|
Time to upgrade... Some help?
|
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 08:25 |
Link to this message
|
|
I built this CPU 4 years ago...
P4I Fire dragon mother board 400MHZ font bus
2x 256 MB crucial memory
Nvidea Geforce Ti 4200
Pentium 4 2.2 gig
80 gig seagate hard drive
I need to upgrade, but I have a few hundred dollars to do so.
What is a decent video card to get thats under $80? Something thats up to date, but not hundreds of dollars. I was hoping to score something off of ebay. Also, I forgot how memory works when upgrading... If I remember right, you need to have two memory chips that are the same size. Meaning 2x 512 or 2x 1 gb. not 1 512 and 1 1gb right? I am looking at this on eBay.
1GB (Size)
PC2100 - 266mhz (Speed)
CL 2.5 (Cas Latency)
128x64 -Built with 128Mx8Bit Dram (Hi-Density Dram- Please check compatibility)
Un-buffered
Non-Registered
184Pin
Non ECC
Its OEM and costs $50. I suppose I will have to buy two right?
Oh well, thanks for the help you guys...
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 09:34 |
Link to this message
|
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 09:36 |
Link to this message
|
hello
ok i think the best card you can get below 80 us$ is:
nvidia gforce 6200 agp card
*most of today agp card are 8x your mobo only support 4x the card will work but at 4x bus.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814164056
and the memory yes if your board is dual channel then yes it is recommend that you use memory in pairs 2x256=512 or 2x512=1gb.
about memory i think you should upgrade to ddr 400(pc3200).if you do so your 1gb 266mhz(pc2100) you can use but your mobo will run at 266 not 400 so i recommend upgrade to ddr400 and get rid of the pc-2100
best memorys for the $$$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440
try www.newegg.com very good prices and very fast delivery 3-4 days
i had buy all my stuff from them.
hope i help
Dr.xp
Pentium D 805 2.66ghz
Foxconn 8400 GS 512 GDDR2 PCI-EX
2gb DDR2 Pc2-5300
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 13:34 |
Link to this message
|
|
Yes you helped a lot thanx! But will my Soyo P4I fire dragon except the ddr 400(pc3200)?
It says in the manual it will take 1600 or 2100.
You said...
about memory i think you should upgrade to ddr 400(pc3200).if you do so your 1gb 266mhz(pc2100) you can use but your mobo will run at 266 not 400 so i recommend upgrade to ddr400 and get rid of the pc-2100
I am not sure if I understand this. So I should upgrade to ddr400 even though my mobo will run it at 2100? why not just get 2100 then?
Besides geting oblivion to run on my system, do you think I will see a dramatic performance boost in my applications and CPU if I just upgrade two things?
1. Nvidea Gforce Ti 4200 to a nvidia gforce 6200 agp card
2. upgrade my 512 2100 ram to CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 13:52 |
Link to this message
|
|
Oblivion says 6600 or better? Then the 6200, or the 7300 won't cut it.
On the RAM, if your motherboard doesn't support pc3200, then I wouldn't waste my money.
4 years is a long time with computers. It's hard to "upgrade" one thing without really needing to upgrade another.
You seriously need to upgrade your video card AND RAM, BUT if you want to be able to update at a later date, you really need a new MOBO with PCI express. The pci express video cards are cheaper than their AGP counterparts, and "can" offer much higher performance.
If you do take the plunge, and upgrade your MotherBoard, you can get a fairly decent processor for fairly cheap nowadays, so you end up really looking at "upgrading" by replacing 80% of your computer.
You said you had a couple hundred bucks to work with. What IS your budget? Are you from the US? If you save your HD's and CD/DVD drives, you can build a decent computer for cheap.
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 14:08 |
Link to this message
|
|
I basically have no problems with system performance besides finally finding a game that will simply not play at all (olblivion) on my CPU.
I do wish applications would run a little faster as far as closing and loading up, switching windows or applications, etc...
I built this cpu 5 years ago and was my first attempt of getting out of the brand named systems that seem non upgradable. As far as making the system last I did a good job I think considering compaqs and other brands I had to replace every 3 years or so.
Soyo P4I Fire dragon
Nvidea Ti 4200
80 gig hardrive
2x256 crucial ram
I know in the next few years I will be upgrading the motherboard and proccessor. I am waiting for the dual core's to get cheaper or else maybe wait till something else revolutionary comes out. If I am not going to see a substancial increase in performance with upgrading the video card and upgrading from 512 to 1 gb of memory I figure I will wait till I have to upgrade it all. Is there something coming out in the near future that is just that? revolutionary? Somehting that would put off building a new cpu to make sure it will last a good while with the new technology?
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 14:22 |
Link to this message
|
|
I forgot to add, Yes I am in the US. If I were to build a new system My budget would be around $500. Now I have a Case, power supply 4 cooling fans, 80 gig harddrive, 2 dvd RW drives and monitor, so all I would have to upgrade to would be the
1. New mobo
2. New memory chips
3. New processor
4. New video card
Everything else would be fine I think. For $500, what would you suggest for those 4 things? and on a scale of 1-10 how would you rates its performance compared to higher end machine that would last another 4 years easily. (assuming games and applications stay at a tech growing rate comparable to the last 4 years)
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 17:23 |
Link to this message
|
$500 bucks... Okay.
Here's a machine that will last you, and can be upgradable to dual core, AND will definately get you running Oblivion at high res.
CPU $176
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80701-2
MOBO $72.00
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=247027
Memory $78.70
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80098-34
GPU $168.65 w/ shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102688
Grand total of.... $495.35
Now you could skimp on the GPU and put the extra money on the CPU, but this GPU will definately last you, and the X2's are sure to come down even more after the AM2's come out in June. Though I got my X2 3800+ for $295, only $120 more than the CPU I chose for you.
This MOBO also has SATA2 support, which if you ever want a new HDD, you would want to go with SATA2(unless you went with a Raptor because they are SATA drives, not SATA2.)
Now, the only major problem with this MOBO, is it's micro ATX, which does limit the PCI slots you have, but for about $24 more, you could get the A8N-E, $96.00
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=240423
Great MOBO, but it does put you over budget by $20.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 19. April 2006 @ 17:24
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 18:19 |
Link to this message
|
|
Would I want to also be looking at a MOBO with a capable SLI setup for the future as well? I know it will cost more but maybe in the half a year they will be cheaper. I am always looking for that period of time where new technology for home systems peak and then hover for a few years with very few great advances that would make older stuff obsolete. Very hard these days to find those times because it just keeps going faster and faster. Thanks for all your help by the way.
PS. Is a PCI express x16 slot just for graphics cards?
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 18:26 |
Link to this message
|
|
For one: SLI is a pathetic excuse to waste money. There's very MINIMAL increases in performance. You would think that double the graphics cards double the performance, but it barely helps at all.(0-2fps increases) Don't waste your money on SLI or Crossfire.
For two: The next big step in AMD's platforms is coming out June 6th. The socket AM2's that will support the higher latency(not good), higher clockspeed(good), DDR2 memory. Of course it's big news in the AMD world, but expecially at first because of the latency issues will only be about 5% faster. In time of course (hopefully) lower latency DDR2 memory will come around, although the Pentium boards have been using it, and I have seen no major effort to decrease the pitiful latency of the DDR2.
For Three: Yes the PCI express 16x is expecially designed for graphics cards like the AGP slot was(is, whatever).
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 19. April 2006 @ 18:27
|
Member
|
19. April 2006 @ 19:38 |
Link to this message
|
|
yea you would think double the power... Thanks for the insight. I am going to wait on upgrading and build a dual core machine maybe later in the year when stuff gets cheaper or unless something really defenitive comes out... like quadra core processors or something..
Thanks for your help
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
20. April 2006 @ 04:38 |
Link to this message
|
|
I'd say wait for AM2, get say an X2 4000+ CPU, 2GB of RAM and a high end GPU like an X850.
|
Member
|
20. April 2006 @ 07:33 |
Link to this message
|
|
is 4 gb ram basically the highest all newer MOBOs can handle?
