Should I Buy or Upgrade?

[ApexGT]

With the release of Windows 7, I'm willing to bet you've had similar questions on this forum, but after performing a quick search, I didn't find anything matching my particular situation. I apologize if this is repetitive.

After some consideration, I've decided to make the jump from XP to 7. However, I'm unsure if it would be most prudent to upgrade my current PC or buy a completely new system. Here are my specs:

HP Pavilion a1473w:

Windows XP 5.1.2600 SP3
Pentium 4 620 HT 2.8 GHz
1 GB (2x512) PC2-3200, 240-pin DDR2 SDRAM (there are no open DIMM slots left)
200 GB SATA Hard Drive
Integrated ATI Radeon Xpress 200 graphics

Full specs can be found here if this wasn't enough info: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00620029

I bought the computer in winter/spring of 2006. I'm still happy with the computer, but think that it's time to move up to a better OS. The way I see it is this: I can either upgrade my current PC for around $240 (external hard drive for the clean install, a couple sticks of 1GB RAM to bring my memory up to 2 GB, a NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS 512MB video card, and take advantage of the student discount of Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit edition), or invest in a new system (currently considering a Dell Studio XPS 8000 for around $1,250). I suppose the real question is if it would be most wise to patch up my old computer or ditch it in favor of newer technology.

Thanks for any advice, everyone.

[cmeyvin]

Pentium 4, integrated graphics.....hmmmm doesn't sound good. But what will u be using the PC for? And are you going to game? If yes, what games?

[ApexGT]

I use the computer mainly for Internet browsing, word processing, and the occasional music/video download. I do have some games that I play, but only very rarely; I use my 360 for the majority of my gaming. The games I do have for my PC are older (Half-Life 2, UT2004, Splinter Cell, etc) and I don't actively purchase new games.

[cmeyvin]

oh so u won't need much PC power then. Just save up ur money and beef up the ram. U should be okay and that 8400gs ur buying, wat price is it? The 8400gs is a very crappy card, if ur getting it cheap then it's okay

[ApexGT]

The video card is, I believe, $60. I don't do much gaming on the PC and what games I do have aren't very graphically intensive (I'm okay with a computer that doesn't run Crysis ;-)). I just want to have more than my current 64MB of video memory if I'm to run the newer Aero interface and 512MB for $60 seems reasonable.

[123456]

I got an 8400GS over a year ago for $35...

[ApexGT]

The $60 8400 GS is just what I found by doing a quick search of the popular electronics sites. Most of the video cards are $100+ and I don't feel that I can justify spending an exorbitant amount of money for the limited performance I realistically require. If a comparable video card can be found for a cheaper price, I'd be all for it, but I'm not familiar with any "insider" sources. I suppose I could try eBay.

[cmeyvin]

60$ is too expensive for a 8400GS, where do you live ApexGT? We'll find u what you need

[123456]

You should buy your stuff off of newegg.

www.newegg.com

[ApexGT]

I live in Charleston, WV. I appreciate your initiative to help me, guys. I had actually known about Newegg, but it had just slipped my mind I guess :-/. But I'm glad I went there now because I found an 8400 GS 512MB by ZOTAC for $30...time to see what else is here.

[sifLord]

if it is not too late i would suggest an ATI 4000 series card over any of nvidias 8000 or 9000 series, especially at the low end

nvidia have just released the 210 and 220 gpu that have only just started to mach the ATI cards at the low end as far as functionality is concerned

[ApexGT]

Thanks for the advice sifLord. I'll look into it.

So, the general consensus here is that my current computer is not so old that I would gain greater benefit by buying a new system?

[sifLord]

i think people have generally recommended the upgrade path because you have already said you are content with the system

there is no doubt that a new system will provide greater benefits, those principally being slightly lower running costs coupled with greater processing power, but the real question is, do you need/want that much more power ?

having said that, my experience with windows 7, though limited to beta and release candidates, has shown that it certainly makes better use of older hardware, but ultimately the os is also designed to take advantage of newer hardware

it really depends on what you are going to use the machine for and will your present software actually take advantage of the newer processors abilities (i.e. multithreading) etc..

[ApexGT]

Alright, so how about this:

1) MSI N94GT-MD512 GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - $39.99
2) Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 400 (PC2 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR400D2N3K2/2G - $37.49
3) Western Digital My Passport Essential 250GB Black External Hard Drive WDME2500TN - $59.99
4) Window 7 Home Premium 32-bit edition upgrade with installation CD - $42.99

All of this, plus shipping, totals $198.04

Sound good?

[123456]

Pretty decent.

[jlreich]

I consider the external drive separate and not part of the upgrade so $140 for a decent upgrade is worth it for what you use the system for in my opinion.

The fact that it is a single core CPU does concern me somewhat. If you ever want to run modern applications or definitely modern games you will run into a wall. But for what you are currently using it for it will do fine. The system does support Pentium D dual cores, but they are hard to find these days.

external hard drive for the clean install
Just to be clear you don't intend on trying to install windows to the external drive do you? I assume you mean it is for backing up data while you clean install windows to the internal drive?

[sassie05]

4) Window 7 Home Premium 32-bit edition upgrade with installation CD - $42.99
If you don't mind me asking, Where are you getting that from?

[ApexGT]

Just to be clear you don't intend on trying to install windows to the external drive do you? I assume you mean it is for backing up data while you clean install windows to the internal drive?

Correct. I need to do the clean install of Windows 7 since my system currently runs XP.

If you don't mind me asking, Where are you getting that from?

I'm eligible for Microsoft's student discount of Windows 7. With a valid educational e-mail address, you can get the upgrade version for $29.99. Since I don't have Vista, I opted to also get a physical installation disk for an additional $13.