upgrade options

[allstarviper]

I want to upgrade my machine but I'm not sure which option to go with. I have a Gigabyte GA-7V600-P-L motherboard that can take up to an Athlon XP 3200+. I currently have an Athlon XP 1800+ with 1xDDR266 256MB and 1xDDR333 512MB. I am a student on an extremely tight budget and looking to only upgrade my processor and ram at most. So here are the options I'm considering......

1. 3200+ with current ram (upgrade to DDR400 in future)
2. 3000+ with 333 FSB and remove 1xDDR266

If I settle for the 3200+, am I not going to get as much of a speed increase as if I had DDR400 ram to go with it? I would really appreciate everyone's opinion. I use my machine mainly for programming, music, movies, web surfing and very little gaming if any at all. Please feel free to give me other options that you may think of.

 

[Flinx]

1) What is the purpose of your upgrade?
2) What graphics card do you have?
3) What other devices do you have? (system specs)
4) How much $$$ do you have to spend (even on the budget)?

I liked that Mobo BTW although it seems to set 1.7V for an amd XP2500 instead of the 1.65.

The loving are the daring!

 

[endyen]

Best option, if available in your area, would be to get an xp-m2500+. They have no fixed multipier, but would be happy to run at 13.5 X 166 on your mobo. This way you have to get the DDR, but get pc3200, and just run it @ 166/333. Latter you could get some more pc3200, and set the speed to 11.5 X 200, for a little more boost.
If you wanted to try some OCing, those chips often reach 2.4 to 2.6.ghz <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-401&depa=0" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-401&depa=0</A>

 

[allstarviper]

Ok, so my system specs.....

MB: Gigabyte GA-7V600-P-L
CPU: Athlon XP 1800+
Memory: 1x 256 DDR2100, 1x 512 DDR2700
Video: ATI Radeon 7500
HDD: 80gig Maxtor 7200(OS sits on this),20gig Fujitsu 5400

Unfortunatley I can't remember the specs of my power supply.

My budget is roughly $300-400 cdn. The purpose of my upgrade was just mainly, well to have more speed. I know my video card is pretty old but I really don't do alot of gaming so it seems to serve the purpose still. I was thinking of upgrading my video card around June. Really my idea was to upgrade the cpu to the highest I could and make the system last for maybe another year.

 

[Rugger]

You could do that with Endyen's recommendation. Open the side of your comp and check out the sticker on your PSU. Give us the wattage, mfr/model and amps on the 3.3V, 5V and 12V rails.

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<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[Flinx]

I don't believe this board works with a mobile. I tried it. Maybe with a BIOS flash but I wouldn't bet on it. This was awhile ago.


If you want me to try again I will.

The loving are the daring!