Advice with upgrades...

mraya · mraya #1 (**permalink**)

11-23-2005, 10:22 AM

I'm thinking about doing some upgrades to my PC, wich is mostly used for games (EQ2). Right now it has:
- AMD64 3200
- ATI Radeon 9600 w/ 128mb
- 1gb of RAM (512mb PC2700 x2)
- 80gb HD 4200rpm (i don't know how much cache)
So my question is wich one should i change (besides the CPU and the motherboard) and/or wich one should improve the performance better? I want to keep the price around or bellow $100, but i'm not sure wich change should have the best effect. Thanks for any advice.

chouk · chouk #2 (**permalink**)

11-23-2005, 11:43 AM

i would go better gfx card. Nvidia 6800gt, 7800gt?...
and maybe an affordable 7200rpm h.disk.

mynameis · mynameis #3 (**permalink**)

11-23-2005, 12:03 PM

Pick up a Radeon 9800 Pro 256bit for under $100. You might have to buy used/refurb, but I think that would be the best upgrade for the money.

Are you sure you have a 80gb 4200RPM drive? Thats really odd for a desktop. I would check the black friday deals to see if you can get a cheap/free 7200 rpm drive.

inflexion · inflexion #4 (**permalink**)

11-23-2005, 12:14 PM

GFX card first then the Hard Drive if you can afford it, then make a ghost image of your current set up so you can just copy it across onto a new drive

dtravis7 · dtravis7 #5 (**permalink**)

11-23-2005, 12:17 PM

I agree with mynameis. The video card would give you the most improvement in games. The AMD 64 CPU, even the 3200 is quite fast. The Radeon 9800 sounds like a winner. I upgraded from a 9600 to the 9800 Pro and it was a big improvement in gaming.

Are you sure that Hard Drive is not a 5400 RPM drive? A 7200RPM Drive would help loading times but the Video Card would really give you better gaming performance at higher resolutions. EQ2 is a very demanding game.

mraya · mraya #6 (**permalink**)

11-23-2005, 08:00 PM

Thanks for the advices, i will upgrade my video card next week and i think i'll be able to upgrade my hard drive a little later. My hd is 3 or 4 years old, so i think is time to change it anyway, i spend all my day re-installing WinXp wich help me a bit with the performance and also make me love my iBook even more, i wish i could get rid of these [insert here extrange names in forbiden languages] PC, but my brother refuses to let it go.

mynameis · mynameis #7 (**permalink**)

11-23-2005, 09:15 PM

Get this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16814102362R
then check bfads.net for a HD deal. CompUSA has 160gb SATA for $20 AR, Best Buy has a 120gb for $30 AR, and Staples has a 200GB for $30 AR.

mraya #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 27, 2005 Location: Framingham, MA Posts: 942 Mac Specs: MacBook C2D 2.4 2GB	11-23-2005, 10:22 AM I'm thinking about doing some upgrades to my PC, wich is mostly used for games (EQ2). Right now it has: - AMD64 3200 - ATI Radeon 9600 w/ 128mb - 1gb of RAM (512mb PC2700 x2) - 80gb HD 4200rpm (i don't know how much cache) So my question is wich one should i change (besides the CPU and the motherboard) and/or wich one should improve the performance better? I want to keep the price around or bellow $100, but i'm not sure wich change should have the best effect. Thanks for any advice. [is pointless to click here]
	QUOTE Thanks

inflexion #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 12, 2005 Location: /home/sheffield/UK Posts: 1,278 Mac Specs: 12" 1Ghz PB 768Mb 10.4.5 30Gb Video iPod 40Gb 3G iPod 1Gb iPod Shuffle	11-23-2005, 12:14 PM GFX card first then the Hard Drive if you can afford it, then make a ghost image of your current set up so you can just copy it across onto a new drive Apple, think different
	QUOTE Thanks

mraya #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 27, 2005 Location: Framingham, MA Posts: 942 Mac Specs: MacBook C2D 2.4 2GB	11-23-2005, 08:00 PM Thanks for the advices, i will upgrade my video card next week and i think i'll be able to upgrade my hard drive a little later. My hd is 3 or 4 years old, so i think is time to change it anyway, i spend all my day re-installing WinXp wich help me a bit with the performance and also make me love my iBook even more, i wish i could get rid of these [insert here extrange names in forbiden languages] PC, but my brother refuses to let it go. [is pointless to click here]
	QUOTE Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
need some advice :D (first time mac buyer)	mattzilla	Switcher Hangout	8	08-21-2005 10:54 PM
advice for external hard disk drive for white ibook dual USB?	thejase	Apple Notebooks	9	07-13-2005 12:36 AM
Advice Please - buy Powerbook now or wait	ryebread	Switcher Hangout	16	07-11-2005 02:15 PM
Four Mac OS X upgrades in three years... too much?	Murlyn	Apple Rumors and Reports	64	06-09-2005 10:31 PM
IBook Advice...	smeshy123	Apple Notebooks	1	06-07-2005 08:47 AM

Advice with upgrades...

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

chouk #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 31, 2005 Location: dodo island Posts: 304 Mac Specs: ibook g4, 14'', 1.33 Ghz, 60gig, 768ram, Mac OsX 10.4.3	11-23-2005, 11:43 AM i would go better gfx card. Nvidia 6800gt, 7800gt?... and maybe an affordable 7200rpm h.disk.
	QUOTE Thanks

dtravis7 #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2005 Location: Modesto, Ca. Posts: 25,795 Mac Specs: iMac C2D Late 2007 20" with 10.8.3, Macbook Santa Rosa 4GB Ram OSX 10.8.3	11-23-2005, 12:17 PM I agree with mynameis. The video card would give you the most improvement in games. The AMD 64 CPU, even the 3200 is quite fast. The Radeon 9800 sounds like a winner. I upgraded from a 9600 to the 9800 Pro and it was a big improvement in gaming. Are you sure that Hard Drive is not a 5400 RPM drive? A 7200RPM Drive would help loading times but the Video Card would really give you better gaming performance at higher resolutions. EQ2 is a very demanding game.
	QUOTE Thanks

mynameis #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 30, 2004 Posts: 3,378	11-23-2005, 09:15 PM Get this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16814102362R then check bfads.net for a HD deal. CompUSA has 160gb SATA for $20 AR, Best Buy has a 120gb for $30 AR, and Staples has a 200GB for $30 AR.
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)