[ToM_E]

Alright...my computer is lagging these days and I think its time for me to upgrade...but after doing some research i dunno wuts what..../w all these new products i dunno what to get...so i need some help....heres my specs

CPU-AMD Athlon Thunder-Bird 1.13 GHZ
RAM-512mb DDR Ram
Video Card-ATI Radeon 9000 Pro
Mobo-Msi K7T266 Pro2-U ATX

I just want to get a new cpu and video card...something that I can play Lineage 2 without crappy graphic settings...maybe for under $300 if its possible...thx for the help in advance guys!

 

[Zer0Soul]

Videocard: You could get a ATI 9600XT card. It's going for around $100-$150 dollars right now. You'd see a pretty good improvement there.

Motherboard: ASUS A7N8X-X Socket A (Socket 462) NVIDIA nForce2 400 ATX AMD
Is a pretty decent board going for around $65 right now at new egg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131468#DetailSpecs

Cpu: Amd Athlon XP 2800+ is running for around #90
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=688941


I run a 2500+ 784mb of DDR and a 9600XT and Lineage 2 runs perfect for me at all settings set to high, pixshader reflections on all and range 5 to all.


This is all based on opinion though..

 

[ToM_E]

Thx zer0soul...but i dont think i need to upgrade the mobo yet...it says as long as i upgrade the bios i can put in any anthlon xp processor...and when u play lineage 2 how is it...no lag at all? can u post a screen shot?

 

[refraction]

Thx zer0soul...but i dont think i need to upgrade the mobo yet...it says as long as i upgrade the bios i can put in any anthlon xp processor...and when u play lineage 2 how is it...no lag at all? can u post a screen shot?

yeh newer processors would work BUT the remaining Athlon XP's on the market are all 333mhz bus or 400mhz, his motherboard only supports up to 266 so a new motherboard would be advisable.

if you want to stick to the 32bit route id suggest

Athlon XP 3000+ processor
Abit NF-7S motherboard (very nice board, use it myself)
512mb of new ram! DDR-400 recommended

if you go for the 64 bit route (which is advisable if you are upgrading)

Athlon XP 64 3200+ socket 939
DDR-400 Ram (you WILL need this) 512mb or more
Asus AN8 Rev.2 Deluxe motherboard (not sure on this but i think its good lol)

if anybody has better 939 motherboard suggestions please put them

 

[ToM_E]

I already have 512mb DDR Ram
So basically i need a new mobo+vid card+cpu.....

 

[refraction]

I already have 512mb DDR Ram
So basically i need a new mobo+vid card+cpu.....

what speed DDR, as i say DDR-266 will NOT be fast enough, hence you needing new ram

 

[cooliscool]

100-150 bucks for a 9600XT isn't a good deal. You could get a 6600GT for $~140, which would demolish a 9600XT.

 

[ToM_E]

I dont know what speed ram...xP
well...i really want to keep my mobo...heres the mobo specs
CPU
-Supports Socket A (Socket-462) for AMD Athlon/Athlon XP/Duron Processor
-Supports 800MHZ up to 1800+Mhz Processor

Main Memory
-Supports Six memory banks using three 184-pin DDR DIMMs
-Supports a maximum memory size up to 3GB
-Supports 2.5v DDR SDRAM DIMM

Slots
-One AGP Slot
-AGP specification compliant
-Supports AGP 2.0 1x/2x/4x

so if i keep the mobo what upgrades can i get? right now for the ram im using up 2 slots...

 

[ninor]

well your mobo limits the vid card as well you cant really utilize anything more than a 9600 (agp 4x) im not sure about nvidias side
you definetly need a new mobo lol, especially if you have 300 to throw around
if you shop around (newegg) you could make it

edit: dangit, this isnt my account Im really XxCrashxX

 

[cooliscool]

well your mobo limits the vid card as well you cant really utilize anything more than a 9600 (agp 4x) im not sure about nvidias side
you definetly need a new mobo lol, especially if you have 300 to throw around
if you shop around (newegg) you could make it

edit: dangit, this isnt my account Im really XxCrashxX

Um, AGP 8X cards are backwards compatible with 4X slots.

 

[ToM_E]

o...so i can use 8x vid cards on a 4x agp mobo? so i can keep the mobo?

 

[Princess Garnet]

If you're really adamant about keeping the same motherboard, it most certainly works. They are backwards compatible like cooliscool mentioned. My secondary machine is actually running an 8x card (GeForce4 Ti4200) on a 4x AGP slot (Dell motherboard). The card is hindered, but I only do emulation (some light older games too) and internet browsing on this machine, but it does work.

 

[ToM_E]

so all i really need a new cpu and a vid card...i might get the cpu first...but what kinda athlon xp cpu can i get /w $100?

 

[ToM_E]

i found this...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103341
would this fit on my mobo?

 

[Esturk]

That motherboard, assuming it is the K7T266 Pro2U. Only supports 200 and 266 bus processors. That Athlon XP 2700+ is a 333Mhz bus Thoroughbred. Will your board be able to take that? Does your board do 166Mhz FSB?

How about this one?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103436

 

[ToM_E]

omg...i didnt even read that...it says...
Chipset
-VIA VT8366A chipset
[email protected]/266mhz

 

[ToM_E]

isnt an Athlon Mobile XP only for laptops?

 

[Master Chief]

isnt an Athlon Mobile XP only for laptops?

They can be used in desktop mobos. However, they usually dont have as high of a FSB as their desktop counterparts. But, they tend to overclock more.

Some mobiles tend to not like to run on desktop mobos. I had a problem with my
older system like that. I just needed to flash a custom BIOS and I was fine.

I have a GeForce 6600GT, my dad has a GeForce 6800. The 6800 has better graphics, and more pixel pipelines. The 6600GT has a faster core clock speed. I'd reccomend the 6800 since its awesome. I can post some screens of it running Half-Life 2 with filtering on.(Half Life 2 configured itself to use filtering on his computer- awesome!). My dad also has an Abit NF7-S v2 with 1 gb of Corsair Dual Channel memory, and an Athlon XP 2500+ Barton running at 2.210ghz.

Screenshots from my dad's XFX GeForce 6800 of Half-Life 2:
(Pics have filtering on, I think Anisotropic is on 8x and Antialiasing is at 4x. Dont remember exactly tho). They are 1mb PNGs, sorry about that, but its better than 2 mb BMP :lol:. And yes people, this is AGP 8x. AGP lives!
http://www.iuploader.net/uploads/38766bad71.png
http://www.iuploader.net/uploads/dde2e19a78.png
http://www.iuploader.net/uploads/c6feb2678d.png
http://www.iuploader.net/uploads/4aa1a702de.png
http://www.iuploader.net/uploads/2549547cf0.png
http://www.iuploader.net/uploads/c83aa80297.png

Btw, I also get like 80 FPS(maybe more havent really checked it) on his comp. I also ovrclocked it for better results. On the CS:Source stress test it got like 98 FPS. I did get it to 100, but I didnt want heat issues so I put it down a bit.

 

[ToM_E]

ic...ill buy the new cpu maybe this week...or next week and ill post it here again ^^ thx for the help guys...

 

[Esturk]

So what did you decide on ToM-E?