$300 to spend, upgrade or new set up?

[osc82]

I have 300 to spend. I want just a Motherboard/processsor, Ram, and Video card. Can this be done? I play counter strike a lot. I thought maybe I should just upgrade my current system. What do you guys think. I'm at a crossroad because I don't know if it's worth to build a new system when I am just trying to play games like Counter strike source and doom 3 at like 60 fps.

Here is my set up from 04

Amd Xp 2500+
AN35N ultra Motherboard
512 Crosair ram. Don't konw speed
Ati Radeon 9600

The machine plays Source but just drags in high action sequences. Should I just keep it cheap and upgrade my ram to 2 or 3 gigs? That would cost me under 100. Or maybe get the fastest processor my rig will take? A burton 3200? Maybe a better GPU? Any advice would be a great help because I'm going to frys today and once im there I just want to but something.

thanks.

 

[obsidian86]

feeling ambitious?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.254095

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199

for $200

then you can save up for a psu and case/graphics card but the igp on the 785 should play c.s.s. easily

 

[osc82]

Interesting choices. Thanks for your help. I know nothing of this motherboard. Dual core...do games like css use both cpu's. What kind of ram does it use and would it be better than trying to upgrade my unit?

feeling ambitious?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.254095

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199

for $200

then you can save up for a psu and case/graphics card but the igp on the 785 should play c.s.s. easily

 

[obsidian86]

it uses the ram i linked ddr2 ram.and if a game is dual core optimised it will use both cores but if its an older game it usually balances out the load on a both cores,your current setup is quite old and some newer games like nothing less then a nice dual core,and as older hardware is discontinued in production they become scarce and expensive

 

[Gulli]

feeling ambitious?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.254095

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199

for $200

then you can save up for a psu and case/graphics card but the igp on the 785 should play c.s.s. easily

Get a $70 HD 4670 graphics card with that setup, you won't need a new power supply.

 

[dndhatcher]

Get a $70 HD 4670 graphics card with that setup, you won't need a new power supply.

If he already has a 9600, is it really worth buying a 4670? I'm thinkiing there wont be enough difference to eb worth the money.

Many games dont use multiple cores. The advantage of a dual core is one core is totally dedicated to your game and the other can handle all the OS functions. Its an improvement over a single core of the same speed no matter what.

 

[Wolfshadw]

If he already has a 9600, is it really worth buying a 4670? I'm thinkiing there wont be enough difference to eb worth the money.

You're thinking of the Geforce 9600. The OP has the ATI Radeon 9600 which is MUCH older, not to mention it's AGP and not PCI-E.

+1 for the HD4670

-Wolf sends

 

[Gulli]

If he already has a 9600, is it really worth buying a 4670? I'm thinkiing there wont be enough difference to eb worth the money.

Many games dont use multiple cores. The advantage of a dual core is one core is totally dedicated to your game and the other can handle all the OS functions. Its an improvement over a single core of the same speed no matter what.

It's a Radeon 9600 (from 2003!), not a Geforce 9600GT, so of course a HD 4670 is worth it.

BTW, get more RAM as well.

 

[dndhatcher]

It's a Radeon 9600 (from 2003!), not a Geforce 9600GT, so of course a HD 4670 is worth it.

BTW, get more RAM as well.

My bad.

 

[paranoidmage]

Or you could get a Quad core an even save money.

Athlon II X4 620 + cheap mobo - $119
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.262205

4 GB PNY RAM - $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178219

That will cost you $162 for a faster setup. You loose some ability to upgrade because it uses socket AM2+ and DDR2 memory, but judjing by your current setup, you don't seem to upgrade much anyway.

If you want to spend more for a better ECS mobo, these combos are $15-20 more:

$139
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.262198

$135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.262206

 

[Gulli]

Or you could get a Quad core an even save money.

Athlon II X4 620 + cheap mobo - $119
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.262205

4 GB PNY RAM - $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178219

That will cost you $162 for a faster setup. You loose some ability to upgrade because it uses socket AM2+ and DDR2 memory, but judjing by your current setup, you don't seem to upgrade much anyway.

