What to upgrade in my computer

dangerousmovingunit · 08-06-2006, 11:37 PM

my computer is like4-5 years old and i need to upgrade my computer because pretty much no new game works on this PC, so i have this specs

Processor Intel Pentium 4 2000MHz
Display Card NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400
Memory 256MB
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Free Disk Space 20.45GB
Display Card Memory 64MB
Display Driver Version 9.1.3.1
DirectX Version 9.0c
Optical Drive N/A
Sound Card C-Media Wave Device

im not rich enough to upgrade everything so can someone tell me whats the biggest things i need to upgrade? i definitely need upgrade my graphic card but is there anything else i should upgrade?
please help.

**jimmymac** · 08-06-2006, 11:39 PM

do you have an idea of budget at all.

definately upgrade the memory, 256mb is a bit on the low side, try and at least bump it up to 512mb if not 1gb. Then if budget allows possibly bump up the processor a bit

dave597 · 08-06-2006, 11:40 PM

2 ghz should be okay for games, yes it s mainly the graphics you shold be upgrading and after that ur ram, at least 512 mb, next a new hard drive for storage

jp198780 · 08-07-2006, 12:19 AM

Daves right, just not with the 2GB RAM part, he's not rich he said lol. i'd say 128MB graphics or 256MB....

ChrisDVD · 08-07-2006, 12:48 AM

more RAM first i would say. At least 512 meg.
Graphics Card also.
but RAM all the way! it really hleps for games.
set up a budget.

JFHuff · 08-07-2006, 01:12 AM

definently ram then video card. The 2 ghz should get you by. The ram definently increases the gameplay but the graphics card needs to be updated too.

dark_legacy2006 · 08-07-2006, 02:17 AM

pentium 4 2ghz thats pretty slow (pushin it) but ya 512 should be your minimum ram thats what i got an d i dont run into problems, and upgrade the video card, and sometimes even with a hd that small you could run into problems (honestly it happens, im not CRAZY lol)

jp198780 · 08-07-2006, 03:48 AM

what are you going 2 use this computer 4?

you need 2 find out the MAX RAM your computer supports, and the MAX CPU it will support, you could upgrade both..

Saurian · 08-07-2006, 06:04 AM

As said, upgrade the ram. Open your cover and see if you have ram slot occupied (1x256 module) or two occupied (2x128 module). Check up on what your capacity is, but one could assume you could buy a 1GB stick of ram for ~80 dollars and boost your performance immensly. Or at least a 512MB module. 512 is minimum, and 1GB of ram is really the sweetspot it seems.

Second, grab yourself a new graphics card. Or maybe find a friend who is upgrading and snag his old one. That is how I got my FX5900. You can pick up a pretty good ATI AGP card for 130-160 with 256MB of GDDR3, X800, maybe even X850 chip, etc. This will REALLY boost your performance. I remember upgrading from a Geforce2 MX400 32 SD to a Geforce3 Ti500 64 DDR and it was AWESOME. And just recently my jump from Geforce3 to my Geforce FX5900 128 was pretty awesome again. Makes me anxious to see what it will be like jumping up again to my next graphics card!

After those two, you might want to consider getting a good cheap soundcard. If you're really cheap, a Creative SB Live! 5.1 will do, or if you can swing a few more bucks, a Creative Audigy or Audigy 2 value will offload the sound functions from your processor, liberating it a bit more. Your processor isn't the fastest thing in the world, but its no slouch either.

Lastly, on the processor note. You should check and see what processor lines your motherboard can support. You might be able to upgrade to a Prescott socket like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116175

It's just a matter of how much you want to dump into an old computer, really. You can rebuild it to a decent point, if you really want to.

diduknowthat · 08-07-2006, 11:38 AM

Upgrade the ram to atleast 512, but a gig at best. Then grab a new graphics card and maybe a harddrive. If you're going to upgrade anything more than that, you might consider getting a new computer all together.

08-06-2006, 11:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
dangerousmovingunit Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 73	What to upgrade in my computer my computer is like4-5 years old and i need to upgrade my computer because pretty much no new game works on this PC, so i have this specs Processor Intel Pentium 4 2000MHz Display Card NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400 Memory 256MB Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Free Disk Space 20.45GB Display Card Memory 64MB Display Driver Version 9.1.3.1 DirectX Version 9.0c Optical Drive N/A Sound Card C-Media Wave Device im not rich enough to upgrade everything so can someone tell me whats the biggest things i need to upgrade? i definitely need upgrade my graphic card but is there anything else i should upgrade? please help.

08-06-2006, 11:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
jimmymac Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chester, UK Age: 28 Posts: 3,688	do you have an idea of budget at all. definately upgrade the memory, 256mb is a bit on the low side, try and at least bump it up to 512mb if not 1gb. Then if budget allows possibly bump up the processor a bit __________________ I tried to put my signature in here but my pen ruined the monitor. http://www.peytonmusic.com/ http://forum.peytonmusic.com/ the most uplifting soulful music you will ever hear...

