Computer Upgrade

hearmeroar

I currently have the following:

CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3.0Ghz with HT Technology
GFX: ATi Radeon 9600
RAM: 2x512Mb DDR 400Mhz PC3200, 2x256Mb DDR 333Mhz PC2700
MOBO: MSI 865PE Neo2-P (Socket 478, AGP 8x)
HDD: Maxtor 200Gb

I want to upgrade and I was thinking of getting:

CPU: AMD Athlon 4200+ X2 AM2 Socket (£120)
GFX: Nvidia GeForce 7900GT PCI-Express (£200)
RAM: 2x512Mb DDR2 800Mhz PC6400 (£100)
MOBO: Asus M2N-SLi Deluxe (Socket AM2) PCI-E DDR2 Motherboard (£105)

I was wondering if any of you guys know better solutions? Cheaper places to purcase these parts?

Thanks for your help!

Anti

My advice would be to change from a amd am2 to a intel core 2 duo, and corresponding motherboard, it will cost a little bit more. but it will be a far superior system. as for places to buy:

www.komplett.ie
www.over-clock.co.uk
www.oversclockers.co.uk

there are many other sites like dabs and 24/7 direct but the three above i have always found good. apart from overclockers rma process

8T8

I agree with anti if your looking to get the best performance/value a Core 2 Duo E6400 CPU would be a better choice and in the same price ballpark as the X2 4200+.

But unlike the X2 availability is tight with the Core 2 E6400 and some stores have them and some don't.

If you do go with a Core 2 get a P965 motherboard to go with it there are boards in stock at most stores.

Generally nothing wrong with your picks though I'm not a fan of Asus + nForce given their flakey history maybe Asus will get better with the nForce 5 chips this time round, personally I'd get something from MSI, Epox or Gigabyte instead.

hearmeroar

I've heard that AMD is better then Intel when it comes to computer gaming, and that will be the main use of the computer. Also £525 is really stretching it already, I'm 16 and only have a part time job.

Anti

hearmeroar wrote:

I've heard that AMD is better then Intel when it comes to computer gaming, and that will be the main use of the computer. Also £525 is really stretching it already, I'm 16 and only have a part time job.

Your right, that used to be the case, but not anymore. For the first time in years intel have brought out a range of chips that whip the pants off of AMD. But as usual, Amd will bring something out slightly faster. But at the moment the E6400 E6600 are the best bang per buck chips. And if your into overclocking, they hold up extremely well.

Hope this helps your decision.

SickBoy

hearmeroar wrote:

I've heard that AMD is better then Intel when it comes to computer gaming, and that will be the main use of the computer. Also £525 is really stretching it already, I'm 16 and only have a part time job.

You may have heard that in the past but it's not the case now.

hearmeroar

Ok, sounds like the Intel Core 2 thing is the way to go.

Can you recommend a motherboard that isnt too expensive that I can buy. Preferably SLi.

Also will the RAM I currently have (2x512Mb DDR PC3200) work at all with the new motherboard/cpu? If so then I could buy the new RAM like 2 months later (when I get some more cash ^^)

K.O.Kiki

DDR RAM won't work with either AMD AM2 nor Intel Core2Duo; but you can sell it & buy some DDR2 RAM (shouldn't be too hard, lots of PCs still use DDR).

L31mr0d

just a quick question. Whenever people recommend places to buy computer parts they never recommend ebay. Some of the ebay stores are excellent. In fact I should have my medusa 5.1 headset and Saitek Gaming Keyboard from this German Store tomorrow.

I'd recommend Ebay, check the prices there on buyitnow items and see if you can get the hardware cheaper in the stores. Sometimes the items are a lot cheaper, sometimes they aren't. It just a matter of shopping around and ALWAYS factor in VAT and shipping before thinking you are getting a deal. Alternatively, I use Komplett as they sometimes have deals or bundles which will also save you money.

Anti

Mostly because ebay and ebay stores are not covered by the distance regulation act 1988. meaning no come back if your product gets lost in the post, or damaged on the way.

hearmeroar

How much do you think I can get selling:

Intel Pentium 4 3.0Ghz with HT Technology (Socket 478)
2x512Mb DDR RAM PC3200
2x256Mb DDR RAM PC2700
ATi Radeon 9600 AGP 8x (Might not be worth selling...)
MSI 865PE Neo2-P DDR AGP 8x (Might not be worth selling...)

Anti

200 or so if your lucky

K.O.Kiki

The 9600 should get around €40-50, RAM can be sold for around 90% of its current price (since TBH it can't really degrade under normal use like a HDD) -- maybe €45 for the small, €80-90 for the large?
Might as well try to sell mobo with CPU together.

TempestSabre

If you hang on a little longer you'll get a better price on the Intel Dual Core2. They are too new yet.