dillema! help me out!

[ZacT10]

im wondering if i should upgrade my comp for now and wait till 2004 for a new comp. because i currently do want to get a paintball gun instead of a cpu i was wondering if i should upgrade my...

Operating System: Windows XP Version: 5.1 Build: 2600
Internet Explorer: Version: 6.0 Build: 2800
Ram Info: Total Ram: 256Megs Ram Avail: 51Megs Ram Used: 20%
Cpu Info: Type: Pentium 4 "Willamette" Vendor: Intel Speed: 1286MHz Usage: 86%
Video Info: Monitor: Dell P780 Video Card NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS/GeForce2 Pro (Omega KX 1.4230a) Resolution: 1024 x 768 Bytes: 32 Hertz: 100
Bandwith Info: Bytes Recieved: 7,375,336 Bytes Sent 588,105
System Disk Info: Drive: C:\ Drive Type: Fixed Drive Size 37.26 Gigs Drive Free 2.53 Gigs Percent Free: 7%
Windows Uptime: 0 Days 0 Hours 47 Minutes 41 Seconds
Sound Details: Device: SB Live! Wave Device Version: 5.10 Output: Stereo



LEMME KNOW
thanks any thing i need to fix or upgrade for gaming
-zac
ill let u know more later

[masteraleph]

Alright...based on the fact that you seem to have that Dell video card, I'm assuming it's a dell, yes?

I'm afraid you're out of luck in just upgrading the CPU. Dells of that age all use proprietary power supplies/motherboards, meaning you need to purchase a new PSU when you purchase a new mobo. Your CPU is a "Willy", the worst of the P4s, and one which will not (IIRC) fit into today's boards, or vice versa. So in order to upgrade, you'd need to buy a new motherboard, power supply, cpu, and case (not case if you stick with dell though). Sorry man...

[ZacT10]

alright that does suck
well my dad gave me it since i had a 233 mhz and he bought himself a 2.6 ghz dell rofl.
i will build my own but i need to spec one out.
never did before might need some help.

btw so i cant just upgrade the video card or is it not worth it.
thanks for the help so far
-Zac

[XP1800]

Originally posted by ZacT10
alright that does suck
well my dad gave me it since i had a 233 mhz and he bought himself a 2.6 ghz dell rofl.
i will build my own but i need to spec one out.
never did before might need some help.

btw so i cant just upgrade the video card or is it not worth it.
thanks for the help so far
-Zac

IMO, I don't think it's worth it to just upgrade the video. You can build a pretty good system now for dirt cheap. Look around and see what you want, try to piece together a system and get back to us. Hell if your dad got a new system then so should you!

[ZacT10]

and my dad just uses excel word outlook express and ie.

well im not sure of everything i need.
can sum1 spec me up one with a decent monitor?


-Zac

[ZacT10]

bump

[Nightlord]

Well, what kind of budget are you working with? I would strongly suggest building a new system from scratch if at all possible. Stay away from proprietary systems as much as possible. You would need:
(1) Case
(2) Power Supply
(3) Motherboard
(4) CPU
(5) Memory
(6) Video Card
(7) Sound Card (Depending on MB)
(8) Hard Drive
(9) Floppy Drive
(10) CDROM / RW
(11) Keyboard
(12) Mouse

[ZacT10]

damn i built one w/o a sound card for around 1100
not exact specs
but
512 ddr
nice monitor (crt)
p4 2.6 ghz
128 radeon 9800 pro
good case
intel mobo
plextor burner
120gb hard drive

damn but how can i tell if the mobo does not need a sound card???

-Zac

[XP1800]

Originally posted by ZacT10
damn but how can i tell if the mobo does not need a sound card???

-Zac

If the mobo you want has onboard sound, then you don't need it. If it doesnt then obviously you do. It all depends on how much you game/watch DVD's/listen to MP3's...

What exactly do you plan on using this machine for? If you're tight on budget, get rid of that 9800Pro and put that money towards other gear

[ZacT10]

well
im 16 and i play a lot of diff games.
when doom 3 half 2 and cs 2 come out i want it to run AWSOME.
ive been playing cs for 3 yrs and its still fun but these future games that are coming out demand a lot to run good.

so gaming and music.
also internet but im set with my internet connection.

lemme know
also
amd or intel
nvidia or radeos?

[XP1800]

Well at the time, it seems like a toss up between AMD and Intel. But since you want to play those games AWESOME, I suggest you get the P4. Definately get a 5900, I've heard they are outperforming the 9800Pro's. For sound cards, I would just get an Audigy2 OEM, they are pretty cheap right now

[Milz]

You could upgrade things like hard drive, CDRW, monitor, and video card now, and do the case, mobo, CPU and memory later if you plan ahead (even though your system won't be able to fully take advantage of some components in the short term). Unless you have full surround sound and are very concerned with audio, the SB Live sound card you have now should do just fine in your new system, only upgrade it after you've replaced everything else and don't like the sound you're getting. Don't forget a LAN card too! Check whether yours is PCI or if it's on the motherboard, if it's PCI you can probably reuse it. Before spending money, spend a little time on research, learn what a chipset is, which ones are available, how certain things affect performance in different ways, like front side bus speed, memory speed, memory bandwidth, and hard drive interface. At the risk of sounding cheesy, I think it will make the experience of building your own computer much more rewarding (and likely more sucessful).

[PriMaTe]

There is one of these posts everyday it seems. People want to upgrade to be able to play the games when they come out. The games aren't even out yet, so just wait until they come out to build your comp, prices will be cheaper for comp parts.