My PC is getting on quite a bit and I want to tweak it but for the minimum amount of dosh as poss. Basically I want it to run the following spec.

 

1GB RAM

Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz or AMD Equvilant

256MB 3d Direct X 9 combatible Card with Pixal Shader 2.0 Support

Wireless.

 

I Have

Motherboard: ECS L7S7A2 Version 1.0

CPU: AMD Athelon XP2000+ (Running 1.67Ghz)

Grafics Card: Radeon 9200 Series -Secondary 241Mb Total Memory

RAM: Row 1: RASL-4RASL-11 256MB DIMM SD Ram Single Bank

RASL-4 512MB DIMM SD Ram Single Bank

I Aso Have a ActionTec R1020s Wireless Ready Home Gateway with 802.11b Wireless PC Card (Fits into Slot On Side)

 

I know I need a better chip, More RAM and the Dongle Thing into the PC but what suggestion do you have for me to trawl ebay for (Or any other supplier)

http://www.crucial.com/uk/ are pretty good for memory

check your board manual you prob ain't gonna get a lot more out of that motherboard. If you have a radeon 9200 I'm sure they're DX9 not sure about shader 2.0 more ram cheap anywhere but if your want to change your chip much higher gonna want a new board(different sockets/technology) poss different mem too.Pent's fairly are crap for games don't bother with 'em unless it's cheap. Go for an older used athlon for games anyday or ideally a core 2 duo.

 

Forgot to add quicker chip/board may mean new power supply so may be cheaper to get a good older spec used base unit

My Power supply is a 300W. I have no idea what im looking for though in motherboards etc. I cant find the manual for the Motherbord I have so no idea what the max cpu is.

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?detailid=267&CategoryID=-1&DetailName=Specification&MenuID=1&LanID=0

 

here's manual should be on there looks like about xp2800 2.1ghz tops

try getting a barebones pc like this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-028-OK&groupid=43&catid=1078&subcat=&name=Primo%20Gamer%20AMD%20Athlon%20X2%205200+%202.6GHz%20SILENT%20DDR2%20System

then just add a cheapy graphics card. Iv'e used barebones when building pc's for people and you can't go wrong with them

I like the idea of building it myself as im in no hurry and can then buy bits as I go along.

 

Im thinking of starting off with a AM2 socketed Motherboard as i want to stick with AMD

 

The possible a AMD 64x2 4800+ chip. not sure where then as I realised the new motherboards are not AGP combatible so my Grafics card will be obsolete.

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?detailid=267&CategoryID=-1&DetailName=Specification&MenuID=1&LanID=0

 

here's manual should be on there looks like about xp2800 2.1ghz tops

 

cheers for that, so I will look at a complete new build.

go with Pcie. AGP cards of any standard will cost a fortune and have little future. If your changing your board with the time taken to do so it makes sense to make it last a little longer. Komplett and ebuyer have good deals on older boards/upgrade kits. you will almost deffo need to change your psu to a good quality supply with decent gaming cards. make sure the 12v rail can push out a good feed. a 600w with 30A on 12v should not set you back too much(£30-40) if your going to take the dive in to a newer platform could hit probs without doing so.

cool cheers

I like the idea of building it myself as im in no hurry and can then buy bits as I go along.

 

Im thinking of starting off with a AM2 socketed Motherboard as i want to stick with AMD

 

The possible a AMD 64x2 4800+ chip. not sure where then as I realised the new motherboards are not AGP combatible so my Grafics card will be obsolete.

 

 

Definitely I cannot advise going AMD. Core duo/quad all the way. Lower temps and more performance.

 

 

I mean how much are you looking to spend, and what do you use/want the computer for?

 

 

What about the following? Primo performance unit on ocuk - £205

 

It's got more than the spec you mentioned - just needs wireless (cost is peanuts). It has built in graphics which will do everything just fine apart for 3d games.

 

Funnily enough I have a ati x1600xt 256mb pcie graphics card sat here with me that I need to sell. Buy it off me then I can check your zed out lol

Give Novatech a call http://www.novatech.com or use the website (calling will get you help). I used to work for them and they aint to bad, but to be honest the board you are running is made by ECS which is ok purely as a budget board, you can buy bundle which will give you a chip, ram and motherboard and will save you hassle as they are pretested and run in.

 

With regards to power supply you will most likely need to upgrade that to a minimum of 400watts (true power) not something cheap that says 400watts as it wont constantly give it. Then comes VGA which can either be on board or seperate which is better on the graphical scale of games and graphic applications.

 

Give em a call it wont hurt and they will help.

TBH all I use the PC for is Internet Surfing, Office Documents, Music, Championship Manager and X3 Reunion. All major gaming is on my xbox 360. The spec above is off the back of the x3 reunion box.

Give Novatech a call http://www.novatech.com or use the website (calling will get you help). I used to work for them and they aint to bad, but to be honest the board you are running is made by ECS which is ok purely as a budget board, you can buy bundle which will give you a chip, ram and motherboard and will save you hassle as they are pretested and run in.

 

With regards to power supply you will most likely need to upgrade that to a minimum of 400watts (true power) not something cheap that says 400watts as it wont constantly give it. Then comes VGA which can either be on board or seperate which is better on the graphical scale of games and graphic applications.

 

Give em a call it wont hurt and they will help.

 

I know the board is a cheapie one, my dad installed it as a temp fix for me after my son emptied his drink over the last one. Mind you that was 2 years ago and its still in my PC. Ive been meaing to get around to changing my PC and though I would build one this time. Though it has to be cheap enough to sneak under the wife radar as the current one still work and she cant see any reason for changing.

M2 in Gloucester Road near Horfied Prison are good both with advice and price. They also sell pre built processor units, motherboards, chips etc., nice thing is there local and you can talk to them or even pop your box in if you have problems getting it started after upgrade.

M2 in Gloucester Road near Horfied Prison are good both with advice and price. They also sell pre built processor units, motherboards, chips etc., nice thing is there local and you can talk to them or even pop your box in if you have problems getting it started after upgrade.

 

Cool cheers ill pop down when i get a moment.

 

I was going to build one of those Arcade Coctail Table things but my mate beat me to it and I cant think of anywhere to put it in my house.