Can I find a better computer for $600, or should I upgrade?

[silentkate]

This is my current computer:
HP Pavillion 533w
Processor: Intel Celeron CPU 2.0GHZ
Memory: 510MB RAM (
Video Card: Radeon 9200 with 128 MB memory

I’m looking to buy a better computer. The main thing I'm looking for is a better computer for gaming (I play World Of Warcraft, The Sims 2 with all the expansion packs, Medal Of Honor Allied Assault, and other games) and one that can run more than one program at once without lagging. I’ll also be using my computer for storing pictures, web design, downloading and storing music, Internet, etc. What I need help with is this; I only have 600 dollars to spend. Is that enough to buy a significantly better computer, or would any computer I’d find for that price be pretty much the same as the one I already have? Would I be better off upgrading the one I have? I’m pretty clueless when it comes to computers. I was able to install more RAM and a new video card a few years back, but that’s about as advanced as my knowledge of computers is. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. :)

[saphalline]

Complete specs for your system are here (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph07909&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=90862&lang=en). You have $600, you say? Are you able to build or just buy?

[silentkate]

Thanks for the quick response. :) I’d prefer to buy because I don't think I could put a computer together myself, but if building would be the best option I have a friend that may be able to build one for me.

[saphalline]

Building would be the best option. Your current system only has PCI slots, which means upgrading for gaming is out of the question. There is no PCI vid card better than what you have. Not by more than 5%, which is nothing compared to a Radeon 9200. And of course the rest of the system is old and non-upgradeable.

Buying would not be much better since you'd have to buy yet another low-end OEM computer and spend the money to upgrade it for gaming. And then, a year from now, you would once again not be able to do much with it. These OEM systems are disposable and ill-suited for gaming in general.

$600 is a bit light for building a gaming system, even if building is the best option. There's nothing you can salvage from your current system other than the hard drive and optical drive, but even then, you'll want new versions since those are among the cheapest components.

At this point you could buy a cheap yet somewhat upgradeable OEM system for around $400 and then upgrade it for gaming. Or you could ask your friend to build you a new system around components that we pick out here. But I suggest waiting until you have more saved up. Since you will require a completely new system, an extra $200-300 would make all the difference in the world.

Good game choices, by the way. ;) What do you play on WoW? I'm partial to Priests and Paladins myself.

[silentkate]

I play a Magician on WOW. :)
Is $800 or $900 enough to build a decent system? My friend won't be able to build the computer for me for about a month anyway, so I may be able to save up. If that is enough money, what would I need to get? Thanks so much for your help.

[Whyzman]

You might want to have a look here: http://www.pcguide.com/byop/

The author and founder of the PC GUIDE and Forums, I suspect, had you in mind when he ventured hither... ;)

[saphalline]

That article is full of good advice in general. The specifics are out-dated, of course, but the general info is still valid.

silentkate - You could easily build an average system for $600, but a gaming system? It would probably beat your current system, but the performance increase would not feel like $600 worth. You'd feel like you had spent all this money for not much more. Part of the problem is that certain necessary components (like the case, PSU, and mobo) have a minimum cost associated with them. You can't build a new computer without them, so you end up with a minimum amount of money that you need to spend to build a new system.

This means that any extra money above and beyond that minimum can be spent on better components. A gaming system that costs $800 will actually have twice the performance of a gaming system that costs $600. This is why I suggest saving up more money. The extra can be put where it counts - into more gaming performance. The exact design will have to wait until you're ready. Computer technology changes too fast to pick out components now and then build in 3 months.

[HomeSA]

You can sell the system you have now and add the money to the budget you already have, unless you are planning on having two PCs. That, plus saving for another month or two should get you enough money to put a system together that Saphalline considers "game-worthy". :)

Just a thought