I am looking to upgrade my desktop piecemeal as good deals come along.
I am particularly looking to upgrade for Age of Conan at 1600x1200 or 1920x1200.
My desktop hasn't been upgraded in quite a while.
I currently have an Athlon 2 GHz 2800+ / 1 GB RAM / Radeon 9700 (AGP) / 200 GB HD / Antec True Power 430W / 1600x1200 display. Windows XP, runs a linux mail server in VMware.
I also have my 17" laptop that I have been using for Everquest 2; Pentium 2 GHz single core / 2 GB RAM / 80 GB HD / 7800 GTX Go / 1920x1200 display.
All this started from a co-worker who bought a $100 CPU/MB combo from Fry's and $20 of RAM to complete an upgrade. I started thinking small with the same sort of deal. Then I saw that graphics cards had dropped to about $150 (8800GT). The last time I had upgraded, a decent graphics card was about $300. And currently Fry's is running an E8400+MB combo for $200. And a 750 GB HD for 100. And 2 GB RAM for $20...
So I currently have the RAM (2 sticks, 1 GB each, crucial CL6 PC6400) which can still be returned. I am thinking an 8800GT is the best price/performance currently, especially if there is a deal in the next few weeks for one at around $130-140 after rebate. I know that the MB (ECS GF7050VT-M) with the E8400 is probably considered crap, but it is effectively free. I am not sure if HD prices will continue to fall or if $100 for 750 GB will be relatively stable.
The plan
1. Get the E8400/MB combo for $200. Use the integrated graphics for a while. Use my other existing components for a while. No early overclocking.
2. 750 GB internal HD for $100? (I already have a portable 750 GB HD)
2. Watch for 8800GT deal through end of May.
3. PSU upgrade if needed.
4. (3-12 months later) Decent motherboard+fan for overclocking the 8400
5. (future) 24" 1920x1200 LCD or dual 24"
Optional Plan
1. Skip all the desktop upgrades and return the RAM; buy a bigger 2.5" HD for the laptop; tough it out with a 7800 GTX Go at 1920x1200. However, it seems there has been a great increase on the price/performance curve recently in desktop hardware.
Any opinions?
System Building Info from Sticky
1. Use: Age of Conan, other MMOs, web surfing, video watching, VMWare running a mail/web server
2. Budget: As cheap as possible, up to $500. I have patience to wait for a great deal.
3. Country: USA
4. Brands: those that have established quality/reputation
5. Current parts to reuse: as many as possible
a. 200 GB HD (PATA)
b. Antec True Power 430 if possible
c. Case, DVD-R drive (PATA), Speakers, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse
d. Already have new 2 GB PC6400 (can still be returned)
6. Research: A few threads. I have been out of the market for years, so I read some threads to get an idea of best parts at given price points.
7. Overclocking: no rush to overclock
8. Timeline: as soon as good deals appear for each part
I am particularly looking to upgrade for Age of Conan at 1600x1200 or 1920x1200.
My desktop hasn't been upgraded in quite a while.
I currently have an Athlon 2 GHz 2800+ / 1 GB RAM / Radeon 9700 (AGP) / 200 GB HD / Antec True Power 430W / 1600x1200 display. Windows XP, runs a linux mail server in VMware.
I also have my 17" laptop that I have been using for Everquest 2; Pentium 2 GHz single core / 2 GB RAM / 80 GB HD / 7800 GTX Go / 1920x1200 display.
All this started from a co-worker who bought a $100 CPU/MB combo from Fry's and $20 of RAM to complete an upgrade. I started thinking small with the same sort of deal. Then I saw that graphics cards had dropped to about $150 (8800GT). The last time I had upgraded, a decent graphics card was about $300. And currently Fry's is running an E8400+MB combo for $200. And a 750 GB HD for 100. And 2 GB RAM for $20...
So I currently have the RAM (2 sticks, 1 GB each, crucial CL6 PC6400) which can still be returned. I am thinking an 8800GT is the best price/performance currently, especially if there is a deal in the next few weeks for one at around $130-140 after rebate. I know that the MB (ECS GF7050VT-M) with the E8400 is probably considered crap, but it is effectively free. I am not sure if HD prices will continue to fall or if $100 for 750 GB will be relatively stable.
The plan
1. Get the E8400/MB combo for $200. Use the integrated graphics for a while. Use my other existing components for a while. No early overclocking.
2. 750 GB internal HD for $100? (I already have a portable 750 GB HD)
2. Watch for 8800GT deal through end of May.
3. PSU upgrade if needed.
4. (3-12 months later) Decent motherboard+fan for overclocking the 8400
5. (future) 24" 1920x1200 LCD or dual 24"
Optional Plan
1. Skip all the desktop upgrades and return the RAM; buy a bigger 2.5" HD for the laptop; tough it out with a 7800 GTX Go at 1920x1200. However, it seems there has been a great increase on the price/performance curve recently in desktop hardware.
Any opinions?
System Building Info from Sticky
1. Use: Age of Conan, other MMOs, web surfing, video watching, VMWare running a mail/web server
2. Budget: As cheap as possible, up to $500. I have patience to wait for a great deal.
3. Country: USA
4. Brands: those that have established quality/reputation
5. Current parts to reuse: as many as possible
a. 200 GB HD (PATA)
b. Antec True Power 430 if possible
c. Case, DVD-R drive (PATA), Speakers, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse
d. Already have new 2 GB PC6400 (can still be returned)
6. Research: A few threads. I have been out of the market for years, so I read some threads to get an idea of best parts at given price points.
7. Overclocking: no rush to overclock
8. Timeline: as soon as good deals appear for each part