Author Topic: upgradeing my computer. (Read 6668 times)

jharsh · « **on:** February 06, 2003, 09:30:17 PM »

I am tired of my slow 1gh computer. I want to upgrade and wonder what everyone thinks of my choices.

Original config.

Abit KG7 motherboard
amd thunderbird 1gh
128mb ddr ram
geforce 2 mx400
intel 10/100 pci card
2 ibm 6.4 gig ata/66 drives
4x4x24 cd-rw

soon to be specs

Abit KG7 motherboard
amd Athlon xp 2100+
384mb ddr ram
ati 9700 pro
intel 10/100 pci card
1 30gig ibm ata/100 drive
40x?x40 cd-rw

I will be getting a new case as well(brushed metal look). I just hope my 300w powersupply will work with the new processor and video card.

I do have one question. what is the best hard drive for fast access and is still low in price (around $100. must be 7200 rpm and ata/100.).

[Edited on 2-7-2003 by jharsh]

Boomslang · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2003, 09:34:34 PM »

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/EGBG/article.php/1577311

Wolverine of Ambush! · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2003, 04:00:50 PM »

I would suggest you get a power supply higher then 300 watts.. preferably in the 450watt range.

As far as the harddrive...I would suggest a Maxtor 80gig. At BEST BUY it is priced at $139. It is an ATA133 drive, 7200rpm, with 8mb cache. 4 times the cache of most other hard drives.
http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11200234&m=488&cat=511&scat=512

n1c · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2003, 05:51:45 PM »

Maxtor Sux go with Western Digital JB

Boomslang · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2003, 06:32:47 PM »

go with a nforce chipset on the m/b for amd
7505 for P4

Boomslang · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2003, 06:39:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Wolverine of Ambush!
I would suggest you get a power supply higher then 300 watts.. preferably in the 450watt range.

As far as the harddrive...I would suggest a Maxtor 80gig. At BEST BUY it is priced at $139. It is an ATA133 drive, 7200rpm, with 8mb cache. 4 times the cache of most other hard drives.
http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11200234&m=488&cat=511&scat=512

got mine at beyond.com for 109 +12 for overnight
now 104

http://www.westerndigital.com/products/Products.asp?DriveID=27

http://www.xbitlabs.com/storage/8mb-ide-roundup/
here is the latest H/D review W/D came in last

[Edited on 2-8-2003 by Boomslang]

[Edited on 2-8-2003 by Boomslang]

n1c · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2003, 07:40:10 PM »

LOOK FOR THIS!!!

Gigabyte Ga-81NXP

jharsh · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2003, 09:25:18 PM »

Thanks I found a few posts helpful. I have no plans on upgradeing my motherboard as I'm happy with the KG7 I have. I can use any amd processor that supports a 266mhz bus. I decided on the 2100+ as the 2200+ costs much more for only a slight speed improvement.

n1c · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2003, 01:20:19 AM »

yeah sorry I was at school and dident have much time that was for everyone that MoBo looks SWEET!!!! has 6 realy cool things ie dule Bios for starters!!!

Take a look just for fun Here is a Link to one of the. . . Um. . . One pages on the web that its on

Morpheus · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2003, 02:13:47 PM »

IMHO you would be better off upgrading your motherboard and going with a slower graphics card. More bang for your buck.

9700 pro $291

gforce 4 4400 $195, Abit NF7S $126, total $321

for $30 you get a much faster system all around you could go with the Abit NF7 for $20 less if you wanted to.

Check out Tom's VGA charts This shows how the card scales with the cpu the test with the XP2700 are on the ASUS A7N8X (nForce 2 chipset).

I think you will be happier longer by upgrading both... if you go with the NF7S you get USB2.0, Firewire, 5.1 channel surround sound, serial ATA, and dual channel memory, also has integrated LAN. Whatever motherboard you buy, I would go with the nForce 2 SPP chip.

You can always upgrade the video card in 6 months to a year after prices drop some more.

For hard drives, watch the adds, with rebates I would not pay more than $1 per gig. The Maxtor ata133 with 8mb cache is a quality drive. The Western Digital ata100 with 8mb cache is also a good choice. You will be happy with either. If you wait a couple months drives with serial ata might be a viable option.

CDRW's once again watch the adds, a good CDRW can be had for $20 after rebates.

