Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / Hardware upgrade advice

Author
Message
Killswitch
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Oct 2002
Location: School damnit!! Let me go!! PLEASE!!!
Posted: 29th Oct 2005 14:53
Link
This is my system as it stands:

AMD Athlon XP 2.1 Ghz (ish)
512 MB RAM
GeForce FX 5200

For christmas I'm thinking of getting some new hardware, as I'd really like to play the games I have at a higher quality setting. I'm thinking of getting a GeForce 6800 256MB (AGP) card as well as another 512MB of RAM.

My question is will it be worth it? Of course it'd really boost my system, but will my CPU become a bottleneck and mean that I won't actually get much of a performance upgrade (in the graphics area)?

Also, how does one actually install a new gaphics card? I've never done that before (installing RAM is a piece of cake).

~It's a common mistake to make, the rules of the English langauge do not apply to insanity~
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Data
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Nov 2004
Location: Winnipeg,Canada
Posted: 29th Oct 2005 17:05
Link
Well first of I should say that you might as well wait till after Christmas(when computers are cheaper) and just buy a whole new computer. Because upgrading a computer can end up screwing it up and besides it won't run much better especially if you are not changing your cpu. If you don't change the cpu the computer may just run a lot slower. If you do change it it will cost you so much that you culd just buy a new one.

If you insist on upgrading it than installing a new video card isn't that hard but I can't explain it that well so just google it.

To summarize, upgrading your PC especially considering what you have is not worth it at all.

Data

Money isn't everything.... You need something to spend it on.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
David R
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Sep 2003
Location: 3.14
Posted: 29th Oct 2005 17:20 Edited at: 29th Oct 2005 17:22
Link
I don't entirely agree with data on this isssue;

I reckon the main thing that'll slow down your PC is your RAM (as you have noted) , as opposed to your CPU. Your CPU is a fair piece of kit, that should be able to chomp down on any software. I mean, The latest titles (like Black & White 2) need 1.2ghz. So your CPU still has life.

An upgrade to 768 or even 1gb should speed your PC up considerably. And of course the new GPU will give graphics a much needed boost With more memory and a better GPU, your CPU shouldn't be a problem but make sure you've got a decent AGP speed on your motherboard

The 6800 is an 8x card (I think) so ensure you've got an 8x agp slot, otherwise it could severely topple its performance.

But; When Windows Vista comes out (summer 06), hardware prices are going to increase dramatically, so take advantage of their low cost at the moment.

Good luck with the new GPU

[edit] Also, an article on installing AGP GPU's http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/install-video-card-agp.htm


Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
MiR
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 13th Jul 2003
Location: Spain
Posted: 29th Oct 2005 17:46
Link
Quote: "When Windows Vista comes out (summer 06), hardware prices are going to increase dramatically, so take advantage of their low cost at the moment.
"

Wouldn´t the prices go down with all those people buying upgrades to run it?

My signature has been erased by me because it's LARGE.
Thank you for the votez!1!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
David R
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Sep 2003
Location: 3.14
Posted: 29th Oct 2005 17:49
Link
No, because the manafacturers put their prcies up to make huge profits off of those going to upgrade their PC's


Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Data
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Nov 2004
Location: Winnipeg,Canada
Posted: 29th Oct 2005 18:10 Edited at: 29th Oct 2005 18:10
Link
Really, Windows Vista is coming out that soon?! What is the world coming to?!! LOL Anyway, David R, I agree that Ram is important because it is your memory but the cpu is what accesses the ram so if you just have a lot of ram your computer then you can just have a lot of programs. A new cpu will increase the speed of the programs which is what you want right? Anyway I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure I'm right.

Data

Money isn't everything.... You need something to spend it on.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Killswitch
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Oct 2002
Location: School damnit!! Let me go!! PLEASE!!!
Posted: 29th Oct 2005 18:39
Link
My Rig isn't that bad at the moment, I play Doom 3, Half-Life 2 and Battlefield 2 without any problems - they just don't look purty. I might just save the cash and get a whole new computer as, while your right (David R) in saying my CPU still has a life it's not going to be much of a life.

~It's a common mistake to make, the rules of the English langauge do not apply to insanity~
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Jeku
Moderator
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jul 2003
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 29th Oct 2005 21:58
Link
Quote: "When Windows Vista comes out (summer 06), hardware prices are going to increase dramatically, so take advantage of their low cost at the moment."


The prices will come down, not go up. First they will stay the same, and the majority of people won't spend the money to upgrade the video cards and other hardware. The prices will have to come down.

Back to top
Profile PM Website
indi
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Earth, Brisbane, Australia
Posted: 3rd Nov 2005 13:43
Link
wait for jan 2006 prices will drop fter xmas. your a fool to spend in nov/dec, its all inflated for santas fat tummy. shops hurt in jan and will lick your butt and give you a good price.

If no-one gives your an answer to a question you have asked, consider:- Is your question clear.- Did you ask nicely.- Are you showing any effort to solve the problem yourself 
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Nicholas Thompson
20
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Sep 2004
Location: Bognor Regis, UK
Posted: 3rd Nov 2005 13:55
Link
@Data:
Quote: "I agree that Ram is important because it is your memory"


That is priceless!!

I'd get the 6800GT 256Mb AGP. Its a REALLY nice card. I recommend the Gigabyte one with the heatpipes. I had that, DAMN good card. The only reason I got rid of it was because I just upgraded to a PCIe board.

Bear this in mind. Could you not save up for a little longer and get a PCIe board too? AGP is being written out quickly and you might spend £200 on a nice GFX card only to find out in 6 months that you have to spend £1000 to redo the entire machine.

Windows Vista is going to make zero difference to hardware prices. If ANYTHING they might go down due to everyone upgrading their PC to a spec that can handle it. Companies are going to want people to shop with them. They're rather get 2 people to buy something for £75 than 1 person to buy something for £100 or nobody to buy it for £125!!!

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Undercover Steve
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, Little Canada(Washington)
Posted: 3rd Nov 2005 17:02
Link
Nicholas! your sig is saying bad and in-appropriate things! It is talking about java...I hope you get rid of that

free hosting is never free.
http://projectlance.net/beta/
hosting. Cheap. Your never to young (unless under 16 in the US) to get Hosting!
Back to top
Profile PM
Van B
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 3rd Nov 2005 17:10
Link
The FX5200 is quite a popular card, but it's real slow compared to pretty much anything - so I'd swap that first, that's where you'll notice a speed boost.

A nice hard drive is also an option, my brother spent the extra to get a nice fast HD and games just load much quicker, and they start neater as well, no jerky starts on his PC.

I think that upgrading is a risky business right now, I'd make do as much as you can, drag your heels because the next stage is 64-bit, and that's far from supported yet, I'd be tempted to wait till Vista has been out for a few months, let them iron out the bugs before you get on the bandwagon.


Van-B

Put those fiery biscuits away!
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Killswitch
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 2nd Oct 2002
Location: School damnit!! Let me go!! PLEASE!!!
Posted: 3rd Nov 2005 17:59
Link
All very good advice

~It's a common mistake to make, the rules of the English langauge do not apply to insanity~
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-16 00:58:16
Your offset time is: 2024-11-16 00:58:16