Advice needed! PC upgrade

[pixel]

Hi all!!

Had a bit of a mare logging on, looked like the server was down - but its back up now

As some of you may know I currently have a pc as follows:

Athlon t-bird 1.33
256 ddr 2100 ram
20gb h/d
generic soundcard (which cost 10 quid and is v good!! )
nvidia geforce 2 mx 400 (or 440 i forget)

now this system cost me about 700 squid bout a year ago (built meself, but yes it works ok... )

Now i want to upgrade- X2, Freelancer, others and existing games I want FASTER!!!!!

So, what I want to replace is:

Athlon xp 2100
512 ddr fast ram
geforce 4200 ti
rest as before, but maybe bigger h/d

so...my question is should I upgrade (cost about £230) or should I build a new pc (which would be fun - yes I am that sad11 ) which I reckon would cost me 'bout 650-700 squid and sell my old pc for 200-300 squid????

big question really is how much could I get for my present pc (not incl monitor and speakers, keyboard, mouse)??????

Thanks for any advice

Pixel

[The_Abyss]

Would get a new one (build a new one) to replace the motherboard, and would go for at least AMD 2200+ XP. Definitely the way to go, especially if you can sell your PC for that price. I've got the Ti 4200 and have nothing but priase for it - I'm sure (and know) there are better cards, but I haven't found a game to really test it yet

[Sir Alen]

Hi pix...

Well I don't know how you feel about this but... I get soooo much enjoyment building machines, that somehow, I always think that whatever you manage to get offered when you sell, isn't enough... dunno really... so when I want to upgrade, I get what I can afford, and keep hold of my old stuff, if I can...

Now have 3 PCs in a home network... and I know them inside out!

So unless you have to sell your old one - and recycle the cash, as it were, I would tend to keep hold of it... It seems you're happy with your labours..


Cheers...

[pixel]

Cheers The_Abyss!!

Problem is I'm just not sure how much I'd get for my present pc...

but I sure am tempted to build a new 'un....just cant justify it unless I get good dosh for my current pc.

was wrong about the cost of upgrading - should be bout 40 squid more.

so what i'm saying is about 300 quid a year to replace a still good pc - too expensive ?? I dunno....

[The_Abyss]

To upgrade your PC you need a new motherboard, DDR RAM and processor. Not to mention the gfx card. If you need cash, sell the old one and start again - the motherboard capability for DDR is key - DDR rocks - I have DDR 3100 and it's quick

[Sir Alen]

Think the 10 mb/s is the slower conn speed... 100 mb/s is the faster.... I have Netgear cards in the 'puters and linked through a Netgear DS104 - 4 port hub... which allows both speeds.. 10/100 mb/s.. think that you'll find better sync on LAN games at 100 mb/s.. if you go that way..

Hope you get the raise mate you would certainly enjoy setting up your own Home LAN..

Cheers...

[pixel]

hehe!!

[pjknibbs]

so...my question is should I upgrade (cost about £230) or should I build a new pc (which would be fun - yes I am that sad11 ) which I reckon would cost me 'bout 650-700 squid and sell my old pc for 200-300 squid????

big question really is how much could I get for my present pc (not incl monitor and speakers, keyboard, mouse)??????

Thanks for any advice

Pixel

I almost always upgrade, but I generally keep the discarded bits--it doesn't take long (when you have a yearly upgrade cycle, like I do ) to gather enough bits to build a second PC.

One thing I would be cautious of, however: is your current board Athlon XP compatible? When I say this, I don't mean "Does the MANUFACTURER say it is", but "do people who actually own those boards say it is"? (A Google search should turn up this information). If it isn't you have to add a motherboard upgrade to your costs, which would then make the economics of the "build new" approach more viable.

One other thing: have you included the cost of an OS in the "build new" cost, or are you using (ahem) "borrowed" software?