Newbie with a newbie question (What setup to buy?)

Hello all,

Just signed up today, and it seems as though there is a wealth of information here. Thank god, because I have a lot of questions.

I have a decent amount of PC experience as I've had a Desktop Support position for 3 years. I can fix anything you need that is software related, and everyday issues that are hardware related. My knowledge lacks when it comes to picking out chipsets, configuring a motherboard, and overclocking. Anyway...here's my question...

At my last job I acquired a business workstation, as the company was going under and selling off equipment. It is one of the Compaq Small Form Factor PCs. Here are the specs:

P3 733
512MB ram
Cheap intel onboard video
Cheap intel onboard sound
No room for expansion (case is very compact and only supports 1 HDD and 1 CDrom, 3 PCI cards and absolutely no AGP)

I can currently play HalfLife very well, and that is the primary use of this box, but I'd like to be able to handle the latest and greatest games. Unreal 2003 and BF1942 both have minimum requirements that my pc barely meets. My friend is hosting a LAN party the weekend after next, and I'd like to be able to join in on the newer games. I'm not sure if I'll have the money by then, but if not, I will have it in a couple of months, just in time for his Spring 2003 LAN party.

Anyway, I'm looking to spend $1000-$1500 dollars and want to know what the best bang for my buck is. I want a system that will be able to last a few years, since my wife won't let me spring for anything after this for a long while.

Is there something out there now, or should I wait for another generation of chipset and/or cpu? Even if a new generation of stuff is released, I'll have to wait for awhile after it's hit shelves, since I think it's ridiculous to pay 1.5x or 2x as much for a few hundred MHz just because it's the best. (i.e., P4 2.8=$390 - P4 3.06=$675)

Any help you guys could provide would be great! Thanks!

You can find a lot of AMD/Intel systems for the $1000 range, just use the fourm search somthing like "what system" and you will get more than you know what to do with. Good Luck!

YAhhhhhhh!!! Jan 27! Advance geforce fx seeing with Steve Molnar!!!!!!!! -you see, sticking with boy scouts finely paid off -mom

A couple more questions.

Civilized: Are these systems going to be upgradealbe to endure for the next 3/4 years? Or should I wait for new chipsets/cpus?

Also, where is the best resource on the web for cheap products? PriceWatch is handy, but I don't really want to order from 10 different companies, as the money saved would just go to multiple S&H charges. Is there a good site, with a large selection, with good prices?

Thanks!

I thought that you said that you wouldn't be able to upgrade for the next few years. Anyway, the Athlon XP system will be upgradeable to around a 3200+ - 3400+ if the motherboard supports a 400MHz FSB. I know you need a new motherboard for Athlon64, but current motherboards will support Barton. I don't know how far you would be able to upgrade the P4, but with either system you would probably get to upgrade the CPU once. That is about as much as you can ask for with any system. You can always upgrade the video card, HD, and other components.

If you want to wait for a chipset that will support the newest CPU's 4 years into the future, you might just be waiting the rest of your life.

Actually, Pricewatch includes shipping charges so it is much easier to calculate. You can often get free shipping also. I would still recommend Newegg and Googlegear, but go with what is cheaper. Just look at <A HREF="http://www.resellerratings.com" target="_new">http://www.resellerratings.com</A> before you buy from any online shop. The main advantage of buying all your hardware from one or two places is that it all comes in one or two packages instead of 5 or 6. Then you don't have the situation I was in last week. I had everything except for the RAM. I had to wait another week and a half for that to arrive.

Newegg is a great place to order from....their customer service and rma procedure is top notch...as far as your other question about these systems being upgradable in the next 3/4 yearss....im sure they will be upgradable in the video, sound, but technology only goes so far...think where we were 3 to 4 years ago!...we really have came a long ways...im sure everyone will think the same about a 2.4 ghz processor as we did a good ol amd 462 .....but I am pretty confident that these systems will endure the toughest of games, applications to come for the next while..to answer your question......no matter how long you wait components will get better and you will see yourself upgrading in the future no matter what but if you want to wait for say a month or so check out the sis655 motherboards that intel is releasing and also the intel chips (springdale, canterwood etc that support 800 mhz qdr)