newb needs help

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

IMO, go with a new build if you're a gamer or not.

The better CPU will help every other task as well, and going to at least dual core means a huge performance boost that moving that current rig to a single low FSB 3000+ won't give you.

The cost of an AGP Graphics card is way over-inflated, and usually you end up with a lower speed and even reliability version compared to its PCIe brothers.

The only reason to just add a cheap AGP card is if you don't use your PC much at all, and the games you play are old/limited. If you only plays RTSs then you don't really need much of a boost because they scale differently and you can live better with lower settings. But if you want first person gaming on modern titles, then the expense required to get the most out of an AGP solution would be better used towards a more global upgrade like the examples lunyone's suggestion started.

 

[hemir1]

this is what i did for now. i got a $70 Visiontek X1550 256mb gddr2, single 400mhz ramdac (what is this compared to dual), 550 mhz core clock, 800 mhz memory clock, 4 pixel pipelines etc.. requires only 280w PSU so i just unpluged one of my DVD roms and the old dial up modem and it runs fine with 250w PSU. to make a long story short, i choose this one to get me through the next couple months because i didn't have to get any other upgrades to put it in. will i get much of a performance edge in 4X agp with this one compared to the old ATI 9600SE? if i just need to go back and get my $70 let me know. seems good to me! comments?

P.S. keep in mind this is a stop gap measure to get me by till the new system build, which i will be getting with you guys about. i appreciate all the insights you guys have given me

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

The X1550 will be noticeably better than the R9600SE, it should perform at or above an R9800XT, and with additional SM3.0 features to allow you to play any current and near-term game.

The 4X AGP won't hold you back noticeably IMO.

It is unfortunate to spend even $70 on an AGP solution, but it's likely only about a $25 prenium over the PCIe variant.

And hopefully you can re-sell it for half what you bought it for. It should be marketable on eBay for about that price +/- a few bucks for people still riding on old but capable AGP systems (especially those on the Socket939 platform).

 

[hemir1]

do these specs in the ATI catalyst control center look right?? not to me. memory clock looks off. what can i do?

Graphics Card Manufacturer Powered by ATI
Graphics Chipset VisionTek Radeon X1550 Series
Device ID 7187
Vendor 1002

Subsystem ID 3000
Subsystem Vendor ID 1545

Bus Type AGP
Current Bus Setting AGP 4X

BIOS Version 009.012.016.002
BIOS Part Number 133-A676A3-102
BIOS Date 2007/03/23

Memory Size 256 MB
Memory Type DDR2

Core Clock in MHz 547 MHz
Memory Clock in MHz 270 MHz

Primary Display Yes

 

[hemir1]

anybody??

 

[englandr753]

Ok, I've done some digging and I think what you have is a video card that was produced during the transitional period when the 1550 used to be the x1300. I checked the core clock speeds of the x1300's and they are consistent to your readings. In other words your card was produced during the AMD take over of ATI. The x1300 line was later changed to the x1550 and I think you have the early x1550 card that is in all actuality an old x1300.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think so...

 

[tlmck]

Card is probably being throttled back by 4x AGP. It obviously runs on 4x, just not at full speed.

 

[hemir1]

270mhz seems awfully slow, is 4x that much of a bottleneck? regardless, i'm taking it back. my old 9600 SE is hitting 39 fps on atitool and that x1550 was getting about 62-65. what card can i get for about 100 dollars that will not bottleneck a 4x and i can get better than 62-65fps?

 

[hell_spawn]

don't take that back if it gives you a good frame rate like that... anything you get will be hindered by 4x because thats what you mobo is
really if it is doubling you FPS I would just stick with that until you upgrade

 

[Kari]

I'll bet you wont find any better card than that for 4x agp without the processor botlenecking it badly, really...
Just keep it untill you are ready for completely new rig, no sense on wasting good money on such old system. 🙁

 

[englandr753]

Agreed. Save your money and put it into the powerhouse system of your dreams. 😉

 

[superkevin]

Scratch what most people have said (sorry if I offend anyone)

This is your best "mid-range" way to go:
Buy a new Motherboard, Processor, Ram, and Graphics Card.
Reuse your case, hard drive, cd-rom drive, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc

This isnt the cheapest way to go, but certainly not the most expensive, my reasoning for you to go this way is that if you MAX out your current system with upgrades your going to be angry in 6months-1year that your system is very out of date and you wasted your money. Feel free to reply or PM me if you have questions.

 

[englandr753]

Well, he has to have a power supply too.

His idea was to make his system last for 6mo or so then build a new system so that wouldn't matter. If he does all of this he might as well go ahead and bite the bullet and build a new system.

Did you read all of the posts on all 3 pages before you made this suggestion? Not trying to step on your toes but it doesn't sound as if you did.

 

[hemir1]

thanks, for the replies guys. i took it back, that was a multimedia card anyways. $75 dollars is worth more than 25 fps. i am going to go new system, sooner rather than later. an old 9600 Pro will get me that 25 or so fps for half that 75 dollars, i think anyway. i am going to start buying parts pretty quick, what site is better for parts newegg or tigerdirect? or get the best prices from both?

