Upgrade ideas requested from [H] - no preconceptions

RagingSamster

RagingSamster

2[H]4U
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Jun 6, 2003
Messages
3,162
The last system I built was the one below... (now it has 2G of ram) I'm going to be upgrading soon and am ignorant of a few key items that will help me make the best possible choice for the new bowels of my gaming rig - That of course is why I am posting here as this is the same site that was so instrumental in my last rig having such longevity. I am truly open to either.

I am looking to replace the mobo/proc and graphics card and maybe PSU for as close to a grand as possible I am also hoping to squeeze a haupauge PVR250/350 as I never again want an AIW card (not that the 9700proAIW hasn't served me well, but it's too costly to upgrade)

I want to be ready for HL2 HDR/Quake4 games if at all possible, WoW should be no strain at all (it isn't now)

Am I dreaming or is this possible
 
WD2500KS, Hitachi T7K250, _____S0 Maxtor drive, or (especially) a WD740GD will all signifcantly improve the responsiveness of your system, especially in disk intensive tasks like bootup and loading levels in games.
 
Thank you very much for the linkees

I have been leaning towards AMD, but all I see is SLI this and SLI that... I don't want no stinkin SLI. also is the power supply OK, I remember a similar brand - was it "Foxtron" that was rumored to suck so bad Dyson patented the technology.
 
Fortron's FSP-____ models are among the most repsected in the industry, especially in their price range.
 
Cool, I've been using an Antec 380W but I think that may be a wee bit light for the new graphics card
 
You don't have to go SLI to get AMD. The mobo I linked to above isn't SLI. So I still highly recomend AMD, as will most people here.

The company you're probably thinking of is 'Foxcon', and yes, they do suck. Fortron, on the other hand, is very good.
 
Go for the X2. Then you can run two folding clients on the system. :D

I'm actually looking at a similar upgrade for my next system. I'm going all new drives and everything, though. About the only thing that's going to stay the same from my current system is the monitor and I think I still have the system priced in the $1500.00 range at current prices.

 
Make sure you go to at least a gig of RAM, that will make a huge difference in games. Some of the newer ones do even better with 2 gigs, but that might be hard to do on a budget.
 
Make sure you check how many pins the main motherboard power connector takes. When I did my rig last week (X2 w/ Asus A8N-SLI Premium), I didn't realize until I had everything on the way that the motherboard was 24 pin and my Zalman 400W PSU I was GOING to use was only 20-pin. I know they make a 20 to 24 pin adapter, but I didn't feel comfortable doing that (even though it is cheaper). So I ordered an OCZ 450W PowerStream to fill the void.

Mr.Dearthian
 
Sweet! I like the mobo - last time I saw a dual digit LED readout was in my tech school digital electronics course project - A clock using decade counters ran from a NE555 chip lol (some 20 years ago.)

I have 2GB of generic PC3200, hopefully that won't hold me back too much, I wouldn't count on upping the FSB much, but it's performance in my current rig is fairly decent. and ya having two folding rigs in one boxen would be most efficient

From what I've heard the BFG7800GT OC runs around 2% below the 7800GTX... That is quite acceptable
 
939 is the socket of the (near) future. It will offer the best long term upgrade options. If you find an SLI board at a reasonable price with the other specs you want, go ahead with it. You dont have to set the SLI up now.
 
After reading the Firing Squad review ( http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/evga_e-geforce_7800_gt_co_edition_review/default.asp ), I think I'll be going with the eVGA 7800GT CO. Overclocked it was running with the big dog - a pretty nice feat with "stock" cooling. At $369.00 from mwave this seems like the most graphics power for the buck and paired with a dual core 3800 and 2GB of ram the *SEG® factor will almost be unbearable

* SEG - known commonly as "Sh*t Eating Grin" is the intellectual property of anyone who has performed a serious upgrade and has reveled to the point of doing wierd "geeky white guy" dances after effortlessly playing a video game at settings that just a few hours earlier would have brought his machine to it's knees - if not a BSOIDTS (Black Screen of "I Don't Think So")

The system below did it for Unreal Tournament 2003 at 1600X1200 (I loved hearing the announcer when I cranked the settings) I'm hoping this new set up will allow me to relive those moments of utter bliss with HL2 and Quake4.
 
Nice choice. BFG's a rockin' company, probably my favorite for graphics cards. eVGA as a close second. I think you'll be able to play all the games in the near future at high, if not max, settings. Have fun!
 
RagingSamster said:
After reading the Firing Squad review ( http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/evga_e-geforce_7800_gt_co_edition_review/default.asp ), I think I'll be going with the eVGA 6800GT CO. Overclocked it was running with the big dog - a pretty nice feat with "stock" cooling. At $369.00 from mwave this seems like the most graphics power for the buck and paired with a dual core 3800 and 2GB of ram the *SEG® factor will almost be unbearable

* SEG - known commonly as "Sh*t Eating Grin" is the intellectual property of anyone who has performed a serious upgrade and has reveled to the point of doing wierd "geeky white guy" dances after effortlessly playing a video game at settings that just a few hours earlier would have brought his machine to it's knees - if not a BSOIDTS (Black Screen of "I Don't Think So")

The system below did it for Unreal Tournament 2003 at 1600X1200 (I loved hearing the announcer when I cranked the settings) I'm hoping this new set up will allow me to relive those moments of utter bliss with HL2 and Quake4.
Click to expand...

Last week I got an Albatron 7800GT for $359. Even at stock speeds (I can't recall what it's clocked at factory), it's going to smoke a 6800GT. I hope you mean you are going to get a BFG 7800GT (since the 6800GTs are closer to $280ish). Please tell me that's what you mean!! :D

Mr.Dearthian
 
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