In case anyone is interested...this is what I ended up with.
INTEL QUAD CORE Q9400 8GB DDR-2 GAMING COMPUTER SYSTEM - eBay (item 270319362482 end time Dec-22-08 19:46:58 PST)
OK, I have not been on this forum or checked PC hardware prices in YEARS! Because I basiclly am happy with what I have.
But when I wanted to get GTA IV for PC, the box said that the MINIMUM requirement was for a dual core chip and motherboard.
To tell you the truth, I am so far behind in my computer I may need a complete overhaul!
Here are my specs (Sad to say they are WAY, WAY out of date as far as keeping up with hardware...even minimum hardware as it goes)
WIN XP PRO SP3
1-CRT Xflat 19 inch monitor
1- Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe Motherboard
1- AMD Athlon single core chip XP 3200
2-gigs of PC 2700 RAM (Samsung I think)
1-LG DVD 20x Burner
1-Lite on 20x DVD Burner
1-zip100 drive (NOW you know how OLD my computer is)
1-3.5 floopy drive (NOW you REALLY know how old we are talking)
1-Soundblaster Audigy 2 soundcard
1-Radeon X1300 series Video card
1-5 hub PCI 2.0 card
1-80 gig Western Digital Hard drive WD800JB
1-PCI TV card with tuner 7130
1-ATX case with 4 bins for DVD drives and two bins for 3.5 and 4 bins for hard drives
Again....I know all of this is out of date BADLY! But what would you suggest?
I DO NOT WANT a PRE BUILT SYSTEM! Because a lot of companies like dell and others cripple their BIOS and other things you may need to get into on a regular system you built yourself and you just can't on those,so I would rather NOT go down the "pre-built" road.
I would rather have my own built by someone. Can you suggest a decent system withouyt breaking the bank?
If I just need a motherboard, chip and RAM, I have a friend that could put those in...IF theytwould work with all my older hardware. But that is another problem....the video and sound cards are WAY out of date and probably would need to be updated as well.
I absolutely hate upgrading my computer, but I am so far behind that I guess it is time.
So what could I build at a reasonably low cost to replace my aging computer. I love AMD processors because they are cheaper, but could go with intel if they are cheap enough. I am looking for some way I can future proof my computer...if only for a short while. While staying on a budget.
I don't know WHAT to say my budget will be, but I was hoping to be able to use some of my old stuff if I can, if not,I will just get a new case, motherboard chip and ram and go from there.
So what would some of you more experienced users that have been building for awhile suggest? Completyely start from scratch, or try to save what I can? Again, I KNOW my computer is old and out of date, but I just put off upgrading for as long as I could. Now it has caught up with me.
Last edited by webe3; 12-21-2008 at 08:44 PM.
System Specs: ATX generic case with Antec 550 watt power supply. ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard. Western Digital 7,200 RPM 40 gig IDE Hard Drive.(FAT 32- file system) AMD Athlon XP 2600 processor.(standard fan and heatsink-Thoroughbred Core-standard speed-NO OVERCLOCK) 1 gig of Samsung DDRAM(PC 2700- 333 mhz....2-512mb sticks running in dual channel mode).Ati Radeon 8x 9600 XT (8x is enabled on motherboard). Soundblaster Audigy 2 sound card. Motorola sb 5100 cable modem (Insight Communications-Cable Connection) Sony DRU 500 AX DVD- RECORDER.(records -R/-RW or +R/+RW and CD-R formats-4x-24x-4x) LG 52x32x52 CD Burner. Zip 100 internal drive and a generic 3.5 floppy drive. Windows XP Professional Operating System. I also have a bearpaw scanner, HP Deskjet 3520 inkjet printer and a KDS X Flat 17 inch CRT monitor.
In case anyone is interested...this is what I ended up with.
INTEL QUAD CORE Q9400 8GB DDR-2 GAMING COMPUTER SYSTEM - eBay (item 270319362482 end time Dec-22-08 19:46:58 PST)
System Specs: ATX generic case with Antec 550 watt power supply. ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard. Western Digital 7,200 RPM 40 gig IDE Hard Drive.(FAT 32- file system) AMD Athlon XP 2600 processor.(standard fan and heatsink-Thoroughbred Core-standard speed-NO OVERCLOCK) 1 gig of Samsung DDRAM(PC 2700- 333 mhz....2-512mb sticks running in dual channel mode).Ati Radeon 8x 9600 XT (8x is enabled on motherboard). Soundblaster Audigy 2 sound card. Motorola sb 5100 cable modem (Insight Communications-Cable Connection) Sony DRU 500 AX DVD- RECORDER.(records -R/-RW or +R/+RW and CD-R formats-4x-24x-4x) LG 52x32x52 CD Burner. Zip 100 internal drive and a generic 3.5 floppy drive. Windows XP Professional Operating System. I also have a bearpaw scanner, HP Deskjet 3520 inkjet printer and a KDS X Flat 17 inch CRT monitor.