i am planning on updating my computer in the near future and am looking for good parts at relatively decent prices.
looking for:
*sound card (big surround capability not necessary)
*graphics card
*processer (amd or intel)
also, i am an idiot for even asking but here goes... i was at sams club today and they have this on sale. while it certainly isn't ideal, for $100, how is it as a "transitional" part?
thanks everyone. as always, when i start something new, a certain amount of ignorance is considered standard.
-capt
Need some judgement on computer parts
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captain ahar
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Need some judgement on computer parts
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It says "session expired".
As a rule, if you want to get something new and good, but not the latest, buy the model that's one or two steps below or behind the most recent release, like video cards. For example, if you want a darn good card that's not going to cost more than the rest of the computer, a Geforce 6600 or a 6800 should do it. Just avoid the MX series (Nothing but Geforce 2's reconfigured to work with DirectX9 I hear) and anything below the 5500.
My BFG 5500 OC card costed me 129 last year, and runs PSO and Silent Hill 2 just fine. So if you're not going to be doing a lot of 3D gaming, something like that should work.
For audio, I have heard good things for the Chaintech AV-710. Optical out, surround, really good DACs, 7.1 capable... all for around 30 bucks.
As a rule, if you want to get something new and good, but not the latest, buy the model that's one or two steps below or behind the most recent release, like video cards. For example, if you want a darn good card that's not going to cost more than the rest of the computer, a Geforce 6600 or a 6800 should do it. Just avoid the MX series (Nothing but Geforce 2's reconfigured to work with DirectX9 I hear) and anything below the 5500.
My BFG 5500 OC card costed me 129 last year, and runs PSO and Silent Hill 2 just fine. So if you're not going to be doing a lot of 3D gaming, something like that should work.
For audio, I have heard good things for the Chaintech AV-710. Optical out, surround, really good DACs, 7.1 capable... all for around 30 bucks.
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marcus12024
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- Location: MB, Canada
Geforce 6800 GS is a wonderful card at a nice price (about $170 if you shop around a bit).
For processors it's AMD all the way right now, try and get a 3800+ if you can, should run you about $210. Should be a socket 939; you may need a new motherboard/RAM if you get a new processor.
Good luck with the upgrade!
For processors it's AMD all the way right now, try and get a 3800+ if you can, should run you about $210. Should be a socket 939; you may need a new motherboard/RAM if you get a new processor.
Good luck with the upgrade!
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captain ahar
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i bought a very basic soundcard, just for now, i want to play my arcade games with sound (and i want some of them to work period). also, i am getting lonely for thief, and i can't wait anymore.
graphics i am looking at getting one of the ati x800(pcie) or x700(agp) models. the only decision now is if i want to stick further with agp or upgrade to pciexpress.
if i stick with agp, i'll be keeping the processor i have now for a while. its a P4 1.8Ghz. so certainly, not ground breaking, but still acceptable.
also, in the near future will be a new HD. the one i have now is 20GB, and when a single game takes up almost a quarter of that... we have a problem.
graphics i am looking at getting one of the ati x800(pcie) or x700(agp) models. the only decision now is if i want to stick further with agp or upgrade to pciexpress.
if i stick with agp, i'll be keeping the processor i have now for a while. its a P4 1.8Ghz. so certainly, not ground breaking, but still acceptable.
also, in the near future will be a new HD. the one i have now is 20GB, and when a single game takes up almost a quarter of that... we have a problem.
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Unless you're getting a top-of-the-line card, you're not going to really see much of a benefit from PCI express, and then it's only because the highest end cards aren't available in AGP versions. PCI-e isn't really going to start to shine until cards start using onboard physics processors and such (meaning more bidirectional communication).
Also, note that the x800 is also available in an AGP version. I just installed an X800GTO a couple weeks ago in my AGP based machine.
A P4 1.8 should run Thief 3 okay, but it will struggle with any of the newer stuff. I would recommend building a completely new PC if you plan on running any of the latest games. Keep in mind that with that processor, either of the above video cards is going to be CPU bound on most stuff.
For sound, I'm running an Audigy 2 ZS right now, and although Creative's drivers aren't always that great, a Creative card is pretty much a must if you want to use EAX4 features and such. Otherwise (and I don't think EAX is that great overall), Nvidia nforce based-motherboards have excellent onboard sound, and usually optical out these days as well in case you want to hook it up to a real 5.1 system.
Also, note that the x800 is also available in an AGP version. I just installed an X800GTO a couple weeks ago in my AGP based machine.
A P4 1.8 should run Thief 3 okay, but it will struggle with any of the newer stuff. I would recommend building a completely new PC if you plan on running any of the latest games. Keep in mind that with that processor, either of the above video cards is going to be CPU bound on most stuff.
For sound, I'm running an Audigy 2 ZS right now, and although Creative's drivers aren't always that great, a Creative card is pretty much a must if you want to use EAX4 features and such. Otherwise (and I don't think EAX is that great overall), Nvidia nforce based-motherboards have excellent onboard sound, and usually optical out these days as well in case you want to hook it up to a real 5.1 system.
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captain ahar
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thanks it, but realy i'm not concerned much with thief 3, i'm talking more of the first two, so i KNOW i won't have any problems. 
as far as modern games go, i'm not expecting to be hitting many walls. the most resource demanding game i've played on the thing is far-cry and it ran almost acceptably with my geforce4MX, so i figure with a new HD and video card, i should be set for a bit before having to spring on a new processor.
i should also note, i am almost completely hardware illiterate, so this is a whole new ballgame for mine eyes.
thanks for the all the help everyone. if you have advice or whatever, feel free to share. ^_^
as far as modern games go, i'm not expecting to be hitting many walls. the most resource demanding game i've played on the thing is far-cry and it ran almost acceptably with my geforce4MX, so i figure with a new HD and video card, i should be set for a bit before having to spring on a new processor.
i should also note, i am almost completely hardware illiterate, so this is a whole new ballgame for mine eyes.
thanks for the all the help everyone. if you have advice or whatever, feel free to share. ^_^
I have no sig whatsoever.