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
20. April 2006 @ 08:08 |
Link to this message
|
|
Yes I'm afraid so. I've yet to see two things:
a) 2GB memory modules actually on sale
b) motherboards that support them.
|
Member
|
20. April 2006 @ 08:10 |
Link to this message
|
|
So Dual core processors are just that right? 2 chips working together?
So dualcore 3.0 gig pentium = 6.0 gig cpu?
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
20. April 2006 @ 08:39 |
Link to this message
|
|
Effectively yes. Currently no, but eventually when applications use both cores, you'll eventually see that 6Ghz equivalent.
Can I not steer you towards a massively superior Athlon64 X2?
|
Member
|
20. April 2006 @ 08:44 |
Link to this message
|
|
Dual core pentiums are far behind AMD's. Maybe in a year or two Intel will figure out how to actually make them work, but for now, if you are wanting dual core... go AMD.
And yes. Dual core does work like that to an extent. In dual core apps, or programs where it can be used to it's full potential.
Someone told me recently that in about a year, my CPU will be faster than it is now.
But for real, save yourself the trouble and don't go pentium.
HAHA sammoris.
I hit reply, went and looked for some info on the dual core Pentiums, came back typed and had the same oppinion.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 20. April 2006 @ 08:46
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
20. April 2006 @ 08:49 |
Link to this message
|
|
Absolutely, they're shocking. Put out twice as much heat as AMDs for half the performance. Alright it's actually 50% more heat for 75% of the performance, but you get the idea. An overclocked X2 4400+ will mop the floor with an overclocked 965 Presler in a fair few examples.
|
Member
|
20. April 2006 @ 08:49 |
Link to this message
|
|
Oh I am definatley going AMD. I just used pentiums dual core as an example. So have they made any applications that utilize dual core proccessors?
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
20. April 2006 @ 08:50 |
Link to this message
|
|
Usually you're looking at video processing. Few games have it except Quake 4 atm, but rest assured more will follow. Of course another advantage is that XP uses one core for each major program in usual cases, so if you're multitasking, the effect is still quite pronounced.
|
Member
|
20. April 2006 @ 08:58 |
Link to this message
|
|
Glad to hear you're going AMD... For a minute there I thought we had a mission. My X2, being only a 3800+, is still AMAZING. I play games, (CIV 4, ES3, AOE3, and Ill be getting ES4 today), I also do alot of multitasking, and my processor has never actually been at full load. I can't make it. System tests, opening 4 different programs while AOE is running, nothing can do it, but I guess that's a good thing.
|
Member
|
20. April 2006 @ 09:33 |
Link to this message
|
|
Yea, my cpu can't handle me anymore. I am a out of control multitasker. Encoding a Raw mini dv to a dvd mpeg, unraring a 5.0 gb file, burning a dvd in neo, Downloading from a bittorrent, while playing half life 2... with a few other progs running like explorer. I know, I am mean to my cpu...
P4 2.5 gig
Soyo firedragon mobo
Ti4200 Geforce
512k mem
|
Member
|
20. April 2006 @ 11:19 |
Link to this message
|
|
Yeah, I can do all that, I have and I do and it doesn't even flinch.
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
20. April 2006 @ 11:31 |
Link to this message
|
|
Good, this makes me even more excited.
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
Member
|
20. April 2006 @ 11:47 |
Link to this message
|
|
It should.. I don't exactly remember who persuaded me to look into the X2's, it might have even been you sammoris, but thank you so much whoever did, I was also very excited to hear that the new AM2 platform will support the current X2's and FX 60/62's... That gets me excited. I had to build this computer now, I wanted to wait till june, but I couldn't. Now it seems that I might have just made a few wise decisions... Although I really like my MOBO, and I'll have to get a new one with the AM2. I know of course ASUS will bring some good boards to the AM2 platform, but it sure would be neat to have one like my a8n-e.
|
