To upgrade or not to upgrade (PC)

BRow86 · 08-15-2007, 10:47 AM

Well, I'm headed back to school soon, and I have a problem: my PC is getting sloooowwwwwww....

So I want to upgrade but don't have too much money. I want to get on board with dual core (right now running single 3200+ 64 AMD @ 2.4ish). The only thing is this: Intel is good but MAD money. I only want to do a mobo + processor + ram upgrade for now. Should I, for the short term, get an AMD 6000 X2 and mobo for like 200$ and ram for another 100$ or should I get the Intel E6600 and get a P35 mobo that can support DDR3 (this option is closer to $500)? I plan to do a major upgrade later this coming year (around X-mas). I am just really torn about the whole oncoming DDR3. Do you think I'll save more money if I drop the cash on a DDR3 mobo? Also, if I wanted to drop in a quad core into a P35 later I could... ARGG I am so torn. What do you guys think?<br /><br />

paragraph · 08-15-2007, 11:27 AM

/me thinks this;

drop some more ram in there (unless you're maxed)

defrag, defrag, defrag

get rid of programs you don't need/want

full virus scan
full ad/malware scan

if NONE of that helps

backup files and programs
reformat hard drive (NTFS)
re-install windows

try all of that before you dump money into a new computer (because basicly thats all you're doing when you upgrade the mobo/ram/cpu)

MatrixPC · 08-15-2007, 11:48 AM

$hit, my home PC is still an Athlon 2500 with a cheap a$$ ECS mobo, and it still darn fast for my purpose. I only have programs that I need (and most of them are yesteryear version) and no other junk. I do system restore from a ghost image twice or 3 times a year. That is the key to keep the system run fast and clean.

BRow86 · 08-15-2007, 12:43 PM

@ Paragraph
Will work in the short run, but for some oncoming games like Bioshock (which supposedly owns) I feel like my hardware will get owned. BTW I just reinstalled XP 64 and it still is kinda meh... I think I'm going to buy Bioshock and see how it runs. Also my friend's dad works with M$ and is going to get me Vista Ultimate for $50 (first...legit...windows...copy...EVER!) and I want to get that going ASAP. I pira...err...borrowed a Vista copy and tried it out and it was quite funny-> CPU at constant 50% which jumped to 100% when I had anything open.

@ Martix
I don't know how you do it, but then again, it all depends on whatcha do! I mean, if your just checkin' the internet/playing music/photos/etc you don't need lightning. I do need to have some power for graphics editing that I do and for the games that I try and find the time to play.

Overall, I think I am just going to go for the Intel because I can eventually upgrade to quad core. Now that methinks about it, I'll get the cheapest dual core, and wait till winter and throw in a quad. How does that sound?

BRow86 · 08-15-2007, 12:59 PM

Ok, I priced it out, and for a good mobo w/DDR3 support and a cheapo dual core (which supposedly you can overclock a s**t load) it's about $360. Another thing, and I have to preface this:

************************************************** **************
WARNING: IF YOU ARE A COMPUTER GEEK, THIS DEAL WILL MAKE YOUR FACE EXPLODE
************************************************** **************
Two gigs of GOOD DDR2 for $66 shipped after rebate

I almost fainted when I saw that price. And apparently people get the rebate (although it takes a few months). So that's not too bad. I will get everything in about 4 weeks and let you ppl know what's up. Let me know if you have any more recommendations.

paragraph · 08-15-2007, 01:07 PM

Meh, i never liked patriot :\

well, if you want to do that, then go ahead, vista ultimate sucks if your specs suck, and yours are pretty ok, but not good enough for ultimate as your os.

what processor?

BRow86 · 08-15-2007, 02:19 PM

Well, f**k, seems Intel has new stuff coming in a few months. That's it, I'm just going for cheap ol' AMD for now for like $300ish and will go nuts around X-mas (plus I might be able to squeeze enough gift certificates to buy some things on Newegg). Sometimes, I hate how fast technology improves...

Quote: Originally Posted by paragraph

Vista ultimate sucks if your specs suck, and yours are pretty ok, but not good enough for ultimate as your os.
what processor?

I am going to either get 5200 X2 or 6000 X2. BTW I'm 99% sure the requirements for each Vista release are the same... Ultimate just has a few extra software things like Bitlocker, remote desktop, the media center stuff, etc. With the new proc and 2gb of ram I should be set till X-mas

davidp · 08-15-2007, 03:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BRow86

I am going to either get 5200 X2 or 6000 X2. BTW I'm 99% sure the requirements for each Vista release are the same... Ultimate just has a few extra software things like Bitlocker, remote desktop, the media center stuff, etc. With the new proc and 2gb of ram I should be set till X-mas

i had a athlon 64x2 4400+ with 2gb ram and it ran ultimate perfectly, with a 5200 you'd be fine. the athlon x2 impressed me enough that i just bought a 3800+ x2 and mobo and a gig of ram for my carpc

, i know its overkill, but my opus 250 should handle it, so why not. if you look on newegg, you could get a windsor core x2 (65w) and mobo combo cheap, mine was only about $100

david

BRow86 · 08-15-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by davidp

i had a athlon 64x2 4400+ with 2gb ram and it ran ultimate perfectly

Well, it's official, you're CarPC kicks the s**t out of my home PC. I hate blowing all my money on my car and not having enough for the PC upgrades.... Doesn't help I just threw down $465 on a new high-output alternator today... My life is in shambles

davidp · 08-15-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BRow86

Well, it's official, you're CarPC kicks the s**t out of my home PC. I hate blowing all my money on my car and not having enough for the PC upgrades.... Doesn't help I just threw down $465 on a new high-output alternator today... My life is in shambles

sorry, i should have been more clear, the athlon x2 4400+ was my home pc (although my power supply committed suicide taking my mobo with it) my new car pc (being shipped now) is a athlon x2 3800+, the nice thing is, it takes only 65 watts vs. 89w for the non windsor core x2's. when i was building the carpc for the first time (the athlon will be rev. 4) i got the opus 250 because i figured i would eventually need the power, im glad i did

like i said, newegg has some great combo deals for amd stuff, if you look around for the right deal, you won't need to upgrade the carpc for a long time.

david

Rafster · 08-15-2007, 07:13 PM

If you want your computer to be fast....

STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM VISTA!!!!!

Just my .02...

Rafster

davidp · 08-15-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rafster

If you want your computer to be fast....

STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM VISTA!!!!!

Just my .02...

Rafster

while i do agree with this, i had to get it, just for the hell of it, my primary os is xp pro sp2 on the desktop. and in the car i only have an nlited xp pro. but even with vista, i had trouble bogging down the 4400+ x2, i suspect i wont have any problems with the 3800+ x2 with xp in the car no matter what skin/software i run

david

BRow86 · 08-16-2007, 08:34 AM

Rafster, I thank you for your concern, but I don't think Vista will be my primary OS. I will probably dual-boot with Ubuntu and use Ubuntu for... well... everything besides gaming. I appreciate your concern, but there is no way to avoid Vista in reality. David, that's REALLY good to hear

. Thanks guys.

Rafster · 08-16-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BRow86

Rafster, I thank you for your concern, but I don't think Vista will be my primary OS. I will probably dual-boot with Ubuntu and use Ubuntu for... well... everything besides gaming. I appreciate your concern, but there is no way to avoid Vista in reality. David, that's REALLY good to hear

. Thanks guys.

I'm avoiding it.

I'm triple booting.

OS x, Ubuntu, and XP SP2.... on my PC

Rafster

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