Upgrading computer on a $300 budget

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Kris

Gawd
Joined
Jun 27, 2004
Messages
618
My current system specifications are as follows:

Athlon XP 2100+
Shuttle ak31a Motherboard
Geforce 4 Ti4600 (Asus AGP)
256MB DDR PC2100 Crucial
X2 80GB 7200RPM HDs (2mb Cache)
120GB 7200RPM HD (2mb cache)
DVD+RW/CD-RW Lite-On Optical Drive

I am looking to upgrade my PC because... well... it sucks. The northbridge fan went out on my motherboard, since it's a VIA chipset I've had plenty of issues with different games (UT2k3 comes to mind with their issues with VIA chipsets), and I used to have X2 256MB PC2100 but I constantly got memory errors and, after removing 1, it works fine. Now normally that would sound like a memory issue but it works fine in another computer, passes memtest flawlessly and I ordered a new stick of PC2100 from newegg not that long ago and my computer wouldn't even POST with it in. I've tried every slot too.

I would like to just upgrade my motherboard and CPU and maybe some ram. I am unsure as to which way to go for the new CPU/Mobo. I want to stick with AMD, however, the newer Athlon 64bit motherboards and the newer socket seem to only use PCI-E and my graphics card is an AGP. I'm unsure if I should hold out and upgrade my card as well or what.

Anyone have any recommendations?
 
Kris said:
My current system specifications are as follows:

Athlon XP 2100+
Shuttle ak31a Motherboard
Geforce 4 Ti4600 (Asus AGP)
256MB DDR PC2100 Crucial
X2 80GB 7200RPM HDs (2mb Cache)
120GB 7200RPM HD (2mb cache)
DVD+RW/CD-RW Lite-On Optical Drive

I am looking to upgrade my PC because... well... it sucks. The northbridge fan went out on my motherboard, since it's a VIA chipset I've had plenty of issues with different games (UT2k3 comes to mind with their issues with VIA chipsets), and I used to have X2 256MB PC2100 but I constantly got memory errors and, after removing 1, it works fine. Now normally that would sound like a memory issue but it works fine in another computer, passes memtest flawlessly and I ordered a new stick of PC2100 from newegg not that long ago and my computer wouldn't even POST with it in. I've tried every slot too.

I would like to just upgrade my motherboard and CPU and maybe some ram. I am unsure as to which way to go for the new CPU/Mobo. I want to stick with AMD, however, the newer Athlon 64bit motherboards and the newer socket seem to only use PCI-E and my graphics card is an AGP. I'm unsure if I should hold out and upgrade my card as well or what.

Anyone have any recommendations?
Click to expand...

Your current graphics card is getting kind of old and you wont be able to play anything soon enough. I would hold out until you can get a pci-e mobo so you can get a new card.

Save up about a 150 more and you can probably get a AMD 3000+ Venice, 6600 gt, and some good mobo. That will take care of you for a while
 
You can almost do it for $300, here's what I came up with:

Mobo: Biostar 6100-M7
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813138266
$60.00

Processor: Sempron 64 2600+
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819104249
$64.00

RAM: Mushkin PC3200 1 GB
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820146190
$80.00

Video Card: AOpen Geforce 6600 256MB DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814135193
$100

Total $304.00

This would be a huge upgrade for your computer and would put you in line for some even bigger upgrades in the future, especially for the video card and the processor the only problem is right now you have a shuttle so you'd have to scrounge up $50 more or so for a cheap case/power supply.

But all in all, I think that if you could swing it, the above is probably close to the best you'll do.
 
meatycheesyboy said:
This would be a huge upgrade for your computer and would put you in line for some even bigger upgrades in the future, especially for the video card and the processor the only problem is right now you have a shuttle so you'd have to scrounge up $50 more or so for a cheap case/power supply.
Click to expand...
I have a shuttle motherboard but my case and PSU are made by Antec. I take it they have different connections?
 