If you want to spend more for a better ECS mobo, these combos are $15-20 more:

$139
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.262198

$135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.262206

And then he'd still be stuck with a 2003 Radeon 9600, yeah, great thinking there... I'm sure a quadcore plus a Radeon 9600 will make an awesome gaming machine (I'm being sarcastic here, if you didn't figure that out already.)

 

[paranoidmage]

Well he would have $138 left over for the GPU. It beats the $100 he would have left over if he got a Athlon II X2 240 + mobo + RAM for $200.

You can get this MSI 4850 512MB for $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127414

That's $242 for your entire upgrade, and you'll get a very powerful system.

 

[obsidian86]

i wouldn he need a new power supply to run a 4850?

 

[Gulli]

Well he would have $138 left over for the GPU. It beats the $100 he would have left over if he got a Athlon II X2 240 + mobo + RAM for $200.

You can get this MSI 4850 512MB for $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127414

That's $242 for your entire upgrade, and you'll get a very powerful system.

Then he could get an OCZ Stealthxstream 400W power supply to power the rig and stay under $300...

 

[Wolfshadw]

i wouldn he need a new power supply to run a 4850?

More than likely, yes, you would need a new power supply for the HD4850.

-Wolf sends

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

As opposed to the 4670, I'm liking this card for 40 bucks after MIR.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121320

 

[Gulli]

As opposed to the 4670, I'm liking this card for 40 bucks after MIR.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121320

Why the extra hassle with a PCI-E connector and still slightly less performance than with the 4670?

 

[paranoidmage]

Why the extra hassle with a PCI-E connector and still slightly less performance than with the 4670?

Agreed. Get a 4670 and you won't need to spend any money on a better PSU. The extra performance with a better card isn't worth it when you have to add $50 or more for a PSU.

Edit: Or you could get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812201004

But we still don't know what power supply to have and whether or not it can handle a better card.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

I was under the impression 4670=9600gso for performance roughly. The reason I linked that is b/c if you count the rebate, it shaves 20 bucks from final cost. If the PSU can handle it.

 

[Gulli]

If the $300 budget still stands I recommend to either go cheap by buying only a HD 4670 for $70, or go the expensive route (still sub $300 though) to crush your current setup:

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178219 $63

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103687 $66 (can easily be overclocked to 3.2ghz)

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341020 $40

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157158 $45

Graphics Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127394 $85

Total: $299

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

I can actually agree with Gulli's setup. If gaming, consider spending 10 bucks more and get a 4850.

 

[jay2tall]

^ You can't get much cheaper than that!. haha. way to get a dollar under budget.... well you still need shipping.

To OP... Are you at all flexible on the $300 mark? My opinion is this.... if you aren't flexible on the $300 mark and NEED something NOW, then Gulli has a great list that will maximize your budget. However, for $500 or $600 you could get a MUCH better system than what your could get with $300.

What items DO you have in your current system that you can reuse? What kind of case, drives (HD and optical), PSU, etc? Specs are great, links are better. Whatever you do, do not put anymore money into your current board, it is a waste.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Btw, the 4830 should be a great card tho. Props to Gulli on the pricing.

 

[paranoidmage]

^ You can't get much cheaper than that!. haha. way to get a dollar under budget.... well you still need shipping.

To OP... Are you at all flexible on the $300 mark? My opinion is this.... if you aren't flexible on the $300 mark and NEED something NOW, then Gulli has a great list that will maximize your budget. However, for $500 or $600 you could get a MUCH better system than what your could get with $300.

What items DO you have in your current system that you can reuse? What kind of case, drives (HD and optical), PSU, etc? Specs are great, links are better. Whatever you do, do not put anymore money into your current board, it is a waste.

I have 300 to spend...I am just trying to play games like Counter strike source and doom 3 at like 60 fps.

He doesn't need an amazing system, which is why I think a 620 + mobo + ram + 4670 is a good deal that keeps him under budget and gets the job done. an Athlon II X2 420 isn't bad either. It saves about $10, but wouldn't play newer games as well if you want to get into them

 

[paranoidmage]

The PNY RAM that we've been posting no longer has its MIR, and at has some bad reviews anyway.

CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 5-5-5-18 1.8V
$50, free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145241