System upgrade help

I

infin|ty

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jun 20, 2003
Messages
1,139
Yet another post about system upgrade assistance.

As of right now I have a decent water cooling system set up with your standard Chieftech oldschool most popular model w/ a window (I'm sure you know what I'm talking about).

Motherboard: Abit NF7-S
Video Card: Radeon 9800 Pro
Ram: Muskin DDR PC 3500 Level II
CPU: AMD Barton 2500+ Mobile
PSU: Antec TRUE400W

I'm looking to upgrade my system, I was looking at mostly just a processor upgrade but I realize that probably means I need to go with a new motherboard and possibly a new powersupply.

I'm pretty sure I'm also going to be going back to AIR cooling because I've found that watercooling is just a pain in the ass personally + I have a case I bought 2 years ago for around $300 that is totally nasty that I don't feel like hacksawing up right now to mount fans and radiator.

So I'm looking also for the QUIETEST most EFFICIENT cooling avaliable right now for CPU and VGA that's air.

I'm going to be playing your average games, WOW, EQ (hahah), BF, Halflife but I'm not lookking to spend over $400.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
It's possible some of you will remember me from a long time ago (roughtly a year 1/2) but maybe not, you guys are deff the most knowledgable around, I'm sure you'll put some great stuff together for me.
Thanks a lot,
Jared
 
i'd personally recommend going with a sempron 3100 and a biostar tforce mobo to have pci-e giving you much better video card options.
 
You both recommend the sempron 3100, I know I must be wrong some how but isn't it running at the same speed of my CPU atm? What's better about it?

Sempron is also the "worst" out of the AMD line correct? Is that the only real way to get it within my budget? Is the bigger video card upgrade worth it or would it be better to put more towards the processor and keep the 9800?

Thanks
 
I've done a little tweaking to what you guys have suggested and I'm wondering what your opinion is.

Either this refurbed mobo (I always recalled hearing about how great the DFI lan party boards were so I figured it post this) or this Asus:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136147R

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131512

For my video card I pretty much think I'm going with the PNY brand of the video card you recommended (year in maximum PC that it was an awesome buy).

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814133422


As for the CPU another compair question:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103606

vs

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103424

The main difference is the stepping correct? The first one venice has the E6 right? If that is the difference between them what exactly does stepping do? And one other important question, I think I read that if you don't get a mobo that supports the E6 stepping, well your fucked is that true? If so would it work with either of those mobos I posted?

Thanks again fellas
 
not sure with the compatibility issues with the e6 stepping, but that venice will fly compared to that newcastle. plus chances are it will overclock very nicely.
 
Don't get a PNY video card, I have had 2 (out of 2) die on me in the past year. They refused to replace either of them, and gave me hell about their "warantee." What they basically told me was:if it was no longer manufactured by them, then the warantee is inexistant. So basically I had no warantee from the day I bought them, despite their "Lifetime Warantee!" statement on the box. Both cards I bought were unmodded, unoverclocked, etc in a well-ventilated system, and they both randomly died.

I would definently go with the eVGA version of the 6800GS. eVGA actually cares about it's customers.

As for the rest of your computer, I would say you should definently upgrade your CPU, as everyone else has stated.

If at all possible, I would get a 939 socket CPU and get a PCI-E mobo/video card. Keep the stock cooling, they usually work fine.

Get this proc: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103533
bundled with this mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138264
and this proc: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130271

For a total of around $350 after the rebate. Your PSU may be able to handle all of that, but you might want to invest in a 500 watt PSU to be sure. Good luck with your system, and remember: PNY sucks.
 
good show synaps3, that seems like a considerably better upgrade. i tossed the 3100+ in there just cuz it was in the hotdeals section and i wanted to definately stay under the 400$ budget. with synaps3 system i would def upgrade to a better psu with the 24 pin connector. the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937 would allow future upgrade to sli should you choose to go that route. ive had nothing but good luck with Antec, although i know not everyone has. i would still definately go with the AC freezer pro for cooling though, im sure it would provide significantely better temps the the stock amd heatsink, run much more quietly, and allow a bit more headroom for a good OC.

as far as your picks go infin, they should be just fine as well. the only downside is of course that the vid card is pny, and i myself have had issues with them in the past. the evga may not have the opengl 2.0, but its clocked higher right off the bat. im not sure about refurbished motherboards and their dependability, but the dfi board is a great board. dunno much about the 3000 venice, but if its like its 939 siblings, it should put out some nice numbers. g/l.
 
I'm very interested in that system you just suggested synaps and I thank the rest of you for your help and opinions.

I just remembered I get accomedations through Circuit City because I work there. So, I get 40% off all graphics cards so I'm thinkin I could bump up my video card.

What's a nice video card that would be somewhere around that 250$ mark after 40% MSRP? That's kind of a lot to ask because you would have to do the math but if you guys don't mind that would be great.

A few I remember off the top of my head was x1600 and yea that's about all I can remember haha, I can only check the prices at the store through their computers so if you could give me a few cards that would be a good choice I'll check em out on there tomorrow afternoon when I go to work.

Thanks again,
Jared
 
bump, got an hour or so left here at work to check out the prices on accomedations, any suggestions on the ATI video cards would be awesome.

Also question question about a 939 motherboard, is that one you suggested good quality if I ever wanted to try some OC and such? Any suggestions on that would be great thanks.

Thanks,
Jared
 
Radeon® X1900 XTX 512MB PCI Express®

Price: $359.40
Stock: In Stock

Part Number: 100-435805



QTY





Radeon® X1600 PRO 512MB PCI Express®

Price: $179.40
Stock: In Stock

Part Number: 100-437509



QTY





Radeon® X1600 PRO 512MB AGP

Price: $179.40
Stock: In Stock

Part Number: 100-437510



QTY





Radeon® X1800 XT 512MB PCI Express® + $50 Mail-In Rebate

Price: $359.40
Stock: In Stock

Part Number: 100-435705



QTY





Radeon® X800 XL DVD Edition 256MB PCI Express® + FREE SHIPPING

Price: $167.40
Stock: In Stock

Part Number: 100-435513



QTY





Radeon® X1300 PRO 256MB AGP

Price: $101.40
Stock: In Stock

Part Number: 100-437602



QTY





Radeon® X1300 PRO 256MB PCI Express®

Price: $101.40
Stock: In Stock

Part Number: 100-437601



QTY





Radeon® X1900 CrossFire™ Edition 512MB PCI Express®

Price: $359.40
Stock: In Stock

Part Number: 100-435721



QTY





Radeon® X1900 XT 512MB PCI Express®

Price: $329.40
Stock: In Stock

Part Number: 100-435801



QTY





Radeon® X700 Pro AGP 256MB VO + $40 Mail-In Rebate

Price: $107.40
Stock: In Stock

Part Number: 100-437406



QTY
__________________________________________________________________


Well im not sure if im aloud to do this but I copy pasted all the cards I can get and what their prices are, what do you guys think?
 
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