Time for an Upgrade

[OnWithTheShow]

Ok so my first sytem lasted me a good 4 years but its now time for an upgrade. Im going from a Athlon XP 2500 so to go to the fastest Socket A would cost a good 300. I can get a new mobo and processor for that.

I was thinking

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 Conroe 2.33GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit

Since Im going from AGP to PCI-E I will need to get a new video card as well. I was looking for something in the$150 price range for now.

I also want to get a new power supply.

Any tips on who to call at Microsoft when I need to reactivate XP

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[g-paw]

Good place to start with the video card
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/11/06/best_graphics_card/

Good PSU info. Recently go the Antec NEO-HE550 550 Watt really nice with modular cabling
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

After you install XP it will ask you to activate, if you go to online activation, it won't activate but will give you a phone number to call. Takes about 5 minutes

 

[OnWithTheShow]

The best video card for the money lists the radeon x1950 PRO as DX10 but I can find that on the card specs anywhere. Also which model of this card would you recommend if any?

 

[g-paw]

Never really checked but you're right, the x1950 Pro doesn't show DX10 There are a number of 8600GTD starting around $120 with rebates at newegg. This is a nice card with a $40 rebate $130. I have an FXF 7600 GT and got the rebate so they'll send it to you
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150228

 

[aadamszc]

I can't really say anything more than g-paw without a budget, but I do have one suggestion.

You may want to think about putting off the building of the system for ~1 or 2 weeks. In 1 or 2 weeks, ATI/AMD is supposed to be release their new R680/3800 cards. It is rumored that their will be a card priced ~$150 that will put shame to any card around that price now-a-days.

-Adam
P.S. g-paw, I hope you weren't rooting for ohio because my boys from illinois won.
P.P.S. If you have no idea what I am talking about, it is college football.

 

[g-paw]

I can't really say anything more than g-paw without a budget, but I do have one suggestion.

You may want to think about putting off the building of the system for ~1 or 2 weeks. In 1 or 2 weeks, ATI/AMD is supposed to be release their new R680/3800 cards. It is rumored that their will be a card priced ~$150 that will put shame to any card around that price now-a-days.

-Adam
P.S. g-paw, I hope you weren't rooting for ohio because my boys from illinois won.
P.P.S. If you have no idea what I am talking about, it is college football.

Just watched pathetic showing. Don't know why OSU didn't adjust their defense after your QB kept running between the tackles for 1st downs in the 4th quarter. Not a big OSU fan so I'm not hurting with the loss. You guys played a good game. Waiting to see how my Brownies fair tomorrow

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Still looking for advice on a PSU and Video. Say $200 for both. Im also trying to stay on the quieter side with the PSU. A recommendation for some affordable quiet case fans would be appreciated too.

 

[ibleet]

Corsair HX520w PSU would be a great choice.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Opinion on this card???



($89.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130297

 

[mahoumatic]

Opinion on this card???

($89.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130297

Seems pretty nice offer, but GE8600GT (and also HD2900GT probably...)will probably be
not enough for most of the DirectX 10 titles...
You will still end up a little bit better with X1950Pro under DirectX 9 games...
or maybe wait till mid-Nov to see 3850, it is in your price range

You need a budget for Windows too if the Windows you have in your old machine is an OEM version...
It will have an OEM key and the activation hotline just won't help,
you just can't activate it on your new machine...

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Why cant I reactivate my OEM version?

 

[g-paw]

Why cant I reactivate my OEM version?

If it's an OEM version you bought, you should be able to activate it. I've never had a problem

 

[fatcat]

My suggestion for GPU, if you are buying right now is to either go with the 1950 Pro or the 8600 GTS. Both card are pretty much on par performance and price wise. The only real advantage here goes to the 8600 GTS since it's DX-10 which the 1950 Pro is not. Many people will argue that the 8600 is a bad performer in DX10 games. It's seems to me that many GPU are even top of the line. I think that DX10 games require a bit of refinement.