This is my 2nd attempt upgrading, what I deem to be, a HIGHLY upgradeable system for use with modern games for a client on a budget. My first attempt http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/283580-28-upgrade-build panned out very nicely with a highly satisfied customer.
This is a bit different, as this is dealing with a slightly older and slightly less upgradeable system, but I have a slightly larger budget.
Here is the system:
Compaq Presario SR1710NX
Sempron 3400+ (@ 2Ghz) Socket 939 (Single Core)
256 MB DDR 400 (4 available slots)
1 x PCIe 16x slot (primed for a nice upgrade, assuming I can disable the integrated graphics)
250 GB HDD (Wish I could upgrade this too, but might be way over budget)
Windows XP SP3
An old CRT that doesn't to better than 1280x1040, that he is quite happy with.
My budget is approximately $400.
Here is the plan:
My client is a student at a major university. He wants to run some current MMORPGs, like WoW and I will have him download the Windows 7 Pro upgrade from Microsoft for $29.99.
I will pick up a dual core Athlon x2, at least 3800+ but preferably 4200+ (@ 2.2 Ghz) for between $30-$60.
I can get 2 GB DDR 400 for about 60 dollars (and I can probably just find some in my own inventory).
I'll pick up a nice beefy power supply (I like the Antec 620W Neo Eco's reviews). It sells for about $75.
Finally, I'll use what is left of the budget to install a nice beefy Radeon 5xxx or 6xxx series card, say a 6850 for $170.
Total: Approx $395
Here is where it gets a little sticky. Unlike the last build, this motherboard is using more expensive DDR 1. But he has to get more, as 256 mb of RAM should be illegal, even with XP SP3... The power supply might not physically fit... The Video Card might not fit. I don't really want to buy a case, because at that pont, I might just skimp on the video card and build a system entirely from scratch, including a different hard drive.
Where are my savings over building a new system: No new
Case (save $30)
HDD (Save $50)
Motherboard (Save $60)
CPU (Save up to $30)
And I will save the hassle of trying to use an upgrade version of Windows 7 on a clean hard drive by installing Windows XP first.
Even conservatively, that would put this system $110 over the old one, and as I observed with the other system I upgraded, just swapping the OS, adding the RAM and putting in a Radeon 4770 was quite enough to satisfy the client.
So, should I just get a new system, or should I go through the hassle of upgrading?
This is a bit different, as this is dealing with a slightly older and slightly less upgradeable system, but I have a slightly larger budget.
Here is the system:
Compaq Presario SR1710NX
Sempron 3400+ (@ 2Ghz) Socket 939 (Single Core)
256 MB DDR 400 (4 available slots)
1 x PCIe 16x slot (primed for a nice upgrade, assuming I can disable the integrated graphics)
250 GB HDD (Wish I could upgrade this too, but might be way over budget)
Windows XP SP3
An old CRT that doesn't to better than 1280x1040, that he is quite happy with.
My budget is approximately $400.
Here is the plan:
My client is a student at a major university. He wants to run some current MMORPGs, like WoW and I will have him download the Windows 7 Pro upgrade from Microsoft for $29.99.
I will pick up a dual core Athlon x2, at least 3800+ but preferably 4200+ (@ 2.2 Ghz) for between $30-$60.
I can get 2 GB DDR 400 for about 60 dollars (and I can probably just find some in my own inventory).
I'll pick up a nice beefy power supply (I like the Antec 620W Neo Eco's reviews). It sells for about $75.
Finally, I'll use what is left of the budget to install a nice beefy Radeon 5xxx or 6xxx series card, say a 6850 for $170.
Total: Approx $395
Here is where it gets a little sticky. Unlike the last build, this motherboard is using more expensive DDR 1. But he has to get more, as 256 mb of RAM should be illegal, even with XP SP3... The power supply might not physically fit... The Video Card might not fit. I don't really want to buy a case, because at that pont, I might just skimp on the video card and build a system entirely from scratch, including a different hard drive.
Where are my savings over building a new system: No new
Case (save $30)
HDD (Save $50)
Motherboard (Save $60)
CPU (Save up to $30)
And I will save the hassle of trying to use an upgrade version of Windows 7 on a clean hard drive by installing Windows XP first.
Even conservatively, that would put this system $110 over the old one, and as I observed with the other system I upgraded, just swapping the OS, adding the RAM and putting in a Radeon 4770 was quite enough to satisfy the client.
So, should I just get a new system, or should I go through the hassle of upgrading?
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