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What should I upgrade?

L

LucasG

Gawd
Joined
Jul 2, 2004
Messages
677
I currently have this:

Motherboard: ASUS A7V600
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2200+ 1.8GHz 266FSB
CPU Fan: Cooler Master Jet 7 (ACB-V83)
Memory: Kingston 512MB DDR400 PC3200
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9600 128MB DDR
Hard Drive: Seagate 40GB 5300RPM

What should I upgrade first and to what? I only have $250 to spend. OR should I start building something new? If so, what motherboard should I get? I only want AMD stuff. :)

Help is appriciated.

Thanks & Regards
 
Well, it depends on where you want to go with your system.

The MB will support a higher FSB, so get a new CPU first, and then a video card. I forget the exact numbers, but your memory looks to be OK for now.

If you are going with a 64 bit system, then you can do the MB/CPU first, and then the other stuff later.

L8R

Don
 
I want my system specially for gaming. I don't want to go to AMD 64 yet. So I should get an AMD Athlon Xo 3200+ 2.2GHz 400FSB first? :) I might be able to get that from my mom plus another stick of 512, same brand, same speed. Next, my Video Card?
 
what kind of options do you have on that motherboard?

you should bump the fsb from 266 to 400, but make sure you have a good heatsink for the cpu... that should give you quite a boost in performance right there...

i am doign the math... getting your fsb up to 333 will get you to about 2.24 ghz.. and 400 will be 2.7.. ok.. i really had to triple check my math there... now, you won't be hitting 2.7.. but basically you are sitting on fast memory and not even coming close to using it...

i wouldn't get a 3200+, because my $77 cpu can be clocked way faster than that thing is stock.. and any althlon XP cpu really can't get higher than 2.7ghz... so you can OC a 2400+ mobile to 2.7 or a 3200+ to 2.7 (some won't go that high, most won't)..

i don't play games, so i don't know what would matter more, but if you can get your cpu up to 2 or 2.2 ghz... then your video card or memory will probably be the limiting factor... so either pick up anothoer stick of memory or up that $250 to $300 and get that 6800nu...
 
I guess I will get an AMD Athlon XP 3200+ 2.2GHz 400FSB for my birthday, if possible (which I'm not sure) another equal memory like the one I have and on a later date something like an ATI x800 or ATI Radeon 9800 Pro/XT

So this is what it will look at the end

ASUS A7V600
AMD Athlon XP 3200+ 2.2GHz 400FSB
Kingston 1024MB DDR400 PC3200
ATI Radeon 9800 XT

That's what I want it to be soon, is that good for todays gaming?
 
NO! XT's are just overpriced 9800 Pros. If you're going to go that way, just buy an X800. It kicks the crap out of a 9800 XT, but it's right near the price. Or, if you can't afford an X800, buy a 256 MB 9800 Pro for 250 and save 100 dollars, or buy a 128 Mb 9800 pro on about the same performance level for 215 and save even more. Happy shopping. :D
 
I can overclock a Retail ATI Radeon 9800 Pro to an XT without buying any extras, right?
 
i don't think you should buy a 3200+ get a mobile chip and overclock it.. 35 watt mobile... doubling the ram looks good..
 
Do I need to get anything extra of what I have? Can't I overclock the XP 3200+ too?
 
From the specs, as long as you're fine on HD space (the only thing I noticed right off the bat), you look good. Save the money and wait for a big overhaul -- with everything new coming out, it's worth the wait.
 
LucasG said:
I can overclock a Retail ATI Radeon 9800 Pro to an XT without buying any extras, right?
Click to expand...

Sometimes -- obviously nothing is 100%. . . I know there are a few versions/builds of the cards that won't work. Google for "9800 flash XT" or something similar -- I know there are a few websites specifically for this.
 
i don't think you can overclock a 3200+ that much.. it is still that same core as all the other bartons.. so my guess is that no matter what you get, it won't really break 2.8 ghz.. if that... so you might as well get a mobile and try to get 2.5ghz or more out of it if you are lucky..
 
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