Advice anyone?

[kayden azagthoth]

I feel like it is getting close to the time where I want to either buy a whole new PC or upgrade my current one. Some of you may think I am crazy to do so, but I am a pretty avid gamer and a lot of today's newer games are 'power hogs'. I find the recommended requirements of a lot of newer games exceeds what I currently have for a system.

So what I'd like to know is, if anything in my current system is worth porting over to a new system. I figure building a new system is going to be the way to go considering I know my MOBO won't support any newer CPUs.

Here's my current system:

-AMD K6II 500
-Epox MVP3-G2 ATX Motherboard (ATA66, Apollo chipset and 1 Meg K)
-128 Megs PC-100 SDRAM
-32 Meg TNTII AGP Video card
-52x Asus CD Rom
-Sound Blaster PCI Ensonic Sound card
-1.44 Meg Floppy
-13 Gig, 7200 RPM Fujitsu Hard Drive
-17" .27 Samsung 750s digital monitor
-ATX tower case with 250W power supply
-80W Zoltrix Speakers...ech.
-Windows 98 disc

That's about it. I know I'll be keeping the monitor. I bought the computer brand new in March 2000. I plan on staying with the AMD system.

Any advice would be cool.

Thanks

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And all you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be.

-Pink Floyd

[AwARe]

Hello Kayden,

Id recommend if you're short on cash etc and just want a better gaming experience................

Start with a new vid card.............

Try a GeForce2 MX400 64MB

It would make all the difference in the world and only run ya around $100

....and if it turns out you still want to upgrade the entire system then you'll already be one step ahead.................

My kid is running an older 450 system for example and his comp runs any game he wants to run on it...........

At any rate my point is might not be a bad idea to upgrade one thing at a time until youre satisfied..........Alot of what you have is still worth saving http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

2nd thing Id replace is the sound card Ive had some trouble with those cards.......maybe you havent though....

Hope this helps!

[kayden azagthoth]

Hey AwARe,

Thanks for the advice! I might even see if I can dig up another stick of 64 or 128megs of PC-100 ram at my local computer store. That might make a small difference with some games.

As far as my sound card goes, I have a little trouble with certain sounds on some of my games s-s-stuttering and making little 'buzzy and poppy' sounds. I find it happens mostly when there are in-game voices. Like in Black and White when the disciples talk or in the play by play in sports games.

Thanks for your advice! The new video card sounds like a great idea! Is it easy to remove my old card and slip in the new on my own? I realize to work on a nice flat and uncarpeted surface and to ground myself so I don't shock any of my components.

The sound card change might be a good idea too. I've been thinking of getting some new speakers and if I go with 4 sattelites and a sub, I'd need a new sound card for sure!

Another thing I was considering was getting the Microsoft Intelli-eye mouse with a scroll wheel. My current mouse is just the ball-variety and has no scroll. Anyone have any experience with the Intelli-eye technology? Does it actually make your mouse movements 'faster and more accurate'?

Now the question is...where do I get the money? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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And all you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be.

-Pink Floyd

[bassvax]

Sticking with the current system suggestions include: RAM, partitioning the hard drive to smaller ones (5-6 GB each)and set one aside for gaming, create one for the swap file...these will speed up things on the HD. The sound card may hold you back. Using BIOS and OS tweaks to get some resources and speed back may help.

New system suggestions: Video & Sound cards, 133MHz bus system (Mobo and RAM) or even the 200 0r 266 bus mobo and at least a 1GHz processor. Minimum of 256MB on the RAM. Probably, the current HD will do if it at least supports ATA 66. I believe there is a noticeable increase of speed by chopping the HD up...others may disagree. Of course, the power supply may be an issue with AMD mobo and processor. The Intellieye mouse does make a noticeable diff in response and accuracy and don't have to compensate for the dirty ball by slamming the thing around. Is that Win 98 or 98 SE? A bit of a diff especially with USB. Need suggestions on mobo...I think there is some good advice in the "Buying & Upgrading" section already.

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Tango down!

[AwARe]

Heya kay,

Thats exactly the kind of trouble with the sound I was talking about........
As far as installing the vid card, if this is your MoBo http://www.epox.com/html/english/products/motherboard/ep-mvp3g.htm , should be a fairly easy and simple process....Just be careful while inside your case, and if there is someone around with a little experience doing such things, would probably be a good idea to ask them for a little help.

I personally like the MS mouse, they are pretty cheap and work very well....I own 2 of them......

Good Luck!

Need any more help come on back http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif