AMD Athlon Question

[Cody]

Hey SysOptians,

I was thinking about upgrading my current computer. I was wondering what you thought might be the best upgrade:

New Motherboard & Processor
New Case
New Video Card
Anything else

Here are my system specs:

PIII Coppermine 800EB
512MB PC133 RAM
Maxtor 5200RPM 30GB HD
nVIDIA GeForce 256 w/32MB
SoundBlaster Live! Value
PlexWriter 8/4/32
AOpen 16X DVD-ROM
Thermaltake Exhaust fan on front
Generic Intake fan on back

BTW: Don't ask me why, but no other combination of directions/locations of my fans produces as good of system cooling. I would have thought that maybe the cheap one in the front (INTAKE) and my Thermaltake in the back (EXHAUST) would be better, but it's not.

BTW2: I would also like some information about future AMD processors, when they are coming out, etc.

[bhess]

Now I'm confused. Are you buying or building now?

[Cody]

I don't know... that's the thing :-)

[bhess]

Do you need a second computer? If you buy a pre-build what will you do with your old one?

[Cody]

I don't know yet... I am kind of thinking ahead.

Are you interested in buying it?

BTW: it has a .23 DPI 17" monitor, Altec Lansin ACS33s (Beautiful Sound)...

I can pull out anywhere from 100-250FPS in T2 (but of course not across 56k like I have, only while in single player [and that was with 15 bots])

[jad1097]

I would keep as much as possible.

Instead of a new case just get a bigger PSU if you need one.


I would replace the hdd with a 7,200rpm one.

Maybe a faster burner, if you think that one is slow.

Get rid of the SB live card and go with a Turtle beach santa cruz.


I would also keep the montior unless you want a 19".

Keep the speakers too if they sound good.

What would I upgrade? CPU, Mobo, PSU, Sound card, video card, hard drive and burner. Maybe 2 92mm case fans and a good HS/fan.


AMD roadmap
<IMG SRC="http://personal.bna.bellsouth.net/bna/m/d/mdevan/IMAGES/roadmap.gif" border=0>

[Cody]

So basically, the AMD Athlon and it's architecture (I.E. Socket size, etc.) is here to stay for a while (so, unlike the P4's socket which changes every month) I will be able to upgrade without buying a new motherboard, in, say a year?

I think I have decided what I am going to upgrade, in this order. That's not saying I am going to start upgrading now... may be 3 months down the road.

1) New MOBO & CPU, which may require DDR RAM
2/3) New Vid Card
2/3) New Case
4) New Sound Card
5) New CD Burner (mine is plenty fast for now)
6) New Monitor

Somewhere in here (probably at the end, or maybe when I get a new system) I want to get some Klipsch speakers... They have those at MPC, and they sound better than most theater speakers (Literally, i'm not kidding. That, coupled with a 1.4GHz Athlon, a 16X DVD w/ Decoder card, and a 21" monitor... you got yourself a home-theater/Gaming PC.

[Thud]

Looks to me like you've got a fairly decent system. The only thing that jumps out at me is the HDD. As jad pointed out, I'd go for a 7200RPM unit. If it's not already ATA66 or 100, you could get a Promise contoller to take care of that. As for the rest of it, if it were my system, I'd let it ride for a while! Best of luck.

[Cody]

dyer_maker:

Heh... don't worry

I'm used to gettin' that from ya. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[jad1097]

Yes, AMD will still be using Socket A for at least the next year AFAIK. I don't think the clawhammer will be socket A.

[Cody]

Yes, AMD will still be using Socket A for at least the next year AFAIK. I don't think the clawhammer will be socket A.


I guess I will be waiting a year then :-)

That is why I am starting to look around now, so that when the time arises, I know what I want. I don't have the money to, in 1 year, buy another motherboard... in fact I don't have it now!

:-)

Any Links for more info about the future procs?

[dyer_maker]

Hey Cody...Where are you gonna come up with all of this money to upgrade (mom & dad's) current machine? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif Just seemed like a good question for ya bro!!

dyer_maker

[Cody]

dyer_maker: that's why I put I don't know when in there.

Probably just save up the money over time.

[dyer_maker]

Well it will take you a lot longer than 3 months to save up enough for that...and who knows what will be available then. No need to get upset Cody...I was just givin you a little s*#@!!! I will stop by after work today.

dyer_maker

[Cody]

^^bump^^
^_^

[bhess]

"I guess I will be waiting a year then :-)"

then I would just sit back and watch. Then start looking around 9-10 months because computers are ever changing. You can't hink that far ahead.