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1 year old computer

OSMAN

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hey all i only have about 250 bucks to spend. here is my current rig.

Monitor: Acer AL1706 Flat Screen LCD 1280x1204 res
Processor: Pentium D 840 @ 3.20GHZ 800MHZ FSB
Mobo: Abit SG-80DC
Ram: 2GB DDR1 400mhz PC3200 SDRAM
Hard drive 1: 160GB SamSung 7200rpm IDE
Hard drive 2: 250GB Samsung 7200rpm IDE
PSU: 400 watt PSU(not sure what kind)
Video: Leaktek 6800 Non-Ultra @ stock speeds using 169.01
Mouse: Microsoft wireless
Keyboard: Microsoft Wireless
Mouse pad: max payne (old one)
10mbit DSL connection
Printer: Canon IP 5000
case: mind case with a see through fan
cd-drive one: Sony DVD-RW DRU-800A
cd-drive two: Lite- on DVD-RW SHW-160P6S
Speakers: Labtec 4 surround sound
Sound card: onboard sound
OS: Windows Vista SP1 V.275 32-bit

now i was just thinking of getting a new video card, but what card would go with that system? would going to 64-bit windows OS also be good?
 

panchoman

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Processor Amd Athlon X2 4600+ Windsor(90nm) EE(65W) @2.9-3.0 @1.45
Motherboard Biostar Tforce [Nvidia] 550
Cooling Thermaltake Blue Orb-- bunch of other fans here and there....
Memory 2 gigs (2x1gb) of patriot ddr2 800 @ 4-4-4-12-2t
Video Card(s) Sapphire X1950pro Pci-E x16 @stock@stock on stock
Storage Seagate 7200.11 250gb Drive, WD raptors (30/40) in Raid 0
Display(s) ANCIENT 15" sony lcd, bought it when it was like 500 bucks
Case Apevia X-plorer blue/black
Audio Device(s) Onboard- Why get an sound card when you can hum??
Power Supply Antec NeoHe 550-manufactured by seasonic -replacement to the discontinued smart power series
Software Windows XP pro SP2 -- vista is still crap
first off, welcome to the forums :)

what are you looking to improve about the system? gaming? and why are you looking at a 64 bit os?
 

3991vhtes

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Storage Seagate 250GB SATA
Display(s) Acer AL2002W 20" LCD Widescreen
Case cheap
Audio Device(s) Creative SoundBlaster
Power Supply 500 watt
Software Vista Ultimate
Benchmark Scores 4.1 Vista index
if your CPU isn't 64-bit, then you can't use a 64-bit OS.

I don't know if the Pentium D 840's are 64-bit
 

OSMAN

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i heard that 64 bit OS is much better, i want to improve gaming, to make the system last a least another year.
 

panchoman

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Messages
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Processor Amd Athlon X2 4600+ Windsor(90nm) EE(65W) @2.9-3.0 @1.45
Motherboard Biostar Tforce [Nvidia] 550
Cooling Thermaltake Blue Orb-- bunch of other fans here and there....
Memory 2 gigs (2x1gb) of patriot ddr2 800 @ 4-4-4-12-2t
Video Card(s) Sapphire X1950pro Pci-E x16 @stock@stock on stock
Storage Seagate 7200.11 250gb Drive, WD raptors (30/40) in Raid 0
Display(s) ANCIENT 15" sony lcd, bought it when it was like 500 bucks
Case Apevia X-plorer blue/black
Audio Device(s) Onboard- Why get an sound card when you can hum??
Power Supply Antec NeoHe 550-manufactured by seasonic -replacement to the discontinued smart power series
Software Windows XP pro SP2 -- vista is still crap
i think he should upgrade to a c2d, do you oc osman?
 

OSMAN

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don't have the money to upgrade to a new motherboard and cpu :(
 

panchoman

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Jul 16, 2007
Messages
9,595 (1.57/day)
Processor Amd Athlon X2 4600+ Windsor(90nm) EE(65W) @2.9-3.0 @1.45
Motherboard Biostar Tforce [Nvidia] 550
Cooling Thermaltake Blue Orb-- bunch of other fans here and there....
Memory 2 gigs (2x1gb) of patriot ddr2 800 @ 4-4-4-12-2t
Video Card(s) Sapphire X1950pro Pci-E x16 @stock@stock on stock
Storage Seagate 7200.11 250gb Drive, WD raptors (30/40) in Raid 0
Display(s) ANCIENT 15" sony lcd, bought it when it was like 500 bucks
Case Apevia X-plorer blue/black
Audio Device(s) Onboard- Why get an sound card when you can hum??
Power Supply Antec NeoHe 550-manufactured by seasonic -replacement to the discontinued smart power series
Software Windows XP pro SP2 -- vista is still crap
i heard that 64 bit OS is much better, i want to improve gaming, to make the system last a least another year.

you get a slight performance increase, but some issues with small programs not running and drivers. i say its not worth the money to upgrade to a 64bit os-- you'll get a lot more performance from improving hardware then upgrading to 64bit
 

OSMAN

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i can get the 64 bit OS for free from my brothers company
 

panchoman

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Messages
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Processor Amd Athlon X2 4600+ Windsor(90nm) EE(65W) @2.9-3.0 @1.45
Motherboard Biostar Tforce [Nvidia] 550
Cooling Thermaltake Blue Orb-- bunch of other fans here and there....
Memory 2 gigs (2x1gb) of patriot ddr2 800 @ 4-4-4-12-2t
Video Card(s) Sapphire X1950pro Pci-E x16 @stock@stock on stock
Storage Seagate 7200.11 250gb Drive, WD raptors (30/40) in Raid 0
Display(s) ANCIENT 15" sony lcd, bought it when it was like 500 bucks
Case Apevia X-plorer blue/black
Audio Device(s) Onboard- Why get an sound card when you can hum??
Power Supply Antec NeoHe 550-manufactured by seasonic -replacement to the discontinued smart power series
Software Windows XP pro SP2 -- vista is still crap
don't have the money to upgrade to a new motherboard and cpu :(

