Upgrading PC! need advice from Australia

[ihuy01]

Hey,

I'm upgrading my pc so that it becomes compatible with some of the latest games. Basically counterstrike lags if i play more than 10 players and sims 2 lags when i play it as well.

My PC specifications are:
Intel Pentium 4 2.8ghz
512 MB Ram
80GB and 160GB Hard drive
Nvidia GeForce FX 5500 256 MB video card
if you need any more info tell me.

I'm not sure what i should be upgrading whether its ram or the video card. I have about $300 Australian all up to spend. Anyone got an idea of what part of my computer should be upgrading, and if so what particular brand/type should i be looking at for my price range.

Need advice
Thanks

Ivan!

 

[khan008]

im not sure why you think you have 512mb ram but it says 256 mb ram. But uhhh because you have only got $300 i would either save up for new build with an e6600 and asus p5 mobo and some gskill ram. But cos you aint got that much i can only say upgrade your ram to 1gb and maybe a new vid card. You could try out a new proccessor maybe 3.4ghz p4

 

[veg1992]

thats 300$ au... lemme go to x-rate and convert it...

 

[Apokalipse]

Hey,

I'm upgrading my pc so that it becomes compatible with some of the latest games. Basically counterstrike lags if i play more than 10 players and sims 2 lags when i play it as well.

My PC specifications are:
Intel Pentium 4 2.8ghz
512 MB Ram
80GB and 160GB Hard drive
Nvidia GeForce FX 5500 256 MB video card
if you need any more info tell me.

I'm not sure what i should be upgrading whether its ram or the video card. I have about $300 Australian all up to spend. Anyone got an idea of what part of my computer should be upgrading, and if so what particular brand/type should i be looking at for my price range.

Need advice
Thanks

Ivan!

You would most likely have AGP, instead of PCI-E. So that severely limits your graphics card choices.

I would at least look into getting more RAM. You can get a 512MB stick for A$40 at MSY (I go there often)

After that, I would highly suggest looking at saving some more and upgrading your motherboard and video card.
Right now, the 256MB X1950 pro costs A$235. But it's PCI-E.

Which kinda brings me to another point: Is your CPU a socket 478, or 775?
It will be much easier to upgrade to a new motherboard and video card if your CPU is a socket 775.

you can get a s775 motherboard from A$62 (P5VDC-MX, which has 2 x PCI slots, 1 x PCI-E 16X, and 1 x PCI-E 1X)

*edit*
I just realised, if you go for a new motherboard, you are most likely going to require DDR2 RAM aswell. 1GB DDR2-800 costs $55.

Yeah, this costs more than you might have hoped. My advice is to save your money until you get maybe $500, then see what you can do

(Note to people from America: AU$500 does significantly less than US$500. PC parts are more expensive here.)

 

[veg1992]

with 246$ bucks, upgrading is not easy.... i say save more cash, but if u have a socket 775 p4 (specify there plz) u can upgrade at the most to 1 gb RAM and a Pentium D, but ur video card still stinks.... so my advice is hold-off and save some extra AU

EDIT My post was irrevelevent because i used US Prices...... ignore this one plz, thanks

 

[Apokalipse]

Here's what you can do:
save up AU$352

then get something like:
P5VDC-MX - $62
X1950 pro - $235
1GB DDR2-800 - $55
(these are the prices at MSY)

and later on, you can upgrade to a Core 2 Duo

 

[veg1992]

that mobo is core 2 duo compatible? because remember, that just because its socket 775 doesn't mean its core 2 duo combatible like the intel 945

 

[Apokalipse]

that mobo is core 2 duo compatible? because remember, that just because its socket 775 doesn't mean its core 2 duo combatible like the intel 945

It says so on the Asus website
ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

*edit*
Just noticed also, that the motherboard can run DDR1 RAM, too (which is a bit unusual).

That gives you an option you can afford now:
Asus P5VDC-MX: $62
X1950 Pro - $235
and use your current RAM and CPU

cost: $297

Later on, you can upgrade to a Core 2 Duo, and/or 1GB DDR2 (1GB DDR2-800 costs $55)

This is, however, provided that your CPU is a s775.

 

[veg1992]

it isn't:

LGA775 socket for IntelPentium D/Pentium 4/Celeron CPU
Compatible with Intel 05B/05A and 04B/04A processors

(Caution! For chipset limitation, There may be some error when work with less than P4520 or Celeron D325)

cuz it uses agp

 

[veg1992]

ok nvm, newegg was wrong.....