Suggestions on possible upgrades... specific items

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10-01-2003, 03:05 PM
Mr Cherry

Suggestions on possible upgrades... specific items
This is what I believe I need for my rig (see sig), please make suggestions on items you think would best fit with my computer. Also, be sure to include name, brand, and current price with you suggestions.

Thanks.

Possible Upgrades:
- Hard Drive - 80, 160, 200? which brand? what's the best deal?
- Printer - need quality for photos, and cheap ink
- Sound - I'm a gamer and need a good (under $100) card
- Video - I need a new one for BF and HL2 (think I should get the 9600XT?)
- RAM - think I should upgrade at the expense of not upgrading something else?
10-01-2003, 03:38 PM
bromide

since you are a gamer, i would probably go with the video card, i think that newegg has the 9600 for about 170-175

edit for the ati made ones;)
10-01-2003, 03:55 PM
warbird281

200gig drives can be very expensive. Probably best to settle with a 160 or 120 (120s are around $100 in many places). Id get Seagate if possible.

If you want an inkjet (and not lazer) get a Canon. They are very ink conservative and have seperate ink takes. Each ink cart costs between $5-10 in most places and will last quite awhile. You can get a nice one for under $100. Ive got a Canon S630. Got it for $69 around 6 months ago.

Might wanna hold off on video until the new Radeons come out. The 9600xt sounds perfect!

I got 1gig ddr400 of some brand called Patriot (Elixir sticks) for $115 (2x512mb). Works wonderfully. Glad I didnt blow 175-250 on some other brand. I got them for a steal though, with a little luck you can probably find 2 of them for around the same price. Ive seen single 512mb sticks of them for around $70 on pricewatch.
10-01-2003, 05:39 PM
waffleman

The audigy gamer is a nice sound card if your interested. Heres a link, its $75. Not bad http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1

Also here is a link to a bunch of maxtor HD from 120gb to 200gb.
The 200gb is $175 and the 120gb is $105

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...tby=14&order=1
10-01-2003, 05:43 PM
warbird281

I thought the 200gig drives were around $300!
10-01-2003, 07:00 PM
Ara-Loki

As far as hard drives are concerned, look around for deals at the big chains. I picked up a 120GB Maxtor DM+9 a month ago at Staples for $80 and got another from Office Depot this past Monday for $60. After rebates, of course.
10-01-2003, 07:35 PM
speedyaxon

depending on the budget, 9600pros are nice. A Maxtor 120GB w/8MB can be had for cheap and an audigy 2 is a great sound card! Buffalo PC3200 and 3700 seems to be the budget-minded overclockers choice these days...:D
10-02-2003, 12:03 PM
PCJ

for hard drives, make sure you get sata.Yeah, wait for the 9600xt, for sound, I suggest a sb audigy 2 oem, and ram is really your thing, I'm happy with mine.
10-02-2003, 12:27 PM
Mr Cherry

Quote:

Originally posted by PCJ
for hard drives, make sure you get sata.Yeah, wait for the 9600xt, for sound, I suggest a sb audigy 2 oem, and ram is really your thing, I'm happy with mine.

I guess I'll have to get a SATA card to go with the drive too, huh? How much do those cost?
10-02-2003, 07:54 PM
Ara-Loki

There's absolutely no need to go SATA, unless your IDE channels are already fully populated. There is a performance gain, but IMO it's negligible. If you think you definitely need it and feel the increase in drive cost is justified, that's your business. To me it's not worth it.