 

[justinmcg67]

I would like some help with an upgrade decision. i would like to max out my current computer, or just get a new one. It is an amd 2600+ with 512 mb DDR 2700 ram upgradeable ot 2 gig, 128 mb ati radeon 9600 SE, and 250w PSU. I know I will need to go to the full 2 gigs ram, which will be about $100-$150. I would like the best graphics card I can get for $100-$150 and possibly more $200 if it would help, how big of a card can I go with this system? and a beefy PSU $50-$75 how big should I go? I guess i am looking at between $250-$425. What do you guys think I should do. I would like any help that I can get. What is my potential for a gaming computer for the future, and how long can I expect to get out of it? I know there are a lot of questions here, but I know very little. thank you guys alot in advance for all your help

Over-haul your PC. You're going to want to get all new computer parts. But the good news is that you can get a machine about 7 or 8 times faster than your current PC for a fraction of what you'd think. Here, I'll link you the guts to any PC; The motherboard, CPU, RAM, Video Card, and PSU.

Motherboard: $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138034

CPU: $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116037

RAM: $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134384

Video Card: $113
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102034

PSU: $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

TOTAL: $383 so far.

That fits quite well within your $250 - $425 budget.

 

[hell_spawn]

thanks, for the replies guys. i took it back, that was a multimedia card anyways. $75 dollars is worth more than 25 fps. i am going to go new system, sooner rather than later. an old 9600 Pro will get me that 25 or so fps for half that 75 dollars, i think anyway. i am going to start buying parts pretty quick, what site is better for parts newegg or tigerdirect? or get the best prices from both?

NEVER EVER EVER EVER BUY FROM TIGER DIRECT!!!!! EVER!! I have had nothing but problems from them recently.... infact on the last order they didn't even send me the part I ordered! I ordered a X2 4200+ toledo with E6 stepping but instead got a manchester with E4 stepping... the stupid thing is the package the cpu came in even said it was the toledo core. i checked the cpu codes and everything before/during/after purchase and everything had the ADA4200DAA5CD code on it even the packaging the CPU came in but on the cpu itself I found: ADA4200DAA5BV

I wont even get into what else they have done to me... all i can say is i wish they used lube!

back on to the original topic, go newegg... I only wish they shipped to canada or thats where I would order all my stuff from... but alas I have to live and Canada and deal with legalized marijuana and free health care..... sigh lol

 

[killz86]

anybody??

I will be truthfull. I had a 3000+ with 512mb 9600XT 40gb Hdd 250psu. and i spent 2500-2700 right around there. but if you wanna just upgrade do it. i also got a 3000+ am not using and stick of 512mb. if you wanna keep your current system, or what not. but i would try to wait until next year. also it comes down if you are a little gamer. or a heavy gamer. its all on what you do with your computer.

 

[hemir1]

what do you guys think about a good board that can support a future quad core, what is a good one? but cheap processor now, 500-550w PSU, something like the video card and ram that justin suggested. btw if i am going to do a complete build now then i will spend quite a bit more money. i am thinking about ordering this weekend, any more suggestions? i appreciate all the input i have gotten thus far, thanks guys.

 

[justinmcg67]

Antec makes great PSUs. I'd recommend them.

 

[tlmck]

Check ZipZoomFly for deals on cases and ram. Newegg for everything else.

 

[lunyone]

what do you guys think about a good board that can support a future quad core, what is a good one? but cheap processor now, 500-550w PSU, something like the video card and ram that justin suggested. btw if i am going to do a complete build now then i will spend quite a bit more money. i am thinking about ordering this weekend, any more suggestions? i appreciate all the input i have gotten thus far, thanks guys.

What's your new budget?

 

[hemir1]

i would like to keep my old system intact to give to my daughter. it will be all new and i would like to make it as upgradeable as possible. i want to go for a cheap processor, dual core now, quad core later. so i will need a motherboard that supports even the new procs coming out in the near future and the not so new ones. mid grade graphics card like $150 give or take $25. i would like to stay below $750 but will consider spending more.

 

[tlmck]

i would like to keep my old system intact to give to my daughter. it will be all new and i would like to make it as upgradeable as possible. i want to go for a cheap processor, dual core now, quad core later. so i will need a motherboard that supports even the new procs coming out in the near future and the not so new ones. mid grade graphics card like $150 give or take $25. i would like to stay below $750 but will consider spending more.

A slight edit to my previous system.

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Mid Tower Computer Case - Item #: N82E16811119047
$49.99 - $10 MIR = $39.99

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Item #: N82E16813128059
$89.99

SAPPHIRE Radeon X1950PRO 256MB Video Card - Item#:N82E16814102061
$132.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX ATX12V V2.2 450W Power Supply - Item#:N82E16817139003
$79.99 - $15 MIR = $64.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 Conroe 2.33 GHz Processor - Item #: N82E16819115030
$169.99

CORSAIR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 - Item #: N82E16820145098
$44.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250310AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Item #: N82E16822148261
$64.99

Sony NEC Optiarc 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model AD-7190A - Item #: N82E16827118003
$27.99


Subtotal: $660.92 = $635.92 after MIR's

 

[hemir1]

what kind of future upgrades can i get out of this? i like the price, what does using the other $115 get me, a better mobo? anything worthwhile? just curious, don't have to spend it though

 

[boner]

Go to Walmart. Get a brand new PC.

you had to be a stranger/newbie