Upgrade Advice

[bblqj78]

Guys

Looking for some advice….

I am just going to upgrade my current setup …Processor, Mobo & Memory. Currently have P4B 533 2.4Ghz, Asus P4B533-V, 1Gb DDR 2700 Memory (Nanya).
I have about £400 to spend and don’t really no what combination I can get with this cash which will give a good bit better performance from what I have. Currently have a 9700pro well OC’d…so no need to upgrade graphics card yet.
Would like very much to also get a good setup for oc’ing.

Any suggestions? Willing to go AMD or Intel….but really wanting best performance I can get for about that price.

Thanks
:t

[bassman]

I'm not quite into US/UK prices (nor UK currency), but in your case I'd go for a P4C (HT and FSB@800MHz) CPU...perhaps a 2.8 or 3.0GHz model, check the prices (http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/WCPG/article.php/10705_3105071__2). Additionally, you'll need DDR400 memory (2x512 in order to use the motherboards dual-channel capabilities), , about 65USD each, check the prices (http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/WMPG/article.php/10706_3099621__2). As to the motherboard, if I haven't blown your budget yet, either go for an Intel 875P equipped motherboard (so you can get PAT, among other benefits) like the
Abit IC7-MAX3 (http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=130); if you need a more affordable solution the i865PE is a good solution, with motherboards like the Asus P4P800 Deluxe (http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews/review.php?dXJsX3Jldmlld19JRD01NTY=)

[scottluebke2003]

Asus A7NV8X(something like that) & a barton core athlon. you would have a killer OC system, and it would rock your current system. snag an XP2500, OC it like crazy, and run it with some DDR400. half the people around here have that setup and it seems to work great. Intel's cpu's are really amazing, but man they are a little pricey. If I had extra dough to blow on a comp, I would get an intel machine, but when it comes down to $$$, AMD gets my money.

ASUS mobo=$120 or so
Barton 2500 cpu=$85
2x512 DDR400=$175 or so
Thats around $400 bones and you would have a nice system. but thats just my view, there are plenty of guys around here who are more knowledgable than I am.

[Magua]

I would go Asus A78N8X Deluxe, Athlon 2500+, 2x512mb PC3200. Around $400US.

[bassman]

If I didn't blow the budget, my config beats yours in OpenGL (http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/20030217/cpu_charts-22.html)
Direct3D (http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/20030217/cpu_charts-23.html), etc... (http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/20030217/cpu_charts-27.html) :p

Just kidding ;)

[bob05]

Originally posted by Magua
I would go Asus A78N8X Deluxe, Athlon 2500+, 2x512mb PC3200. Around $400US.

Originally posted by scottluebke2003
Asus A7NV8X(something like that) & a barton core athlon. you would have a killer OC system, and it would rock your current system. snag an XP2500, OC it like crazy, and run it with some DDR400. half the people around here have that setup and it seems to work great. Intel's cpu's are really amazing, but man they are a little pricey. If I had extra dough to blow on a comp, I would get an intel machine, but when it comes down to $$$, AMD gets my money.

ASUS mobo=$120 or so
Barton 2500 cpu=$85
2x512 DDR400=$175 or so
Thats around $400 bones and you would have a nice system. but thats just my view, there are plenty of guys around here who are more knowledgable than I am.

I think it would be a waste to just throw away his current P4 rig for an AMD one (because he said he currently has a P4 2.4). Upgrade that CPU or put some more memory in. Save the rest of the money for later. There won't be anything a 2.4 ghz can't handle. I would just wait for 64-bit to get cheaper. :t

[bblqj78]

thanks for the input....two things

Theres a couple of mentions about the Asus Mobo's... heard a lot about the EPOX boards arent they meant to be better?

Is it worth spending a couple more bucks and getting a barton 2800 or so....i would surely get a higher OC speed with that....over the 2500 I mean?

thanks

[bassman]

Originally posted by bblqj78
Theres a couple of mentions about the Asus Mobo's... heard a lot about the EPOX boards arent they meant to be better?
They offer good performance and OCing capabilities.
As to your CPU, like bob said, you'll be buying something that performs very similarly to your actual CPU...

[Magua]

I think it would be a waste to just throw away his current P4 rig for an AMD one (because he said he currently has a P4 2.4).

Since he is replacing both the processor and motherboard it dosen't really matter which company he goes with. Going with AMD would save some money to go towards his next upgrades.