Looking for new computer...

2006-07-01 14:48:01

#1

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6974|Florida, United States

Hi, I've posted many times but this is my first topic so he goes...

I'm thinking of getting a new computer sometime between now and Christmas. I think I have a pretty good rig right now, but I think I can do better. My current computer data is as follows (as according to X-Fire's gaming rig thing.)

Manufacturer: HP Pavilion 061
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.60GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2048MB DDR RAM
Hard Drive: 115 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT (AGP)
Monitor: hp mx703 color monitor
Sound Card: Realtek AC97 Audio
Speakers/Headphones: Altec Lansing
Keyboard: USB Root Hub
Mouse: USB Root Hub
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)

I don't know about what most of that info is and I've invested more than $500 already into this computer. My question is what is the best computer I can get for gaming that costs somewhere around $1k - $1.5k. I know I want to have a PCI slot instead of AGP and I want at least 2 GB of RAM like I have now, but I have no idea about good hard drives, power supplies, processors, etc. If anyone can help me find some good parts or anything I'd be appreciate it. My only problem with getting individual parts is that I'm clueless as to how to put them all together lol.

2006-07-01 14:56:35

#2

The#1Spot: Member; +105|6839|byah

get an amd processor with a mother board that supports pcie with a 7800,7900,or 7950 series graphics cards you will see about maybe a 50+ frames improvement

2006-07-01 14:58:03

#3

rootbeer73: Member; +24|6884|in a small dark place

UMMM Whats wrong with this one?u have a better v/card than mine and twice as much ram. i have a higher processor. be happy with what you have

2006-07-01 14:59:43

#4

wayneakagod: Member; +17|7046

Yeah your computer is good in my opinion. If you have the urge to spend upgrade the processor. Maybe buy a new computer when Vista comes around.

2006-07-01 14:59:46

#5

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6974|Florida, United States

Thanks for the input. I'll write that down. If at all possible, could anyone find exact products so it'd be a little easier for someone like me with little computer knowledge to search for?

2006-07-01 14:59:56

#6

stryyker: bad touch; +1,682|7019|California

AMD x2 4200 mabye
2048 OCZ gaming DDR ram
SLi cards perhaps

just look around for good priced stuff and see how it all works

2006-07-01 15:02:49

#7

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6974|Florida, United States

wayneakagod wrote:
If you have the urge to spend upgrade the processor.

That was one of my main problems, but how hard is it to get a new processor?
EDIT - and how hard to swap 'em out? Would it be better if I just got Best Buy to do it?

Last edited by Havok (2006-07-01 15:03:48)

2006-07-01 15:09:27

#8

wayneakagod: Member; +17|7046

If you know what socket type you cpu is I suppose you could probably unplug your current cpu and pop in another one. Not sure though. Probably have to update the drivers first or something?

2006-07-01 15:12:34

#9

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6974|Florida, United States

wayneakagod wrote:
If you know what socket type you cpu is I suppose you could probably unplug your current cpu and pop in another one. Not sure though. Probably have to update the drivers first or something?

How would I find out my socket type?

2006-07-01 15:14:02

#10

wayneakagod: Member; +17|7046

Use this.

2006-07-01 15:21:01

#11

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6974|Florida, United States

wayneakagod wrote:
Use this.

Thanks. I downloaded and ran that program, but I'm not sure where in the info it provided I'm supposed to be looking.

2006-07-01 17:04:17

#12

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6866|NYC / Hamburg

Havok wrote:
wayneakagod wrote:
Use this.
Thanks. I downloaded and ran that program, but I'm not sure where in the info it provided I'm supposed to be looking.

make screenshots of "CPU" and "SPD". that should give us all info we need.

If i were you i'd wait a bit with upgrading. in 1 month the new intel chip called core2duo / conroe will be released with a much better performance and a low price. Also dx10 grafics cards should beout within the next 6 Months (and if you buy one now you might run into trouble later on). So my advice is to wait (since your pc is still pretty good) for the new stuff thats coming out soon.

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2006-07-01 17:21:36

#13

SPANKY_HAMSTER: Member; +9|6871|B.C CANADA

i bought amd 3700 with a DFI motherboard and 2 gb OCZ gold pc 4000 ram with ATI RADEON X1900 XT PCIE and it kicks ass IT COST ME A BIT BUT WORTH IT

2006-07-01 17:57:31

#14

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6974|Florida, United States

I hope you know what they mean becaude I sure don't. On the SPD one, the slots have different kinds of RAM so I only showed slot #1.

2006-07-02 05:11:44

#15

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6866|NYC / Hamburg

remember that when you open ypur case you might void your warranty

1) you run a pentium 4 with a 800 Bus and a 478 socket. That means that you can plop lin any of these as an upgrade this or that

but as you can see the difference in speed (i.e. performance) is minimal, so an upgrade of the processor is not really beneficial from a cost/performance standpoint.

2) 2 gigs of ram is way enough so an upgreade does not really make sense.

3) grafics: a 6800gt is pretty much the best you can get for APG. Any faster cards again have a horrible cost/performance ratio

so: dont upgrade and core components, it doesnt make sense. If you want to spend some money now on components than could be used in a future rig, you could think about getting a good sound card or a faster HD. If you want a performance increase there is prtty much no way except building a new rig (you can still carry over some parts like HD, monitor, mouse, kb, .....)
_________________________________________________________________________________________

if you want to build a new pc, we first have to know your budget.
I stongly advise you however to at least wait 1 month for core2duo.
For the gfx, it is a thing of disscussion. dx 10 will obviously not be a requirement straight away from the introduction. i guess a dx9 gfx card will last you well into mid 2008. Some dx9 grapics cards are maybe upgradeable (rumor says that possibly the 1900's will be upgradable, but like any rumor it often turns out that it is all wrong). but in your position with an o.k.-ish gfx card i would wait until fall/winter when dx 10 cards are released. the 6800gt should last you well until then (and you can always overclock it)

_________________________________________________________________________________________

SPANKY_HAMSTER wrote:
i bought amd 3700 with a DFI motherboard and 2 gb OCZ gold pc 4000 ram with ATI RADEON X1900 XT PCIE and it kicks ass IT COST ME A BIT BUT WORTH IT

hey, we nearly have the same pc (i just have an opty 170). Whats the max oc you can get on your 1900xt without overvolting. I'm currently @ 690/850 but i sometimes get corruption so i run it usually @ 680/800

Last edited by max (2006-07-02 05:14:34)

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2006-07-02 09:33:06

#16

Havok: Nymphomaniac Treatment Specialist; +302|6974|Florida, United States

Wow max thanks alot. I've opened my case many times before to upgrade things like graphics card and RAM so I'm not concerned about the warranty. I'll take your advice and wait awhile, but could you tell me what's so great about things like dx 10 and core2duo. And one more thing, how do I overclock my gfx card? I know its pretty hot already, but I'd like to know how.

BF2S Forums Looking for new computer...

wayneakagod wrote:

wayneakagod wrote:

wayneakagod wrote:

Havok wrote:

wayneakagod wrote:

SPANKY_HAMSTER wrote:

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