Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:48 am Post subject: A bit of PC modding help...
Well ive got my 4 year old (going on 5 now) computer sitting around trying to play games. It works great for surfing the web (the hq network of course ) and playing less demanding games like halo 1 and world of warcraft, but i think its time to upgrade.
So i run the idea of me building a new computer by my parents tonight, saying it will most likely cost $2000-$5000 to build a new one. Well that wont work with my parents because all they use the computer for is to surf the web sometimes and to check E-mail, so they aren't forking that much out. I dont have a job yet so i dont have much to work with. So i was thinking since my parents say i have a $800 cap on how much i can spend to upgrade the computer. First ill give you the specs of my computer:
Intel Pentium IV 2.5 Ghz (only 1 core)
2 gigs of ram (most it can have because mobo only has 2 ports)
250W PSU
3X PCI
3X open spots in case for added cards
Nvidia Geforce 5500 graphics card (PCI)
Sata card for xbox 360 dvd drives (PCI)
Cd/DVD burner
Cd reader
6X Usb 2.0
Ethernet port
ATA interface
80 gig HDD
Windows XP
Stock case and cooling (120 mm fan i think, and big heat sink)
The root of the problem seems to be the mobo. The processor is fine at 2.5 Ghz and the HDD has 48 gigs free still. The disk drives work fine and the usb ports are great. Its just the ram and the bus support is lacking.
Since my money cap is only $800 i was thinking instead of building a whole new computer, why not use the parts i already have. I was thinking i could buy a new mobo that had better ram support and better buses and reuse older parts. I was thinking of buying the new mobo and taking the Intel processor and heatsink off my old computer and putting that on the new mobo, which would greatly decrease the amount of money for a new processor. Then i was thinking of using the same ports, HDD, and disk drives on the new one, so all i would have to buy is a new graphics card, and maybe new ram since i dont know if ram is based on processor or mobo. Maybe a new case too since i may not be able to fix the new mobo in the new case.
Now i dont know if this would work but i was thinking if i could do this i would get 3 gigs of ram and i would get this graphics card-->http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3435454&CatId=28. That would be much better for gaming and it isn't too expensive. I would need to find a mobo that supported the same layout as the Intel processor and was ATA based but it could workout. I would need a bigger PSU as well im guessing.
So any idea's on if this would work so i could finally be able to play crysis on my computer? If you can find some mobos that could work well for this then please give me a link _________________
dartht33bagger Moderator
Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 10520 Location: Harrisonburg V.A.
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:00 pm Post subject:
Looks like your pileing up a damn nice pc darth.
I wold say that will run crysis just fine, you might not run it with highest settings but you will be able to play it just fine.
Crysis is a full on video card monster.
dartht33bagger Moderator
Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 10520 Location: Harrisonburg V.A.
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 1:30 am Post subject:
I think the 3.0 runs at 2.66 per side when running split.
Not sure of it but i think thats how it brakes down.
Go with copper much better for heat.
Did you try tiger for the mem that looks good but thats a big price tag?
john_five0 Xbox-HQ Experienced Xbox Version: XBOX V1.6 Modded: Xecuter 3 w/ XBMC
Joined: Mar 31, 2007 Posts: 154 Location: PHX AZ
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 3:18 am Post subject:
Well I know my laptop has two ports for the ram, but they also come in 2 gigs , so you should be able to gt two of them and have 4 gigs of ram. If you get a mobo that would take four chips for the ram and insert four 2 gig ramchips, I would envy you. LMAO Other than that the only thing I could think of to get and put in would be a bigger hard drive ha ha more game!, the intel centrino duo works pretty good for me, though there may be something better. I know I want more ram because I'm on the Horde of Aggamaggon server and shat sucks, every time I go there my puter slows way down, and may be because I'm using Vista.
wes213 Administrator
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 10520 Location: Harrisonburg V.A.
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 4:14 am Post subject:
Just need to keep an eye on the mobo specs, some mobos wont see more then 2 gigs of mem over all.
dartht33bagger Moderator
Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 10520 Location: Harrisonburg V.A.
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 3:12 am Post subject:
It all looks good but that memm cooler might need to wait till you get it all together since it bumps the vid card on most mobos.
It did on mine.
dartht33bagger Moderator
Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:35 am Post subject:
Ok thanks man
I was thinking of overclocking the cpu to 2.6 ghz but i dont know how to overclock or if that copper heatsink+arctic aluma thermal paste is good enough. _________________
wes213 Administrator
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 10520 Location: Harrisonburg V.A.
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 3:42 pm Post subject:
Just get it all together and run it for a few days keeping an eye on your temps and if thay seem low enuff over clock it and keep an eye on the temps for a few more days.
Most over clocking wont run to hot with lots of case fans in use.
dartht33bagger Moderator
Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:58 pm Post subject:
ok, where do i find the temps of it at? In the bios? _________________
wes213 Administrator
Joined: Feb 04, 2007 Posts: 10520 Location: Harrisonburg V.A.
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 9:50 pm Post subject:
You can get the freeware app called speedfan to see your temps and it can be used to over clock for most PCs.
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) and playing less demanding games like halo 1 and world of warcraft, but i think its time to upgrade.
