APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Whenever I get information
BUDGET RANGE: $300 Before Rebates
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (Source Engine, Golden Source, Doom 3) Video editing, web surfing
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS Generic power supply, case, hard drive, fans (except cpu fan, need one of those).
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: whoever has the best price/service
PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type AMD, ATI, Intel, Asus (Or any others that are known for compatibility or reliability, or both)
OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Price and performance are my main goals, noise, light don't matter to me as long as it works flawlessly.
I've currently got a really low end PC by today's standards, and I'm looking to upgrade to something decent within my budget.
Currently I have an ECS PT880PRO-A motherboard with a Pentium 4 2.66 ghz processor, and 512 mb of ram. I'm also running an Nvidia Geforce FX 5500 which has 256 mbs of ram.
Upgrading to something better is absolutely required since this motherboard (I don't know if it's just mine or all these models) Cannot deal with 1 GB of ram using two 512 mb sticks, it crashes every 2 or so hours if you try it with two sticks.
I've got a 300 dollar budget and need to stay within that range, hopefully it can be done.
I was told by a friend who upgraded last summer, that ATI and AMD would be the cheapest options to go with. I don't know if this is still the case, and I by no means have this even 1% figured out, so please don't hesitate to update me with the latest developments.
This will be a gaming PC so I'm not looking for the cheapest, I'm looking for the most cost effective high performance parts I can get within my budget.
I'm planning on running XP Pro, and I'm looking for something along the lines of an AMD multi-core processor, ATI graphics card, at least 2 gigs of ram. Also a motherboard that is of course compatible with all the components and is from a trusted manufacturer like Asus or Intel, or others.
I'm going to use my existing case, power supply, hard drive and everything else so those are a few less things I'll have to pay for.
Just a little extra information, my hard drive is a SATA Maxtor 300 gb drive, I have 2 generic dvd combo drives, one generic floppy drive, Antec Lanboy case.
I also do not need any fancy onboard audio, if it comes with it without adding to the cost then it doesn't matter but I do not prefer or even want anything but stereo.
-Thanks
BUDGET RANGE: $300 Before Rebates
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (Source Engine, Golden Source, Doom 3) Video editing, web surfing
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS Generic power supply, case, hard drive, fans (except cpu fan, need one of those).
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: whoever has the best price/service
PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type AMD, ATI, Intel, Asus (Or any others that are known for compatibility or reliability, or both)
OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Price and performance are my main goals, noise, light don't matter to me as long as it works flawlessly.
I've currently got a really low end PC by today's standards, and I'm looking to upgrade to something decent within my budget.
Currently I have an ECS PT880PRO-A motherboard with a Pentium 4 2.66 ghz processor, and 512 mb of ram. I'm also running an Nvidia Geforce FX 5500 which has 256 mbs of ram.
Upgrading to something better is absolutely required since this motherboard (I don't know if it's just mine or all these models) Cannot deal with 1 GB of ram using two 512 mb sticks, it crashes every 2 or so hours if you try it with two sticks.
I've got a 300 dollar budget and need to stay within that range, hopefully it can be done.
I was told by a friend who upgraded last summer, that ATI and AMD would be the cheapest options to go with. I don't know if this is still the case, and I by no means have this even 1% figured out, so please don't hesitate to update me with the latest developments.
This will be a gaming PC so I'm not looking for the cheapest, I'm looking for the most cost effective high performance parts I can get within my budget.
I'm planning on running XP Pro, and I'm looking for something along the lines of an AMD multi-core processor, ATI graphics card, at least 2 gigs of ram. Also a motherboard that is of course compatible with all the components and is from a trusted manufacturer like Asus or Intel, or others.
I'm going to use my existing case, power supply, hard drive and everything else so those are a few less things I'll have to pay for.
Just a little extra information, my hard drive is a SATA Maxtor 300 gb drive, I have 2 generic dvd combo drives, one generic floppy drive, Antec Lanboy case.
I also do not need any fancy onboard audio, if it comes with it without adding to the cost then it doesn't matter but I do not prefer or even want anything but stereo.
-Thanks