Ooops, my bad, I was thinking that your mobo was a SFF cube shuttle, your case and PSU are probably fine then.
 
meatycheesyboy said:
You can almost do it for $300, here's what I came up with:

Mobo: Biostar 6100-M7
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813138266
$60.00

Processor: Sempron 64 2600+
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819104249
$64.00

RAM: Mushkin PC3200 1 GB
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820146190
$80.00

Video Card: AOpen Geforce 6600 256MB DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814135193
$100

Total $304.00

This would be a huge upgrade for your computer and would put you in line for some even bigger upgrades in the future, especially for the video card and the processor the only problem is right now you have a shuttle so you'd have to scrounge up $50 more or so for a cheap case/power supply.

But all in all, I think that if you could swing it, the above is probably close to the best you'll do.
Click to expand...

Here's some cheaper, but nonetheless good, RAM.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231036
 
Biostar nForce 4 MB - $60
Sempron 3100+ - $90
2x512MB PC3200 - $75
Some PCIE video card - $75

(though I suggest you increase your budget to $400 and pick up a 6800GS or X800GTO2.. sell your old stuff on eBay for about $100 or $150 to make it up)
 
meatycheesyboy said:
You can almost do it for $300, here's what I came up with:

Mobo: Biostar 6100-M7
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813138266
$60.00

Processor: Sempron 64 2600+
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819104249
$64.00

RAM: Mushkin PC3200 1 GB
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820146190
$80.00

Video Card: AOpen Geforce 6600 256MB DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814135193
$100

Total $304.00

This would be a huge upgrade for your computer and would put you in line for some even bigger upgrades in the future, especially for the video card and the processor the only problem is right now you have a shuttle so you'd have to scrounge up $50 more or so for a cheap case/power supply.

But all in all, I think that if you could swing it, the above is probably close to the best you'll do.
Click to expand...

doing this means you're building a new comp on a dead socket, 754. if you'r going to get a whole new mobo, it's best if it's 939. at leaset they will be around for a little while longer.


 
8fingers said:
doing this means you're building a new comp on a dead socket, 754. if you'r going to get a whole new mobo, it's best if it's 939. at leaset they will be around for a little while longer.
Click to expand...

True, 754 is a dead socket but I really don't see how this is a hindrance. From the Sempron listed above, he could go to a 3700+ and from there to an M2 thereby skipping 939 all together.

One thing to keep in mind here is that the upgrade budget is only $300. I still say what I listed above is probably the best you can hope to do in that price range and will show a huge improvement over what the OP currently has.
 
In my opinion, $300 isn't enough. I would say wait until you can spend $500 before considering serious upgrades.
 
If you absolutley had to spend money, I would say to go for a cheap 256 meg stick of ram. I picked up another 512 stick of geil 3336 (i think it was that) with a ram-sink for $40.00 plus shipping at the egg. a 256 should be around 30.

256 is cutting it a little close, HL2 wasnt even playable on my brothers computer with 512 (3000+ athlon, radeon 9800se). Even for desktop apps... If your running windows xp/2000, 256 megabytes runs out in a hurry.

Save up another 400-500, and you could buy an entirely new rig. If it were me I would get 256 now, then just wait and save up for another rig.
 
bob said:
Save up another 400-500, and you could buy an entirely new rig. If it were me I would get 256 now, then just wait and save up for another rig.
Click to expand...
Well I tried getting 256 before and my computer wouldn't POST with it in. I'm guessing the RAM was DOA since my current stick worked but I'm not 100% sure. My motherboard is finicky
 
8fingers said:
doing this means you're building a new comp on a dead socket, 754. if you'r going to get a whole new mobo, it's best if it's 939. at leaset they will be around for a little while longer.


Click to expand...
Who cares whether the socket is still going to be around or not? Socket 939 is almost dead as well. What's the point?

Next time this guy goes to upgrade, he's not going to go from an A64 3000+ to an A64 3800+, he's going to go from a Sempron 3100+ or A64 3000+ to something on an all new socket. Socket 939 isn't going to help you in 6 months when it's been replaced.
 
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