Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Maverick on September 03, 2001, 10:38:00 PM
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Hi there,
I just got cleared to spend $500 to upgrade my system. Now $500.00 doesn't buy much if you are getting a whole new puter but I have been "recycling" components for several years and will be doing so again.
I'm going to reuse my soundcard (Avance PCI) and my Voodoo 3 3000. Yeah I know the Voodoo is dated but I only have a bit of money. I'll replace the vid card later. I'll also be using my almost new 40gig HD and the ethernet card in the new system.
Since I'm using older cards/HD I only need a case, MB, CPU and RAM. This is what I have scoped out locally at a store that builds puters. There are 2 proposals as I saw the posts earlier about high end and low buck upgrades.
Case for both is the same and will be a mid tower, 300 watts PS.
High End
(MB) Asus A7M Socket A DDR ATA100 266 FSB-$102.50
(CPU) AMD Tbird 1133Mhz $187.00
Ram 512 Megs PC2100 DDR266Mhz $78.00
Total - $368.00 plus tax.
Low End
(MB) ASUS A7 AMD Socket A ATA100 133FSB $149.50
(CPU)AMD Duron 800Mhz $55.00
(RAM) 512 Megs sdram 133 $144.00
Total - $345.00
I know the ram is high on the 133 side vs the DDR. I don't know why. I didn't take the bottom price on the sdram as it was fairly close. (The DDR was REALLY cheap!)
Since the prices are so close I was going for the 1133 Tbird vs the Duron. There is less tha $25.00 difference in price.
Any comments on this stuff???? I am about ready to get this done in the next few days before the money gets wasted on bills or something. :)
PS I need a new OS and will likely get win2k. Got win 98 and it isn't stable for me even after a second clean install, sigh. That is the main reason I have to wait for the vid card. The best price this store can give me for a geforce 32 megs is still over $125.00. The 64 meg one is over $300.00, yikes!!!!
Mav
[ 09-03-2001: Message edited by: Maverick ]
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price seems high on the pc133 ram.
highest i've seen around here for a 256mb stick is 49.99 and if you shop around you can find it for around 30
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Great choices there. Do definately go the DDR ram route no matter what. You might also want to price a 1.2 Tbird, the price should be almost the same as an 1133.
You may also consider waiting a week, AMD announced price cuts this past Monday, so CPU prices may drop wherever you are getting the parts from.
The Asus A7M266 is still an excellent board at this time as well.
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I dont know if DDR SDRAM is so important afterall. Toms Hardware tests indicate that early DDR boards are only few percents faster than ordinary SDRAM boards when running normal applications.
Of course that will change when VIA's new 266A chipset comes out in few weeks.
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Try www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com) for a CPU. I got a 1.33 Athlon T-Bird for $116.
The price now is about $109.
Good Luck
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you can get an A7M266 266FSB DDR mobo WITH the AMD 1.4 t-bird for $312 at http://www.monarchcomputer.com/ (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/)
Buy the DDR ram from www.crucial.com (http://www.crucial.com) , 256 ram will cost ya like 100 bucks for 2 chips.
So for 400 bucks, ye upgrade. Just be sure to get an AMD approved 300W or higher power supply :)
[ 09-04-2001: Message edited by: Tac ]
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Heck, you have additional points you need to score with the "boss". Tax rebate (prolly $600),and cost of playing AH and additional $150/yr!! If ya sell it you can upgrade to your hearts content!!! Think Big, it is your duty to uphold masculinity by winning this argument!!! Go for it!! Go for it!!!
RAH,RAH,RAH,!!!!!
Course if the law has been laid down.......... :(
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Originally posted by 1776:
Heck, you have additional points you need to score with the "boss". Tax rebate (prolly $600),and cost of playing AH and additional $150/yr!! If ya sell it you can upgrade to your hearts content!!! Think Big, it is your duty to uphold masculinity by winning this argument!!! Go for it!! Go for it!!!
RAH,RAH,RAH,!!!!!
Course if the law has been laid down.......... :(
1776,
The upgrade was tied directly to shoe purchases by the other half. I used my negotiating skills to approve shoes for puter parts to be purchased very soon!
:D
Mav
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He heeeeeeeee, now the real question: will the shoes or the new puter be in style six months from now??
Sounds like a fair trade off :D
Now don't they need clothes to match their new shoes? I see a GeForce3 in the near future for you :)
[ 09-04-2001: Message edited by: 1776 ]
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Don't forget to save a bit of money for a bunch of flowers or a romantic dinner!