Upgrading my Comp

[MkVenner]

ok i know just about jack all about the insides of a computer, as we found out when i tried to set up a network...but i been saving and i wanna upgrade my comp....atm im running

AMD Athlon XP 1700+
1.46 GHz
736MB RAM
and a GeForce 2 32 MB (I think)

and i got about 250-300 quid to spend....and im not bothered about brand names etc....i just want the best configuration for running NC...n e ideas?

cheers in advance

[Candaman]

get a new vid card and a new processor for that money u could prob go up to about a 2.6 processor and a 128 ti4600 geforce 4

[MkVenner]

cool, k cheers

[iainy13]

i hope you know that your moyherboard has to support the new proccesor you want to get becouse just any motherboard wont due.

[MkVenner]

k i do now :p

[MkVenner]

how about a: SPARKLE GEFORCE FX 5600 AGP


n e good?

[Epzilon]

considering you dont have very much to spend, I'd say blow it all on a new gfx card. Personally I like nVidia but you might wanna go for Radeon 9800 (pro).

If you can spend some more I'd recommend a new motherboard and processor. Abit has a few nice nForce2 boards, such as NF7 v2.0. Along with that, AMD XP2500+ Barton is a great and cheap choice. With that you can easily reach same speed as 3200+ (apart from the occasional bad apple :p) with standard cooling, such as Spire WhisperRock IV. Ain't so bad considering 3200+ cost more than 4x as much as 2500+.

on another note...
Have you tried overclocking your cpu? I know 1700+ with a good stepping can reach insane speeds, considering it's original bus speeds. I've seen 1700+ reach 2.5GHz (maybe even higher) with "only" a good heatsink and fan.

[NeoSpartan]

gameve.com

sapphire 9600xt 155$

compares real well to the 9800 and it's less than half the price.

look up benches & reviews..all great info.. should be great for hl2/doom3+

then get a new processor or mem... or save it and upgrade your whole mobo/mem/cpu combo when it's necessairy and the new chipsets drop in price.

kthx

[AfterDark]

For Neocron a 9800 is pointless extravagence.

If you only play Neocron spend most of the money on a processor. Neocron is a CPU-intensive game. With the same processor the FPS difference between someone with a 9800 and a TNT2 is not that dramatic.

After upgrading your processor, save the money you reserved for a video card and wait until the next generation of DX9 video cards come out. Then, get the 9800 Pro. Chances are, the improvements will be minor (Such as the difference between the 9700 pro and 9800 pro)

For the best deal on a motherboard that supports all the Athlon XP processors and all the different kinds of DDR, get the Shuttle AN35-L. It's only 60 bucks (American) and will perform just as well as any Asus/Abit/<insert "1337" overpriced brand here>).

And if you say "bloody yank doesn't know what he's talking about" at least listen to this one piece of advice: Buy ATI. After the HL2 fiasco I wouldn't trust nVidia to support the next generation of games.

EDIT: One more thing, don't get the stupid "XT" versions ATI video cards. If you must have the extra 2 FPS, get a non-XT and overclock it by a few mhz.

[NeoSpartan]

that 9600xt is cheaper than most 9600pros and performs better..

so dont listen to me or anything :/

and atm you dont need to speed any money on your cpu/mobo set up cause it'll last you for now. But if you must .. atleast wait until the 64bit mobos aren't for enthausists only..

if you got a raedon 9600xt or pro :rolleyes: you should be fine with the newer games and should last till the newer mobo/cpu/mem are cheaper.

[MkVenner]

ok thanks for all that and no i aint tried overclocking...mainky coz i aint got a scooby what that means :confused: