Overhaul This POS

Cab00se · 03-21-2006, 09:11 PM

Hey everyone,

over the past couple of months I've been asking advice and giving a little myself. I always ask really specific stuff and limit what otherwise might be useful from you all. So this time I'm going to lay down a broad overview of what I want and you all can decide what is best. Thanks in advance.

Current PC:
P4 3.4 Intel
512 DDR2 PC3200
X300SE ATI
120GB Seagate BArracuda
PCI-E MOBO
350W PSU

Home PC (For leave from school)
AMD 2600+
1000mb DDR PC2700 (i'm thinkink it's DDR2 but I dunno)
AGP mobo
9600 ATI All in wonder
350W PSU
120 GB Seagate Barracuda (ironically the same but I like it)

Ok, here's the deal, the one from school is one the military issued us and it's a stock Dell Precision Workstation 370.

God, how I hate them. THe case just opens in halves and has the worst cooling imaginable. I miss my home PC's case mods and rounded cables...

Anyway, I need to upgrade this school PC to play games especially STEAM games like Counter-Strike Source and Red Orchestra (great new game). I want to play at at least 1280 x 1024 with FULL AA AND AF. PLus of course the maxed out settings. The issue is if I get too good of a video card I need a new PSU and the dell has a all metal backing with no openings for PSU except a small hole where it's own plug comes out. I could mod it myself I guess or could just buy a whole new case if necessary.

Basically I need to upgrade the RAM and GPU in my opinion because even though I'd much rather an AMD 64 processor, there's nothing I can do about that right now (not even sure if we are allowed to do that anyway).

Any suggestions on what to do would be appreciated. Oh and the reason I gave the home PC specs is because I was even thinking about combining them a bit and using the home PC case and mods and getting a new PSU that would fit in that and then getting all new RAM and GPU using the school's mobo and processor.

Sorry for the long windedness.

**tweaker** · 03-21-2006, 09:31 PM

Is the AMD box a socket 754 or 462?

Get a better videocard and memory for the Intel box and your good to go.

Cab00se · 03-21-2006, 09:37 PM

I believe its 754 but I pretty much am done upgrading that beyond doing a major overhaul on the home one.

I know that's what I need for my school one but I was asking for ideas and also if I get a new video card what to do with the whole PSU issue

myPCrocks · 03-21-2006, 09:52 PM

I would find out if you are allowed to do any mods from the Military before performing any.

I can't see that PS handling much more than whats in it now.

Cab00se · 03-21-2006, 09:57 PM

yea we are, the only thing we arent allowed to upgrade is the mobo and processor I think or just the mobo I forget, either way its irrelevant righ tnow

Cab00se · 04-04-2006, 11:34 PM

alright I finally got permission, we are allowed to do pretty much whatever or just build our own, so basically I'm thinking new AMD 64

I was thinking about building this summer
probably something like
AMD 64 4000+
2gb RAM
7900GT to start another for x-mas
some type of SLI mobo
and a good PSU maybe the Antec Trupower II
and a case to hold it all. Probably something like Coolermaster Centurian 5

the other stuff probably get a Seagate Barracuda cuz i've had 3 of those and they haven't let me down yet. And I dunno about sound yet, I only use headphones so just a cheap 5.1 probably I like Turtle Beach has worked well in the past. But I guess I'll just wait and see in like another month here because this PC needs to last me the next three years of college gaming !

of course I'd still put another 7900GT in at x-mas and more RAM eventually. BUt I mean no more completely new computer

03-21-2006, 09:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cab00se Silver Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 22 Posts: 134	Overhaul This POS Hey everyone, over the past couple of months I've been asking advice and giving a little myself. I always ask really specific stuff and limit what otherwise might be useful from you all. So this time I'm going to lay down a broad overview of what I want and you all can decide what is best. Thanks in advance. Current PC: P4 3.4 Intel 512 DDR2 PC3200 X300SE ATI 120GB Seagate BArracuda PCI-E MOBO 350W PSU Home PC (For leave from school) AMD 2600+ 1000mb DDR PC2700 (i'm thinkink it's DDR2 but I dunno) AGP mobo 9600 ATI All in wonder 350W PSU 120 GB Seagate Barracuda (ironically the same but I like it) Ok, here's the deal, the one from school is one the military issued us and it's a stock Dell Precision Workstation 370. God, how I hate them. THe case just opens in halves and has the worst cooling imaginable. I miss my home PC's case mods and rounded cables... Anyway, I need to upgrade this school PC to play games especially STEAM games like Counter-Strike Source and Red Orchestra (great new game). I want to play at at least 1280 x 1024 with FULL AA AND AF. PLus of course the maxed out settings. The issue is if I get too good of a video card I need a new PSU and the dell has a all metal backing with no openings for PSU except a small hole where it's own plug comes out. I could mod it myself I guess or could just buy a whole new case if necessary. Basically I need to upgrade the RAM and GPU in my opinion because even though I'd much rather an AMD 64 processor, there's nothing I can do about that right now (not even sure if we are allowed to do that anyway). Any suggestions on what to do would be appreciated. Oh and the reason I gave the home PC specs is because I was even thinking about combining them a bit and using the home PC case and mods and getting a new PSU that would fit in that and then getting all new RAM and GPU using the school's mobo and processor. Sorry for the long windedness.

03-21-2006, 09:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
tweaker Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sweden Age: 30 Posts: 2,954	Is the AMD box a socket 754 or 462? Get a better videocard and memory for the Intel box and your good to go. __________________ Posting and you - CF edition www.tweaker.se FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358

03-21-2006, 09:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
myPCrocks Gold Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Midwest Age: 39 Posts: 255	I would find out if you are allowed to do any mods from the Military before performing any. I can't see that PS handling much more than whats in it now. __________________ Too Many To List.

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03-21-2006, 09:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cab00se Silver Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 22 Posts: 134	I believe its 754 but I pretty much am done upgrading that beyond doing a major overhaul on the home one. I know that's what I need for my school one but I was asking for ideas and also if I get a new video card what to do with the whole PSU issue

03-21-2006, 09:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Cab00se Silver Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 22 Posts: 134	yea we are, the only thing we arent allowed to upgrade is the mobo and processor I think or just the mobo I forget, either way its irrelevant righ tnow

04-04-2006, 11:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cab00se Silver Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 22 Posts: 134	alright I finally got permission, we are allowed to do pretty much whatever or just build our own, so basically I'm thinking new AMD 64 I was thinking about building this summer probably something like AMD 64 4000+ 2gb RAM 7900GT to start another for x-mas some type of SLI mobo and a good PSU maybe the Antec Trupower II and a case to hold it all. Probably something like Coolermaster Centurian 5 the other stuff probably get a Seagate Barracuda cuz i've had 3 of those and they haven't let me down yet. And I dunno about sound yet, I only use headphones so just a cheap 5.1 probably I like Turtle Beach has worked well in the past. But I guess I'll just wait and see in like another month here because this PC needs to last me the next three years of college gaming ! of course I'd still put another 7900GT in at x-mas and more RAM eventually. BUt I mean no more completely new computer