Hey guys, at the end of the year I should be getting my computer upgraded (well my dad's paying so technically he's getting it upgraded, but I digress) and I don't know what to get it upgraded to, I can't get anything too expensive though, in case you didn't know, I currently have (in no particular order):

Mobo: Intel 845DBA (something like that anyway)
CPU: P4 1.6 GHz
Video Card: 64 mb GeForce 4 MX440 8x AGP
RAM: 256 mb
OS: Windows XP Home edition
Sound: integrated sound
Hard Drive(s): Primary: 80 GB Secondary: 12 GB
Case: Some boring silver ATX case (well I assume it's ATX, I don't know much about cases though)
and I can't think of anything else

I should be getting at least a P4 2.8GHz hopefully 3.0 or 3.2 GHz but I'll see how much they are at the time and I should be getting a CPU with 800 MHz FSB so I'll have to get a new video card (it's a good excuse anyways) so I'll hopefully be able to get a Radeon 9600 XT, but I'm not sure and if I do get a 9600 XT I don't know whether to get a 128mb or 256mb, I'll probably get the 128mb because they're cheaper and I think I heard somewhere that the 256mb was lower quality or something like that, so any input would be greatly appreciated, also I'm hoping to be able to get another 256mb stick of RAM but I'm not sure if I'll be able to.

I'll definitely be getting a new CPU and motherboard and if I get an 800 MHz CPU I'll definitely be getting a new video card but my dad's not really willing to spend any more than about $200 on a new video card so I can't get a 9800 Pro or anything, unless they have a SEVERE price drop in the next few months, which would be really good. I mainly use it for playing games and web surfing and such, but I'd like it to be good for playing games or at least fairly good, rather than the pathetic box I have at the moment so any input would be GREATLY appreciated, the main games that I've been playing lately are ones like Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004, Simcity 4 Rush Hour (but it looks and runs shockingly atm), NFS: Underground, The Sims and well other games too but most new games don't run very well on my computer atm so I mainly play older-ish games, but I've got The Sims 2 on pre-order and I'd like that to run well-ish on my computer.

Anyways I'll stop rambling and say once again that any input would be GREATLY APPRECIATED thankyou.

Make sure you tell your dad to buy a keyboard with full stop & comma keys!! :nooo:

Good call TJ1. :thumbsup:

You should probably wait till the end of the year, because the tech will change quite a fair bit before then.

A 9600XT will be pretty cheap by that stage, as the new generation of vidcards aer already coming out. There isn't much difference in performance between the 128 and 256, and looking at the games you play, it should fit the requirements comfortably. Might be better to see how much the X600s are towards the end of the year, as that should keep you going until at least 2006.

If you get a new mobo, then getting more RAM won't be a problem. 512 is the min nowadays, but it nevers hurts to go higher if you have the dosh.

Yeh I hope to be able to get another stick o' RAM but I don't know if my dad has enough mulah... Maybe I'll ask mum about that one :P

Remember it's not me paying for the upgrade, when I'm old enough to get a job/do get a job I'll probably save up for an X800 XT Platinum (is it XT Platinum or just Platinum?) but for now, unless the X800's are $200 by the end of the year I won't be able to get one o' thems.

By the way sorry about the huge post, I tend to get a little carried away, and anything else anyone has to say would still be greatly appreciated

I tend to find you're better off getting quotes and such within a month of purchasing the hardware at most.

PC hardware changes so frequently, you don't know what you could get for your money. Just have a budget, and come time ot buy, then look at components.

really, if you only have a small budget, i'd forget the cpu upgrade and just get another 512mb stick of ram (screw dual channel, you'll get more of a performance gain from more ram) and a geforce fx 5900 which can be had for ~$290

My budgets not that low I'm definitely going to get a new CPU/mobo and I'm definitely getting another 256mb stick o' RAM now.

I'll see what video cards are around/what price they are at the time, I'm leaning towards an ATI card though just because I prefer them to nVidia but yeh I'll see what's around at the time as Manny M said, I'm just getting a bit excited though because I've been stuck with a sucky computer for quite a while now so it's going to be really, really good to get it upgraded.

I wonder how much the 9800 Pro'll be at the end of the year...

Get a Mac. Best choice you can possibly make. :thumbsup:

Wow, there was an unexpected opinion from me. :P

what'll your total budget be?
i reckon all current video cards, apart from the new release next gen ones, will only drop by ~$50 in price by the end of the year, and a more powerful graphics card is more important than the cpu for games :D

Just as a note, the 256mb 9600xt is slower than the 128mb version.

LOL :lol:

Ahhh, Film Guru our forum comedian, you crack me up every time!! :thumbsup:

But yeah, Dave, wait till the X800's and 6800's have been out for a little while, then read up on some card reviews to see which one is the better of the two. ;)

That's what I'm doing! :D

Do NOT listen to this man....Heathen!!

Estapol, I hardly think his budget is large enough to accomodate an X800 or 6800.

*goes all Gandalf on Manny M's ass* Keep your fork tongue behind your teeth. :P

In all seriousness, the only advantage the PC has over Mac is the number of awesome games. If you don't play games very often or don't program games, get a Mac. It's a no brainer. However, I won't be so foolish as to try and convert a PC gaming obssessed dude to the light side of the force. You hardcore PC gamers, feel free to stay in the dark side... :cheese:

I think KOTOR is proof that the dark side is much more enjoyable :cheese:

Why can't we live in a society where people have both, sure it may cost more, but I want my G5 and I want my Athlon FX / 64 computer as well :D

If only........ it would really sweet. But alas, not everyone (especially me) has the moolah to get them both.

Your right, you would have to have no brain to purchase a Mac. :cheese:

Seriously, from my experiences with Macs (of the i and e varitey) they aren't as good as everyone says.

My PC can Handle 3dsmax 6, Paintshop Pro 8, Photoshop CS and Adobe Premiere quite well thankyou very much. (and at half the price of a Mac ;) )


Anyways, what kind of computer mouse only has one button and no scroll wheel?!?!?! :nooo:

Damn hippies!!! >_<

They are better than everyone says, trust me. :P

And if you miss the two buttons and the scroller, just use your PC mouse on the Mac. It works perfectly with it anyway. :dance:

Problem is, you need to give a Mac a good try. The more you use it the more you realise how kick ass it is. But words just don't do it, go to an Apple store and give one a decent go (try and use a mate's one if you know someone who has one). :thumbsup:

I actually wanted to get a G5, but couldn't justify why I wanted one, as i'm an avid gamer and I don't do much graphical work.

The great thing about Mac's is that everything they have is proprietry, so little to no compatibility errors are what make them great. Plus everything is designed with the proprietry gear in mind, so it's easy to use.

In a perfect world, Macs would be the main gaming platform.

Lol oh and tHe LiNk thankyou very much for telling me that the 256mb is slower then the 128mb.

Oh yeah and BroEstapol I'd get the X800 XT (well, I'd prefer a Platinum actually) if I had the money (I wouldn't get the GeForce 6800 Ultra because a. The X800 XT's and Platinum's are better and b. I don't like nVidia).

and also I agree with Pãúlÿ's quote about KoToR being proof that the dark side is more fun.

That's just it, isn't it? If Macs had all the same games as the PC, Macs would rule the world easily. However, it doesn't, but thankfully Apple (or a close partner) are well on the way to creating software that perfectly ports PC games to Mac cheaply and efficiently. Once completed, hopefully gaming companys will embrace it and the Mac gaming scene will be a decent rival to the PC one. :)

I've seen 9600XT's advertised for $140... thats not a bad price at all.

But I'd definitely consider getting more RAM, and also a Sound Card.