Power Supply - you MIGHT be ok with the 300 watt if it's a quality one. See article at Tom's on power supplies. I blew my 400 watt enlight ps on my last upgrade (Epox 8k7a, XP 1.4, gforce ti 4200, 2 10k rpm scsi hd's, 1 7200 rpm hd, 1 5400 rpm hd, dvd, cdrw, floppy). You would probably be better off upgrading, but you can always try it, and if you have stability issues I would replace it first.

The XP 2100 is at a great price/performace ratio right now. (I'm looking at one for my next upgrade in a month or 2)

Memory - with 2 stick you can take advantage of the dual channel memory of the nforce chip. It is better for them to me equal, but not necessary. I would suggest the Corsair XMS PC2700 low latency also in silver for $1.

I do most of my shopping on Newegg.com but always check my prices out on pricewatch.com tomshardware.com has lots of good info to help learn.

Morpheus · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2003, 02:39:23 PM »

Here is what I would probably do.

$126 Abit NF7S from newegg.com
$93 XP 2100 (OEM) make sure you have a good HSF (newegg)
$25 Thermaltake Volcano 9 (I need to do more research here, so this might not be the best option) (newegg)
$187 512mb Corsair XMS PC2700 LL (newegg)
$80 8gb hd
$20 CDRW
$46 Allied 450 watt ps AMD approved to 2200+ (newegg)

$577 total

If that is too much, I would scale back the video to a TI4200, should be able to pick up fro about $100, and go with the NF7 motherboard for $106, then you could buy 1 stick of memory now and upgrade it later, you could wait on hard drive, or go with a 60 gb instead. There might be a better HSF, and you could always wait with the cdrw.

Just my thoughts.

Post if you have questions.

Wolverine of Ambush! · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2003, 04:02:50 PM »

If you are already planning on getting an ATI 9700 pro and a 2100+ cpu, and it will work on your current board... you will be rockin! Especially with a drive with 8mb cache. Biggest concern in my eyes would be the power supply.

Sounds like it will be a nice system! Looking forward to seeing it at LAN-bush 2003...

You are coming, right?

Morpheus · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2003, 04:43:27 PM »

http://www.slickdeals.net

and

http://www.digitaldeals.net

are also goods places to check.

jharsh · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2003, 03:02:36 PM »

Thanks for the tips. if I can save up some more money I will upgrade the motherboard.

I was originally thinking I could reuse my orb heatsink but even with a athlon t-bird 1gn it gets hot. As for memory I have all I need for the moment at 384mb of ddr ram.

On the videocard I all out refuse to go nvidia. I want an ati. I may be force to step back to another ati card or wait until ati releases their next card and the 9700pro drops sharply.

I do plan on buying a NICE silver case with a cold cathode tube. Really want an UV tube and some uv paint. Everything depends on my budget though.

can't wait to see what everyone else has upgraded to.

ZWarrior · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2003, 11:36:12 AM »

I want to upgrade!!!!!:8o:

Gonna have to buy Mrs. ZW's chair so I can upgrade again.

jharsh · « **Reply #15 on:** February 16, 2003, 07:30:04 PM »

ok I made the jump. I went with a whole new system. What sold me was it has a geforce4 ti4200. It's also has an athlon 1700+ overclocked to 2000+(1.65ghz) and runs rock solid according to the seller. I do plan on getting my hands on a 2100+ and getting a ati 9700 pro but this will hold me until I can get that.

sadly most systems on ebay seem to only have a geforce 4 mx 440 which is only slightly better than what I currently have. several others had integrated graphics which my geforce2mx could beat. I got lucky to find this system! Now I need a new case for it

(don't like beige).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31497&item=3401815238&rd=1

ZWarrior · « **Reply #16 on:** February 16, 2003, 09:44:11 PM »

Looks good. Now I really will be worried. Your skillz were greatly improved at the last event, and now, you have had even more time to get better AND a rockin system!

Look out Ambush!, here comes JHarsh!

Morpheus · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2003, 09:37:36 AM »

Well, if we have some real competition, I'll start actually playing with both hands.
:lol

ZWarrior · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2003, 10:04:00 AM »

Good, then you won't be leaving snot all over everbodys PC with your NOSE!

steve23 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2004, 06:07:04 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Morpheus
http://www.slickdeals.net
and
http://www.digitaldeals.net

Two more sites that I check:

http://www.keepcash.com and http://www.spoofee.com

ZWarrior · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2004, 09:32:32 AM »

Cool! I will have to look further into those.

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Author Topic: upgradeing my computer. (Read 6668 times)

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