OK, I am getting some cash inflow and I decided it's time to upgrade my 2-3 year old computer. First my current computer stats for reference:

1.8GHZ Athlon XP/K7-II
512MB RAM
GeForce FX 5200
74.9GB Hard Drive (80GB by HD manufacturor's counting)
nForce2 Motherboard
- No PCI-e, one AGP slot, buncha PCI
- three slots for memory, supports up to 3gb total, currently one 512 stick in slot two
- Integrated network and audio
Windows XP Home

Here's what I want to do:
- Upgrade to 1.5gb memory
- At least double my hard drive capacity
- Get a ideo card that will let me play all current games at highest settings sexy-like, and will last me a few years. So something high-endish I guess.

Here is what i have for $$$:
- I have made about $600 from my job so far this semester (since September) at about $50/week, sometimes a little more. I have yet to take taxes out of that.
- I have a few hundred dollars not from that in my account. I'll get a more-or-less exact amount soon.
- After Christmas, when I want to hopefully put whatever plan into action, I will have gotten moneys from kind relatives.

Here are my options as I see them:
- Upgrade video card, get 1gb memory, get new hard drive and install it as a slave. This was my original plan, BUT I am told my processor would be a bottleneck for the video card, and most high-end cards now are only PCI-e.
- Get a custom-built new computer, possibly cannibalizing parts such as memory and the old drive for use in it, and getting enough new stuff installed in it to fit my requirements. Also if I get Vista on it, I'm going for Ultimate.

What would YOU recommend I do, Massassi? I will accept general as well as specific recommendations.

Well, I'd recommend new processor, more RAM (new in this case, forget if your current CPU uses PC2700 or not), and the new video card. Hard drive you shant worry about, since you can get 160GB hard drives for 40 bucks after rebate every single weekend at Best Buy. And of course, PCI-E card would require mobo update. Getting an AGP card is kind of useless now, unless you are REALLY trying to save money.

But since you'd be getting the new CPU, new RAM, and new Video card, and new Mobo, you'd pretty much be getting a new computer anyway. If eVGA is still doing it, they are doing offers where if you buy their GF 7800GT or GTx, you get a free eVGA SLI nForce 4 motherboard. It's a great deal, and will save you some moneyz.

7800GTs are getting pretty cheap now. You can find them for 325 - 350 dollars now.

http://www.evga.com/articles/public.asp?AID=258 <--- there is the offer from eVGA. It's a very good deal.

Your CPU will be a massive bottleneck if you upgrade. You either upgrade the CPU with everything else, or stick with what you have until you can. Otherwise, you're wasting your money.

Technology forum!

Technology forum is EMPTY.



I couldn't ask for a better or more perfect deal for me. Thanks Ubuu! I'll see what my dad (the resident hardware expert who built my computer for me) thinks.

I am starting to lean towards a new mobo, processor, and vid card for my vid card needs. I'll have my dad take a look at your link too buck.

Thanks everyone, keep the suggestions rolling.

My dad thought this would be better for memory, since I have only 3 slots and they'd all be filled by three 0.5gb sticks:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820161678

Thoughts?

And what's this "For AMD only!" stuff mean?