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| 18 JUL 2004 at 2:03am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16552
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Hey Belinda is back!
SirFunk is off the hook now.
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| 18 JUL 2004 at 2:10am |
BelindaSchattenjger
Posts : 2093
Joined: 21 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Caroline (18 JUL 2004 2:03am)
Hey Belinda is back!
SirFunk is off the hook now.
Hi Caroline......what do you mean about sir funk off the hook?
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| 18 JUL 2004 at 2:23am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16552
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Belinda,
A couple of weeks back SirFunk was given the task by the forum to 'bring Belle back'. It's probably buried a few pages back by now.
I'm going to read the replies you get to this question with interest. I'm looking to upgrade my pc too.
Edited to add: Just checked. It's on page 5.
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| 18 JUL 2004 at 2:26am |
gailSchattenjger
Posts : 1659
Joined: 19 JAN 2004
Status : Offline | Try this link.
Good to see you here Belinda.
This is what I have learned... but I'm no authority. AMD/Celeron is in the lead at the moment. You won't be able to upgrade your PC if you have the sound and video integrated, but in the long run it may be the cheapest way to go, rather than buying individual components. It boils down to money vs. an upgradeable system.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other screaming, "WOO HOO what a ride!!!
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| 18 JUL 2004 at 8:41am |
| Deleted User | BEL -
Be careful!
There's going to be a massive move into new technology in the next year. DON'T WASTE MONEY into getting a completely new system, instead pick and choose good components for now and upgrade bits and pieces!
This time next year, you'll be able to buy PCI express equipment, 64bit CPU's will be a hell of a lot cheaper, there'll be new graphics cards and the next proper generation would have arrived. There'll even be new types of case to hold components which improve airflow!
Please post your current system specs and we can recommend things properly. A new Nforce2 motherboard should be quite cheap now, and I bought a new Athlon 3000+ processor for very little ($160, or £80 here... although you'll find it cheaper than that in the USA) and it's very fast. Don't forget to get a fan too which'll fit it!
Get a Shuttle AN35 Ultra for around 50 bucks and some good memory from Crucial.com. That's the Nforce2 Motherboard I'm talking about.
As for video cards, a Radeon 9800Pro should last a while and they're around the $150. And also buy a new Power Supply Unit (PSU) - mine is 500W or thereabouts, if I recall. Does lovely and they never go out of date, so invest in a good one. Newer equipment = more power needed and your old one may not be up to it. Tell me what it is and I'll let you know.
But as I said, save your major, major dough for next year. I'm being quite cheap, but this system will keep you in good stead until then without spending a fortune.
One thing to note if you DO install a new Mobo, make sure you have a FULL edition of Windows, back up all your data before and as you're going to have to reinstall it onto your hard drive - which means wiping it. I'm afraid that, if you do keep your Windows on the same H/D as your games, this has to be done so the drivers can be reinstalled and everything works properly. Check ebay for a new, FULL, copy of Windows - they're suprisingly cheap!
And... don't buy ANYTHING built in. Do it yourself. It's easier than you think, and if I can do it, anyone can. I'm a technical shmuck and a total ditz. Everything is clear where you put things, for example an AGP Graphics card will only fit into the big slot, just make sure you're attatched to a radiator by buying one of those anti-static wristbands (or keep your PC plugged into a switched-off mains and touch it whilst working) to stop static from damaging your equipment, take it slowly and lay everything out beforehand.
If you want me to simplify the above, let me know. [smiley=angel_smiley.gif]
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| 18 JUL 2004 at 9:07am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16552
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Wow! I'm impressed.
I need to update my graphics card to play the latest games and I was planning to just buy a new box etc for myself and pass this one on to the kids. Looks like I should hold off the new one.
So if I have Gforce2 with only 64m ram what is the best graphics card to ask for? I put a new power supply into it only last month.
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| 18 JUL 2004 at 9:52am |
| Deleted User | Firstly, how powerful was the power supply you put in? Less than 450 isn't enough nowadays...
But your graphics card may depend on your motherboard. What is your motherboard? If you can't tell... use Belarc Advisor and post your specs from that.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
It's easy, does it all for you. Once it's downloaded, install and click the Belarc icon, take the information from the screen and post here.
You'll need an AGP 8X compatible slot if you want to get the most of your new graphics card. As I said, a 9800 pro or a Nvidia Geforce 5950 are quite cheap right now, should tide you over Dreamfall et al. t'll make a difference, but so does memory and a processor. Post the specs, I'll tell you the weaknesses.
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| 18 JUL 2004 at 2:32pm |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16552
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | oh sod. I was having problems with the fan in the power supply unit going on the blink and shutting down when overheating. I asked my brother - who is meant to know these things to help and he bought me a new power supply and installed it. I've just found the bill.
$39 for a 400 w. Oh damn. > > He doesn't play any computer games and he's excessively thrifty.....
As for the rest it was an Atholon 1.6 mherz with 40gig DDram and soundblaster card.
I think I'm jiggered. Perhaps I don't need the latest uptodate graphics card.
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| 18 JUL 2004 at 3:21pm |
| Deleted User | 400W should be OK! I take back what I said. If it was 350 then there's trouble. No problem there. Your current graphics card, I'm afraid to say, is horribly out of date... going back to 1999/2000 or so and doesn't support some of the features that'll make games like Dreamfall so nice, and may even inhibit some of the loveliness of even Myst IV.
Your only problem may be your motherboard. Please, just download belarc advisor and look there to find out what it is. Unless you already know!
Hopefully it'll have AGP 8X capability, and you can get a spanking new one. I'd possibly go for a Radeon 9600, which is DirectX9 compliant, does Petter Holmberg proud and should be enough for decent performance. Plus, if you look about, it's nice n'cheap too! But if you can afford it, a Radeon 9800 is nice, not necessarily the Pro version, and quite cheap too. The Pro's a little more expensive but worth it for the extra glitz.
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| 19 JUL 2004 at 11:18am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16552
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Hero,
I followed your instructions and got Belarc and here is what it says.
1.40 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP
Board: VT8366-8233
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
40.01 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
256 Megabytes Installed Memory
VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host ControllerVIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host ControllerVIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
Creative SB Live! ValueGameport Joystick (no joystick connected)MPU-401 CompatibleVIA AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller (WDM)Wave Device for Voice Modem
USB Root HubUSB Root HubUSB Root Hub
It also didn't like this:
Win98.SE
UPD269601 (details...) Reinstall!
There was a little red X next to it. and warning! So I followed the details link but whatever is missing is not available. Will I find this missing bit on the system disk that came with the machine? It said it was a weakness in my security that allowed remote instructions.
So, what do you think? Can I upgrade it easily?
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| 19 JUL 2004 at 8:50pm |
| Deleted User | You Motherboard, after looking up the serial number, ended up being the Epox 8KHA+.
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=887
Here's a review, circa 2001. Unfortunately, its only got AGP 4X, which wouldn't make full use of a brand new card. BUT, what with the graphics card you have now, new cards are still AGP 4X compliant and it would still make a massive difference in gaming until, or rather if, you decide to invest in a new motherboard.
Also, there's no chance upgrading your processor on that motherboard. That's the best you could get. I'd suggest saving up until next year for a general upgrade (if you think you need it) and just get the graphics card for now as that GF2 thing really is the pits.
ALSO... do yourself a favour and also buy some new memory. Windows 98 doesn't take up as much as XP, but its always better to have a minimum of 512MB... it'll make a huge difference in how quickly your PC loads even 2D titles and applications.
Get a stick of 512MB DDR PC2100 memory, as thats compatible with your motherboard and will, no doubt, be faster than whats already there.
I can't help you with the Win 98 question. Although I'd suggest you look into it. Check the Microsoft website for Win 98 security patches and if you don't have them DOWNLOAD THEM ASAP. You SHOULD, and I can't stress the importance enough if you use the internet often (and you do ), always make sure your Windows is updated with the latest patches.
Personally, I'd look into upgrading to Windows XP, but that depends on your future computer plans.
To sum up -
1) Get a new graphics card.
2) Get some more memory.
The performance gain will be great and make you feel proud of the ol' grey box.
HOWEVER... if you want me to be cruel... I suggest this...
Gut the machine and upgrade, upgrade, upgrade! Buy a full edition of Win XP on ebay on the cheap, rip out that old motherboard, replace it with a cheap Nforce2 (like the Shuttle suggested above), buy a Athlon 3000+ (now for less than £100 here in the UK - Oz, I've no idea), stick that in with a good heatsink. new memory and g-card... et voila!
[smiley=angel_smiley.gif]
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| 20 JUL 2004 at 1:39am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16552
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | You're my hero, Hero.
I've printed that out and shall get some prices. Ta muchly.
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