Which Should I go For 1st?

[Pack Rat 24]

I have an eMachines W2875 with the following specs:
Athlon XP 2700+
512 x 2 DDR-RAM PC 2700
80 GB HDD
DVD +- R/RW Burner
DVD ROM Drive
Onboard Video
Onboard Sound

I was looking at the following for upgrades to put on my list:
Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS
2nd 80 GB HDD
Radeon 9600

Which of those should I go for first? Thanks!

 

[MTB2Live Live4Comps]

new video card first, almost without a doubt in my book

 

[mpcamer1220]

yeah get rid of the onboard video

 

[KoZLop]

I would upgrade video
even though i still use onboard

 

[TheMostWantedPolishTwin]

vid card - do doubt about it...

 

[bpimmerman]

what do you do with your computer? if gaming, then video, but your computer should match your needs. i don't really game, so i would go for the hard drive.

 

[Pack Rat 24]

Well, video games, video editing...I guess video card's the first to put in, lol...

Now what should I get after I get the video card? Sound of storage...

 

[angrybusdriver]

Well it's very, very easy to know if you need another hard drive.

Is your current one full, or close to full?

 

[velocitypimp]

go with the video card

you might also look at the regular sb audigy 2

i paid $73 for mine (oem version) from new egg... worth every penny

 

[LyL18]

What everyone else says... Video card!

 

[Pack Rat 24]

Heh, the HDD isn't full, but I read in a VE mag that having a 2nd HDD for video that you've captured is a good idea so that you don't lose your whole computer when the 2nd HDD dies.

 

[plot]

video first, harddrive second, soundcard last.


more then likely if you have a newer mobo, you wont notice a difference in sound with a soundcard anyways...

 

[ST|FFY]

yes, better mobo's now have better onboard sound so a new card isnt necesary

but how much storage space is currently free on your hard drive?

 

[YoUnAn]

I am going to agree with everyone here adn say get the video card. It will improve performance alot.

 

[emorphien]

I know your situation as far as the hard drive. I do a lot of imaging, both photographic and scientific so I have backups of my backups to prevent loss. I have two 120 gig drives in my computer and an external 120 gig drive, each contains all the images.

If data security is a top issue you might want to find a way to protect it, such as a second hard drive or a DVD burner (which I now use as well). However a new video card sure would be nice for the gaming.

 

[SB22]

Originally posted by plot
video first, harddrive second, soundcard last.


more then likely if you have a newer mobo, you wont notice a difference in sound with a soundcard anyways...

You've probably got your answer, but i agree w/ everyone else in this order. The eMachine's sound is usually pretty decent, nothing that you'll need to upgrade unless you absolutely want to.

 

[Slava]

Definitely a vote for video card. Make sure you have agp slot.

 

[[H]ea\/y B]

If you have an open AGP slot, and you live in the US I will sell you my BBA 9600Pro for $105 shipped

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by ST|FFY
yes, better mobo's now have better onboard sound so a new card isnt necesary

*cough* emachines *cough*

naw, j/k, I know they're made by a different manufacturer now and are OK. But man, the original emachines were sooo terrible....

 

[Pack Rat 24]

I'd take your offer, but I don't have that kind of money...yet...Wait until I get my eBay stuff cleared through and then I'll look around....

On that, how good is the Saphire 9600 SE compared to the ATI 9600?