08-07-2006, 12:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
jp198780 Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deptford, New Jersey Age: 17 Posts: 4,090	Daves right, just not with the 2GB RAM part, he's not rich he said lol. i'd say 128MB graphics or 256MB.... __________________ My computer:Amd x2 4200+@2.20ghz 1gb ram 200gb 7200rpm hard drive X1950XT xp home

08-07-2006, 12:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
ChrisDVD Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Age: 18 Posts: 1,042	more RAM first i would say. At least 512 meg. Graphics Card also. but RAM all the way! it really hleps for games. set up a budget. __________________ HP Pavillion a815n, 160 GB Hard Drive, 512 MB Ram, 16x DVD±RW DL Burner, Power suply- 300W Intel Pentium 4, 3.06 Ghz Power suply- 300W Mother board: ASUS PTGD1-LA Windows XP home Editions, Service Pack 2 Video Card: BFG GeForce FX 5500 oc 256 MB PCI HP Pavillion f1503 monitor HP Series 3 in 1 Printer Speakers: Logitech x-530 suround sound system 5.1

08-07-2006, 03:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
jp198780 Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deptford, New Jersey Age: 17 Posts: 4,090	what are you going 2 use this computer 4? you need 2 find out the MAX RAM your computer supports, and the MAX CPU it will support, you could upgrade both.. __________________ My computer:Amd x2 4200+@2.20ghz 1gb ram 200gb 7200rpm hard drive X1950XT xp home

08-06-2006, 11:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
dave597 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,016	2 ghz should be okay for games, yes it s mainly the graphics you shold be upgrading and after that ur ram, at least 512 mb, next a new hard drive for storage

08-07-2006, 01:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
JFHuff Silver Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Age: 20 Posts: 222	definently ram then video card. The 2 ghz should get you by. The ram definently increases the gameplay but the graphics card needs to be updated too.

08-07-2006, 02:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
dark_legacy2006 Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canada Age: 18 Posts: 588	pentium 4 2ghz thats pretty slow (pushin it) but ya 512 should be your minimum ram thats what i got an d i dont run into problems, and upgrade the video card, and sometimes even with a hd that small you could run into problems (honestly it happens, im not CRAZY lol)

08-07-2006, 06:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
Saurian Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oskaloosa/Pleasantville, Iowa Age: 22 Posts: 552	As said, upgrade the ram. Open your cover and see if you have ram slot occupied (1x256 module) or two occupied (2x128 module). Check up on what your capacity is, but one could assume you could buy a 1GB stick of ram for ~80 dollars and boost your performance immensly. Or at least a 512MB module. 512 is minimum, and 1GB of ram is really the sweetspot it seems. Second, grab yourself a new graphics card. Or maybe find a friend who is upgrading and snag his old one. That is how I got my FX5900. You can pick up a pretty good ATI AGP card for 130-160 with 256MB of GDDR3, X800, maybe even X850 chip, etc. This will REALLY boost your performance. I remember upgrading from a Geforce2 MX400 32 SD to a Geforce3 Ti500 64 DDR and it was AWESOME. And just recently my jump from Geforce3 to my Geforce FX5900 128 was pretty awesome again. Makes me anxious to see what it will be like jumping up again to my next graphics card! After those two, you might want to consider getting a good cheap soundcard. If you're really cheap, a Creative SB Live! 5.1 will do, or if you can swing a few more bucks, a Creative Audigy or Audigy 2 value will offload the sound functions from your processor, liberating it a bit more. Your processor isn't the fastest thing in the world, but its no slouch either. Lastly, on the processor note. You should check and see what processor lines your motherboard can support. You might be able to upgrade to a Prescott socket like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116175 It's just a matter of how much you want to dump into an old computer, really. You can rebuild it to a decent point, if you really want to. __________________ Intel 3.2Ghz P4 MSI PM8M3-V GF FX5900XT 128MB 512 MB CXMS Dell 20.1" Widescreen LCD Need...upgrades....:)

08-07-2006, 11:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
diduknowthat formerly liuliuboy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Massachusetts Age: 17 Posts: 6,280	Upgrade the ram to atleast 512, but a gig at best. Then grab a new graphics card and maybe a harddrive. If you're going to upgrade anything more than that, you might consider getting a new computer all together. __________________ Silent Tuned \| 3D Marks 06: 11566 Q6600 2.4ghz CPU \| Gigabyte GA-P35 LGA 775 MB EVGA 8800gt 512mb Video Card G.Skill 4GB Ram \| Western Digital 400GB HD X-Fi Xtrememusic Sound Card Antec P180B Case \| Scythe Ninja HSF CM Real Power Pro 650watt PSU

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