First-time upgrader looking to... upgrade.

[thegloaming]

Last summer I bought and built my dream PC. However, it seems like only a year later, the parts are already showing some age. A lot of today's demanding computer games seem to be pushing my machine to its limits, and well, I want to be on top.

The problem is, I've never done any upgrading before in my life. As such, I have pretty much NO clue as to what to do. Seeing how HardForum helped me make my machine in the first place, I figured this would be the best place to look for advice.

Before I let you guys at it, here is what I'm INTERESTED in doing. I say INTERESTED because I don't know anyone to build their suggestions around solely this model:

1. I want to avoid upgrading my video card if possible (it did cost me $500!)
2. I want more RAM. The Premium stuff.
3. A case upgrade would be nice but not totally necessary (I still haven't fixed some wiring from when I first installed it. As such, I can't use the front USB/Firewire ports...)
4. I would like to try going Socket 939 (BTW, what is up with 940 anyway?), provided I don't have to spend too much.
5. I want to stick with Athlon, but I definitely want a better processor.
6. I definitely want more hard disk space (I'll probably just get a second drive)
7. I want to avoid Overclocking (I don't do it now and I don't want to start doing it in the future)

With that in mind, please go nuts with suggestions. I basically want something that's fairly top of the line and won't wear off in another year or so.

 

[Mr45]

I'd start with a format and reload of windoze with all the latest drivers. I've had machines on my bench with near the same specs and they performed quite well even, in games like BF2.


If you have the cash to burn though, they make 939 boards with AGP slots so you can recycle your 6800GT. Spend a couple hundred on a 3500+ or better and a few hundred more on some Corsair XMS and another few hundred on a couple of Raptors and run them in RAID 0 for your boot drive and then a 500Gb Hitachi for data. Or you could use 1 Raptor for your boot drive and keep your existing 80Gb for data

 

[ZigZagZeppelin]

Going to S939 isn't going to give you any "upgrade" per se...

Using premium ram isn't an upgrade UNLESS you plan on achieving extreme high FSB (overclocking)...

Save your money until AMD comes out with a new cpu or buy a dual core processor now with accompanying mobo.

 

[setscrew]

You are definitely on the right path regarding upgrading, but I would not spend money on a new motherboard as you would not see a significant improvement versus the fund expenditure. Focus on maximizing what you have currently.

You would see a major speed improvement by obtaining a 74GB Raptor and making it your boot/application drive. Then relegate your existing 80GB drive to storage.

You can obtain a 3700+ newcastle or clawhammer core for your existing board for a little speed bump. If you do decide to overclock, purchase a XP-90 heatsink and you should be able to get another 200MHz out of your chip that would make a significant improvement.

Regarding RAM, spending tons of money for the "premium stuff" will be wasted unless you intend to keep tight timings while overclocking. If you do want the premium stuff, search for the best price on 2 x 1GB modules of Crucial Ballistix. If you want to save a bit of money, get a good value series of 2 x1GB modules and use the clock divider if you decide to overclock. Check out the memory forum for more information.

Lastly, stop being lazy and fix your wiring issues.