newbie PC upgrade

priceless88.RemoveThis@hotmail.com (IDI8) wrote in message news:<cb1e45b9.0402131654.4d8ac89.RemoveThis@posting.google.com>...
 > Hoping to start my first upgrade soon (on a budget), want to
 > use it for the latest games etc, currently have an XP1900, 215MB, ATI
 > Radeon 7000, 40GB HDD
 >
 > I've priced up the following components so far:
 >
 > AMD Athlon XP2600 333mhz 512 L2 Cache Barton Retail Boxed
 > A7N8X Deluxe SKT A NForce2 Chipset Motherboard VER: 2.0
 > Crucial 512 DDR333 PC2700 DIMM
 > Sapphire Radeon 128MB 9600XT DDR DVI-i TV-Out Retail Box
 >
 > Not sure whether to spend more on the graphic card and memory? Can't
 > seem to find a good case and PSU either?
 >
 > Going to have to use current HDD, monitor, mouse and keyboard for abit
 >
 > Any thoughts would be much appreciated
Looks good. Might I suggest that get the XP2500 you won't likely
notice the diffrence and the XP2500 is cheaper. The other reason is
that their is two versions of the XP2600. One with 256Kb of L2 cache
and runs at 2.08GHz and the faster one with 512Kb L2 cache and runs at
1.9GHz(the increase in cache size offsets the the reduced GHz speed.

Also save your money and don't get DDR400/PC3200 again it boils down
to the fact you won't notice a huge diffrence. It would be better
just to get two memory module's and run the motherboard in Dual
channel mode.

As for the graphics card as long as you don't expect to run your
games(DX9 ones that are coming out) at 1280x1024 with every graphics
option on at 100+ FPS you will be ok. If you what that kind of
performance you may wish to take a look at ATI's 9800XT. Also BTW
Nvidias FX5700 seem's to be faster than the 9600XT while costing less.

hope this helps<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: newbie PC upgrade 

IDI8 wrote:
 > Hoping to start my first upgrade soon (on a budget), want to
 > use it for the latest games etc, currently have an XP1900, 215MB, ATI
 > Radeon 7000, 40GB HDD
 >
 > I've priced up the following components so far:
 >
 > AMD Athlon XP2600 333mhz 512 L2 Cache Barton Retail Boxed
 > A7N8X Deluxe SKT A NForce2 Chipset Motherboard VER: 2.0
 > Crucial 512 DDR333 PC2700 DIMM
 > Sapphire Radeon 128MB 9600XT DDR DVI-i TV-Out Retail Box
 >
 > Not sure whether to spend more on the graphic card and memory? Can't
 > seem to find a good case and PSU either?
 >
 > Going to have to use current HDD, monitor, mouse and keyboard for abit
 >
 > Any thoughts would be much appreciated

This is an overclocking group, you realise that right?

Get an XP2500+ instead. Buy PC3200 RAM and run the CPU on a 200MHz (400MHz
in spin-doctor-speak) FSB. You may need to increase the vcore a bit but the
CPU is virtually guaranteed to run fine at this speed, giving you the
equivalent of an XP3200+. XP2600+'s aren't as easy to overclock now the
multiplier is fixed and the money you save on the CPU will pay for the
faster RAM.

If you don't intend to overclock then I'm sorry, can't help you much on this
forum. Try alt.comp.hardware.
--
~misfit~<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: newbie PC upgrade 

ID18,

Of all the replies you've gotten so far, this is the one that makes the best
sense. Getting a Barton 3200+ for the price of a 2500+ will offset the
difference in the cost of PC3200 memory, which will give you the best
overall performance running in dual-channel mode at 200 fsb.

If you go the <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.crucial.com" target="_blank">www.crucial.com</a> and use the coupon code BBSHARE at checkout,
you can get two 256-meg sticks of good PC3200 for just under $95 with free
shipping.

The Asus is a good choice, but take a look at the Abit NF7-S, which is IMHO
the best AMD board around.

Your choice of video card is just right if you don't have a lot to spend.

As for case and psu, I really like my Antec Sonata. Stylish, very quiet, and
a high-quality 380-watt psu that will more than meet your needs.

"~misfit~" <~misfit~@his_desk.com> wrote in message
news:O9lXb.43958$9k7.907152@news.xtra.co.nz...
 > IDI8 wrote:
  > > Hoping to start my first upgrade soon (on a budget), want to
  > > use it for the latest games etc, currently have an XP1900, 215MB, ATI
  > > Radeon 7000, 40GB HDD
  > >
  > > I've priced up the following components so far:
  > >
  > > AMD Athlon XP2600 333mhz 512 L2 Cache Barton Retail Boxed
  > > A7N8X Deluxe SKT A NForce2 Chipset Motherboard VER: 2.0
  > > Crucial 512 DDR333 PC2700 DIMM
  > > Sapphire Radeon 128MB 9600XT DDR DVI-i TV-Out Retail Box
  > >
  > > Not sure whether to spend more on the graphic card and memory? Can't
  > > seem to find a good case and PSU either?
  > >
  > > Going to have to use current HDD, monitor, mouse and keyboard for abit
  > >
  > > Any thoughts would be much appreciated
 >
 > This is an overclocking group, you realise that right?
 >
 > Get an XP2500+ instead. Buy PC3200 RAM and run the CPU on a 200MHz (400MHz
 > in spin-doctor-speak) FSB. You may need to increase the vcore a bit but
the
 > CPU is virtually guaranteed to run fine at this speed, giving you the
 > equivalent of an XP3200+. XP2600+'s aren't as easy to overclock now the
 > multiplier is fixed and the money you save on the CPU will pay for the
 > faster RAM.
 >
 > If you don't intend to overclock then I'm sorry, can't help you much on
this
 > forum. Try alt.comp.hardware.
 > --
 > ~misfit~
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: newbie PC upgrade 

Skid wrote:
 > If you go the <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.crucial.com" target="_blank">www.crucial.com</a> and use the coupon code BBSHARE
 > at checkout, you can get two 256-meg sticks of good PC3200 for just
 > under $95 with free shipping.

Last time I checked-- about a month ago-- that promotion had expired,
so I didn't buy it. Now, it may actually be cheaper here:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-542" target="_blank">www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-542</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: newbie PC upgrade 

The Crucial discount still works. But you're right about the NewEgg price
being lower. Normally they charge shipping that adds to the cost, but with
free shipping it's a great deal.

There is still something to be said for ordering direct from Crucial. Their
customer service (read speed of replacement if anything goes wrong,) is
first-rate and there's never any question about waranty on memory bought
direct from the manufacturer.

"Fishface" <invalid.RemoveThis@ddress.ok?> wrote in message
news:102v7mio80ohc61@corp.supernews.com...
 > Skid wrote:
  > > If you go the <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.crucial.com" target="_blank">www.crucial.com</a> and use the coupon code BBSHARE
  > > at checkout, you can get two 256-meg sticks of good PC3200 for just
  > > under $95 with free shipping.
 >
 > Last time I checked-- about a month ago-- that promotion had expired,
 > so I didn't buy it. Now, it may actually be cheaper here:
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-542</font" target="_blank">www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-542</font</a>>
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: newbie PC upgrade