right now its my mobo, processor, and vid card.

Like I said, all of my stuff is IDE based. I've got a 250gig and a 40 gig HD in my computer right now and I don't really want to invest in new hard drives because I don't feel like investing in a new copy of windows. I could probably live without my cdrw and dvd drives for a little bit though until i bought a combo drive with SATA.

So basically a board with an IDE port and SATA ports would work for me? Run the two hard drives on the IDE and get a combo drive for the SATA? Any recommendations on combo drives?

incynr8 · 10-09-2007, 01:28 PM

you can keep your drives IDE on any MoBo by using a PCI or PCI-e (if you have a spare slot on what you choose), Card with ATA 133.

Alot of Sata are 4 position SATA with one PRI IDE ATA 133 now, ideally run both your IDE drives there and then use the card (they are cheap) for the CD drive. The worst case this could cause is a DVD/CD boot issue for installation, which could be worked around by swapping the IDE CD drive to a Mobo controller for install.

that all said a sata DVD/R would likely be only 50 more bucks.

I would get an ASUS mobo, then maybe Intel.

d4rksabre · 10-09-2007, 02:13 PM

So I'm thinking I may have to go for a case upgrade along with this whole thing. I'm just not sure I can get enough cooling flow out of my older antec case.

There's some pretty decent deals on some barebones systems out there but Asus hasn't been getting very good reviews. I linked to one below that I kinda liked, but it might be a little over the top. It's either that or something that's a little too low end from Asus. Any other platforms that you guys could recommend?

Asus M2N-E SLI Socket AM2 Barebone Kit - AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 OEM CPU, 1GB DDR2 PC4200, ATX Mid-Tower Case, 600 Watt SLI Power Supply at TigerDirect.com

incynr8 · 10-09-2007, 02:18 PM

not bad, just make sure to get a CPU cooler and a 120 for the rear fan location.
the combo gets you free ram basically.
I would add another gig at least of RAM.

Daze · 10-09-2007, 03:52 PM

Thats a pretty nice deal. That PCIE video card I mentioned would put you just over 500 bucks total. Not bad at all. If you have problems it will probably come from the RAM. I'm a big fan of Crucial brand ram. The ide card incynr8 mentioned would be a good idea for keeping your existing drives for a while. Unless you've just GOT to have a new cd/dvd drive to match the case, or something, there probably won't be any need to change those out for years. If you do have/want to get a new combo drive, I would recommend Sony. This is the ONLY product I buy from sony these days, I don't even go to see their movies or buy records from their musicians. I hate their business practices with a passion, but I've yet to find anybody who makes drives that well.

10-09-2007, 01:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Walking_Target Post Whore Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: ON, Canada	been looking at a gaming computer for myself for a good while.... Start off with a good case, airflow is everything unless you want to do liquid cooling. i prefer Thermaltake for both the case and PSU, but Antec and Coolermax both make good cases. the rest of the components are highly subjective but here's a brief rundown. ASUS SLI Motherboard (your choice of model) AMD Athlon 64 X2 (AM2 Socket) 2 Gigabytes Kingston RAM ASUS Gforce SLI card (again, too many to list) 2x SATA 160gb HDD (to be used in a RAID array) all with an extra juicy Super multi combo drive... __________________

10-09-2007, 01:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
incynr8 Purify with flame Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: On some dinky hill	you can keep your drives IDE on any MoBo by using a PCI or PCI-e (if you have a spare slot on what you choose), Card with ATA 133. Alot of Sata are 4 position SATA with one PRI IDE ATA 133 now, ideally run both your IDE drives there and then use the card (they are cheap) for the CD drive. The worst case this could cause is a DVD/CD boot issue for installation, which could be worked around by swapping the IDE CD drive to a Mobo controller for install. that all said a sata DVD/R would likely be only 50 more bucks. I would get an ASUS mobo, then maybe Intel. __________________

10-09-2007, 02:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
incynr8 Purify with flame Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: On some dinky hill	not bad, just make sure to get a CPU cooler and a 120 for the rear fan location. the combo gets you free ram basically. I would add another gig at least of RAM. __________________

10-09-2007, 12:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Daze MCB Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Alabama	Personally, I'm a big fan of ASUS motherboards. I've had two that have been, and still are, rock strong. I don't even think I've updated my BIOS on the last one I installed since I got it 3 years ago. Find one without onboard video, unless you find a decent board with one on it. You can always just disable it in BIOS to use your video card. Make sure that whatever you buy has enough of the right connections for you. Within the past two years, hard drives have moved to a new type of data and power connector, CD/DVD-ROMs are just starting to make the switch. If your drives are all older IDE style drives, make sure the motherboard you find has enough connectors. Some these days on;y come with one (which can service two devices). If you have two dvd/cd drives and one hard drive, that won't be enough. Even boards with two IDE ports will have at least two SATA ports (the new standard) for future additions. I like Intel's processors over AMD these days. I'm not even sure why, really. I just know that the Core Duo line is a nice set of chips. I would stay away from high end P4s, they were extra-hot power hogs. BUT, you can probably find a cheap deal one a mobo/P4 combo deal from newegg or Tiger Direct if you look. Power supplies aren't something I worry about too much, just find something over 400W with the connections you need(IE, do you have STAT drives, or older IDE models). Antec makes good psu's, but I normally won't pay for them. You can find 500 watt psu's for 40-50 bucks. Heck, buy two and keep one for a spare. Video Cards can get expensive, fast. Thankfully, most games these days aren't pushing the limits the way they did two or three years ago (Battlefield 2, I'm looking directly at you, jerk). The new Unreal Tournament can use something as old as an ATI Raedeon 9600, but only recommends a Raedeon x1300. You can get one with 256 onboard RAM from newegg.com right now for 93 bucks for an AGP slot, 114 for the PCIE version. I like ATI branded cards and ASUS branded cards with ATI chipsets. I got a couple of bad nvidia cards years and years ago and can't force myself back.

10-09-2007, 03:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
Daze MCB Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Alabama	Thats a pretty nice deal. That PCIE video card I mentioned would put you just over 500 bucks total. Not bad at all. If you have problems it will probably come from the RAM. I'm a big fan of Crucial brand ram. The ide card incynr8 mentioned would be a good idea for keeping your existing drives for a while. Unless you've just GOT to have a new cd/dvd drive to match the case, or something, there probably won't be any need to change those out for years. If you do have/want to get a new combo drive, I would recommend Sony. This is the ONLY product I buy from sony these days, I don't even go to see their movies or buy records from their musicians. I hate their business practices with a passion, but I've yet to find anybody who makes drives that well.