250 bucks is almost enough to get a quad core, your mobo is lga775 right? it should be able to do a nice c2d e4300(100 bucks) with no problem.
 

panchoman

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Processor Amd Athlon X2 4600+ Windsor(90nm) EE(65W) @2.9-3.0 @1.45
Motherboard Biostar Tforce [Nvidia] 550
Cooling Thermaltake Blue Orb-- bunch of other fans here and there....
Memory 2 gigs (2x1gb) of patriot ddr2 800 @ 4-4-4-12-2t
Video Card(s) Sapphire X1950pro Pci-E x16 @stock@stock on stock
Storage Seagate 7200.11 250gb Drive, WD raptors (30/40) in Raid 0
Display(s) ANCIENT 15" sony lcd, bought it when it was like 500 bucks
Case Apevia X-plorer blue/black
Audio Device(s) Onboard- Why get an sound card when you can hum??
Power Supply Antec NeoHe 550-manufactured by seasonic -replacement to the discontinued smart power series
Software Windows XP pro SP2 -- vista is still crap
i can get the 64 bit OS for free from my brothers company

well then whats their to ask about it lol, some driver issues and small programs, but its getting better and it boots a lot faster and stuff. i would grab it if i could get it free.
 

Namslas90

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You might have to save up and spend a little more. Your Mobo is dated and can't realy handle a good CPU,DDR2 or high FSB.(800 max)

:toast:
 

wazzledoozle

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Power Supply Coolermaster eXtreme Power Plus 500w
Software XP Pro
Your best upgrade would be a new videocard. Is that PCI-E or AGP?

X1950pro is a good option for AGP. 8800GT for PCI-E.
 

panchoman

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Processor Amd Athlon X2 4600+ Windsor(90nm) EE(65W) @2.9-3.0 @1.45
Motherboard Biostar Tforce [Nvidia] 550
Cooling Thermaltake Blue Orb-- bunch of other fans here and there....
Memory 2 gigs (2x1gb) of patriot ddr2 800 @ 4-4-4-12-2t
Video Card(s) Sapphire X1950pro Pci-E x16 @stock@stock on stock
Storage Seagate 7200.11 250gb Drive, WD raptors (30/40) in Raid 0
Display(s) ANCIENT 15" sony lcd, bought it when it was like 500 bucks
Case Apevia X-plorer blue/black
Audio Device(s) Onboard- Why get an sound card when you can hum??
Power Supply Antec NeoHe 550-manufactured by seasonic -replacement to the discontinued smart power series
Software Windows XP pro SP2 -- vista is still crap
hmm yeah. he needs a new mobo cpu, etc.
 
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wazzledoozle

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Video Card(s) HIS IceQ 4670 512Mb
Storage 640Gb & 160Gb western digital sata drives
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Case Thermaltake Soprano
Audio Device(s) Audigy 2 softmod@Audigy 4, Logitech X-530 5:1
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3991vhtes

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Processor AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice 2.4GHz
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Video Card(s) DiamondViper Radeon X1650PRO 512MB PCI-e
Storage Seagate 250GB SATA
Display(s) Acer AL2002W 20" LCD Widescreen
Case cheap
Audio Device(s) Creative SoundBlaster
Power Supply 500 watt
Software Vista Ultimate
Benchmark Scores 4.1 Vista index
i heard that 64 bit OS is much better, i want to improve gaming, to make the system last a least another year.

IS your cpu a 64 bit cpu?

if it isn't, XP Pro 64bit won't work
 

p_o_s_pc

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Memory 2x2gb ddr3 | 2x2gb Ripjaws 1600 |4x512mb D9s
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Software Windows 7 Ult. 64bit---->------->
i heard that 64 bit OS is much better, i want to improve gaming, to make the system last a least another year.

get a new video card
 

Namslas90

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No, it's AGP. Also, does not support C2D.
 

panchoman

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Processor Amd Athlon X2 4600+ Windsor(90nm) EE(65W) @2.9-3.0 @1.45
Motherboard Biostar Tforce [Nvidia] 550
Cooling Thermaltake Blue Orb-- bunch of other fans here and there....
Memory 2 gigs (2x1gb) of patriot ddr2 800 @ 4-4-4-12-2t
Video Card(s) Sapphire X1950pro Pci-E x16 @stock@stock on stock
Storage Seagate 7200.11 250gb Drive, WD raptors (30/40) in Raid 0
Display(s) ANCIENT 15" sony lcd, bought it when it was like 500 bucks
Case Apevia X-plorer blue/black
Audio Device(s) Onboard- Why get an sound card when you can hum??
Power Supply Antec NeoHe 550-manufactured by seasonic -replacement to the discontinued smart power series
Software Windows XP pro SP2 -- vista is still crap
i think nvidia left back agp, if you want a better video card, you're going to have to get hte x1950pro agp, its the best agp video card out atm, correct me if im wrong
 

JC316

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x1950 pro has my vote too. It will give you the biggest gains.
 
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Audio Device(s) Focusrite Saffire PRO 14 -> DBX DriveRack PA+ -> Mackie MR8 and MR10 / Senn PX38X -> SB AE-5 Plus
Power Supply Corsair RM1000i
Mouse Logitech G502x
Keyboard Corsair K95 Platinum
Software Windows 11 x64 Pro
Benchmark Scores 31k multicore Cinebench - CPU limited 125w
No, it's AGP. Also, does not support C2D.

I noticed that after, that setup is a full mainboard, processor, ram and video card for like $260...
 
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