Budget Upgrade

[Abraxas]

I don't need a completely new system. First and foremost. I just need a new processor, new mobo, new gfx card and ram. I am keeping my ATA133 250GB HD, my DVD drive and my 52x CD drive. I don't need to upgrade them yet, I just want to be ready for Hellgate: London and Starcraft 2, and this is what I came up with.


MSI K9N4 Ultra-F Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 500 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813130063
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

$56.99

BFG Tech BFGE86256GTOCE GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814143105
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

$154.99

Scythe Kamariki-2 KMRK-450A-2 ATX12V 450W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817185003
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

$59.99

* CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145034
Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+(65W) Windsor 2.0GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADO3800CZBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103068
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

$192.50

Total= $435.60 after the $40 mail in rebate on the ram/processor combo.

Sticking to WinXP until I absolutely need to upgrade to Vista. The Motherboard choice was made by Toms on their budget PC. I want 2GB of ram for future apps like vista, and its just a good deal for the combo. Also went with the proc for Tom's recomendation in their budget PC. All in all, I feel I should expect this to be a good upgrade to my AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton, 1 gig of ram, and 9700 Pro card.

Picked the PSU cause I have heard some good things about Scythe.

I did put up a few months ago my completely new build from the ground up, but that deal fell thru, and so I am left with this, and I for under $500, its not a bad built for only the necessities.

 

[hokiejimbo]

I don't know what resolution you're thinking about gaming, but that 8600GT is a bad call... you might want to bump up to at least the GTS... Other than that looks like a great build

 

[Abraxas]

My monitor is right now set to 1024x786

If I want to jump up to the next rung Will it make that big a difference?

edit*

I just tried to see what 1280x768 and 1280x1024 looked like and well x768 made me a tad sick in the stomach. And I am trying as I type 1280x1024 and my head is starting to hurt. I think I may stay at 1024x768 until I can get my Hanns-G 22" monitor, which runs at 1680x1050 or I might just stick to the lesser range of 1440x900.

 

[Abraxas]

ok I made one last decision about the GFX and got an 8800GTS 320, for 2 reasons. A few reviews I have seen say its good for the 1280 and 1600 ranged of monitors, which is good for when I step into my LCD later. and Second, it just plain does better than the GTS is everything, and only $90 more.

 

[darksidedragon]

Make sure you get enough IDE slots on the motherboard, as they're hard to comeby these days.

 

[apocalyp5e]

It all looks good but I guess where you live.....some of those prices are a bit high.
Good luck with your upgrade

 

[Abraxas]

buying all from newegg... I always get the cheapest price form newegg.

 

[Abraxas]

Make sure you get enough IDE slots on the motherboard, as they're hard to comeby these days.

Oh, you are right. Just took a harder look at the mobo, and it has 1 IDE slot for only 2 devices. Crap, I got to go to work now, can anyone make a suggestion for a Mobo that will work with my components and has room for 2 disc drives and 1 hard drive, all IDE?

 

[f61]

Toss the IDE opticals and go SATA. That WILL save you from making a very narrow choice of needing TWO IDE headers. Its also the cheapest road to the future.

f61

 

[Abraxas]

I would love to spent some more on the computer and make everything SATA, but I will get those parts later. Until then, I will search Newegg for a decent AM2 motherboard which can support my current peripherals and HDD.

*Edit*

I Found this board after some looking, and I think it will serve my purpose well.

ASUS M2V Socket AM2 VIA K8T890

Heard some good things about the K8T890 chip, and this baord also has the IDe connectors I need. When I upgrade next, I will do a full ground up system, and then I will worry about SATA.

 

[darksidedragon]

Good find there!

 

[tlmck]

You could also check ZipZoomFly for RAM. They usually have better deals than Newegg. They are about the same to slightly higher on other products.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ThirdCategoryList.jsp?SecondCategoryCode=1108

 

[Abraxas]

yea can get my ram I have posted at about $30 less...but only until tomorrow, when the mail in rebate expires...

 

[emp]

You also need a better PSU than that, unless you want to kill your new PC right from the very beginning.

BTW upgrading RAM, GPU, CPU, and MOBO is probably considered as a new build not an upgrade, just something for you to remember

 

[Abraxas]

You also need a better PSU than that, unless you want to kill your new PC right from the very beginning.

