need ideas

D

di$TOrTed

New Member
Alright, here is the deal. Sitting in my room I have an old Gateway computer with no internet. I want to turn it into something I can use. Here are the specs that I know:

Intel Pentium 3 450mhz
128mb RAM
Windows 98

That's all I know for sure lol sorry. I think the hard drive is like 12gb or something i'm not sure. I think it might have a discrete video card but i'm sure its old and sucks anyway.

But i'm wondering, what can I turn this into for just a few hundred dollars? I know i'm going to get a wireless card and more RAM for it, but what else? How easy is it to upgrade a processor? What would you guys suggest?

I would like to be able to run Counter Strike 1.6 on this and play that a lot. I would also like to be able to do casual programming in C++ or Java or whatever.

Can I upgrade the video card on this? Would i need a new power supply or anything? I've only got a few hundred dollars so i'm just looking for some suggestions on what to do with this thing. I wanted to get a notebook but my parents said I should wait until i graduate which is in another year, so i'm looking for a computer I can do stuff with this summer. The one i'm on now is always being used by my brother for WoW or whatever so I want my own to use.
 
What would you guys suggest building? I know nothing about building computers........ what all do i need? Case, power supply, processor, motherboard, ram, gpu.... that's all i know. What else?
 
Eh i'll say $400.

Also, someone told me that Linux is better for slower computers. Can I still use Steam and counter strike with linux?

Also, what parts can I use from my old computer? Can I use the case or anything?
 
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If you really wanted to upgrade, you could probably get 384MB RAM and maybe around a 500MHz processor. I doubt much else. As the other's said, don't upgrade it...not unless the parts are practically given to you.

People have built whole computers on here for under $400-$500. Post a budget and I'm sure something could be worked out.

---

I'm too slow ^^;;

To answer your last question, nothing much could be used from your old machine. You might be able to use your case(but new ones can cost a whole $20) and you could use your old HD and optical drives if you wanted...
 
 
dude thats sweet.... i could run like half life 2 and stuff on that with ease couldnt I? wow.... i'm going to save up for that for sure.
 
 
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Froboy7391_99 said:
Case- Rosewill R230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147075

CPU- AMD X2 3600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103760

Ram- Corsair Valueselect 1Gb DDR2-667
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146580

Mobo- GIGABYTE GA-M61SME-S2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128045

HDD- 40GB Western Digital SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144173

Power Supply- Thermaltake TR2 430 Watt
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817153023

Video Card- Biostar 8500GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814141061

OS-Windows XP Home
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16832116056

Total $425
Click to expand...

Your build has 3 main weakness, 1 small hard drive you don't see people anymore buying hard drives of 40gb o lower unless the machine is ancient aka more than 7 years, 2 the 8500GT will hardly see that much difference in games against the x1650 that's 20$ cheaper and the last weakness, no dvd burner/reader, which means he can't install the os in the worst case that the old optical unit doesn't work/ isn't compatible with his system.

di$TOrTed said:
Will i need to add a sound card to any of these builds?
Click to expand...
Most mother boards includes audio integrated so you won't need a sound card, unless you want ultra high quality sound like 7.1 decoded by the card no the mother board.
 
What if I had $600?

One more thing, my monitor is an old like 7 year old monitor. It's not LCD, so I guess that means its a CRT? Would I have problems with the cables being outdated or anything?
 
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Diorhomme said:
You'd pay for windows and shipping :D
Click to expand...
And a PSU that would have a chance of turning the system on :) (Okay, that's somewhat exaggerated, but nonetheless a better PSU is a real necessity)

The one in that case is rated for +12V@17A. Just over half the +12V@30A that ATI recommend for an X1950. Grab something like an XClio Goodpower 500W

One more thing, my monitor is an old like 7 year old monitor. It's not LCD, so I guess that means its a CRT? Would I have problems with the cables being outdated or anything?
Click to expand...
It'll be a standard D-SUB connector. You should have no problems there.
 
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ceewi1 said:
And a PSU that would have a chance of turning the system on :)

The one in that case is rated for +12V@17A. Just over half the +12V@30A that ATI recommend for an X1950. Grab something like an XClio Goodpower 500W


It'll be a standard D-SUB connector. You should have no problems there.
Click to expand...

add to that, that most video cards includes adapters from dvi to vga :P , di$TOrTed for 600$ (without shipping) something like this:

dvd-burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827106049

case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811220011

Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822152022

Mother board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813130063

Video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130075

Power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817189005

Ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820231098

Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103741

Operative system
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16832116056

total: $586.43 (without shipping of course)
 
I think i'd rather have vista home basic over xp.... would i see a difference in system performance? Like in a game or something would i get better framerate if i have xp than in vista? Idk if operating system affects games or not due to using up system resources...........
 
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