Ok, what would you suggest then? I can't get this new system for a few weeks(have to save up for it). Don't just tell me to get a better PSU and not quote some better ones. lol

 

[croc]

Is your dvd a rw, or a ro device... If its a burner, it should also do cd's just as well as your cd only device, so you are back down to two ide devices and the need to accept a poorer quality MB is a moot point... (via chipset???)

 

[Abraxas]

Is your dvd a rw, or a ro device... If its a burner, it should also do cd's just as well as your cd only device, so you are back down to two ide devices and the need to accept a poorer quality MB is a moot point... (via chipset???)

Ok well, I don't need top of the line, but something that will play games and won't have issues.

Again, I need input. Please give me some options along with opinions.

And yes I could go back to 2 devices only, since the DVD drive is an RW.

So if I want to go back to only 2 devices, what Mobo, and PSU would you all suggest, that will do what I need it to do, play games.

On the hardware seen, this is my current list minus PSU:



ASUS M2V Socket AM2 VIA K8T890 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131024
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

$74.99

EVGA 320-P2-N817-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO ACS3 HDCP Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130040
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

-$15.00 Instant
$329.99
= $314.99

* CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145034
Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+(65W) Windsor 2.4GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADO4600CUBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103749
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

-$5.00 Instant
-$30.00 Combo
$40.00 Mail-in Rebate
$249.00
=$214.00

Total = $603.98

I stepped up to the 4600+ cause it was only about $25 more, for a better processor.

 

[croc]

Put the CDR on a shelf for now, (sell it? Nah, isn't worth spit) and get your original MSI MB... Definitely not 'top of the line', but also NOT a via chipset. Then you'll be good to go, and good to go for more than just a wee time...

 

[darksidedragon]

On the PSU front, I only really know about modular ones. I've got the Zalman ZM-600, and that's really good. Plenty of amps on the +12V rails, and quiet too. Depending on how much you want to speed, you might look at the Corsair HX PSUs. Both the 520W and 620W have more amps than the Zalman and are also uber quiet. However, they both cost more.

 

[Abraxas]

ok so I was looking at MSI again, and I decided to go with the:

MSI K9N Neo-F Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 550 MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

Anyone know anything about this board. Not bad reveiws on it that I could find, and its got nForce 550.

For the card I am getting, it recommends a +12v with 26 amps. If I get one with 2 +12v rails, and they run at 16A each... does that mean I have 32A on my +12v rail for the card?

 

[Abraxas]

after some consideration, and some hard looks, I went with an FSP PSU: 1. The brand was trusted by Tom's. 2. HardOCP gave the model I am looking at a editor's choice award for good output and load power.

FSP Blue Storm II 500w

Will this power my components and my gfx card(12v1 18A; 12v2 18A) which needs 26A? HardOCP thinks the 12v rails will do 32A easy.

 

[emp]

after some consideration, and some hard looks, I went with an FSP PSU: 1. The brand was trusted by Tom's. 2. HardOCP gave the model I am looking at a editor's choice award for good output and load power.

FSP Blue Storm II 500w

Will this power my components and my gfx card(12v1 18A; 12v2 18A) which needs 26A? HardOCP thinks the 12v rails will do 32A easy.

It should run it, but I don't know.

This is ONE HELL of a PSU

SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-550HT ATX12V / EPS12V 550W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151027

+12V1@18A, +12V2@18A, +12V3@18A, +12V4@18A

 

[darksidedragon]

The Zalman ZM-600 I have has 40A total on the +12V rails, and it wasn't too pricey. I think the Corsair HX 520 has 42A, and the HX 620 a whopping 50A!

 

[Abraxas]

hmmm...some choices to think about I see.

On the Crucial front, isn't modular still kind of a bad choice cause of the cables not being 100% in touch with the power? Heard a few people say that modular was not as stable either.

Well anyway, since I am saving up for the darn thing, I decided to up the max price to $1000 so I have a little more head room.

 

[darksidedragon]

The sort of losses you're looking at with modular PSUs really is minimal. I'm currently sharing a house with students, and we all use modular PSUs. No problems at all. Just make sure you go with a good brand (Seasonic, Hiper, Zalman, Corsair, etc).