• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Should I buy a new hard disk or a new video card?

Joshmcmillan

New Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2007
Messages
892 (0.14/day)
Location
Australia, NSW,Mid North Coast.
System Name Commander
Processor Intel i3 540 3.06Ghz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-H55-UD3H
Cooling 4x 80mm Case Fans, Zalman ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller, Stock CPU Cooler
Memory 4GB DDR3 1333Mhz (2x 2GB) - Kingston
Video Card(s) HIS ATi Radeon HD3850 256mb DDR3
Storage 640GB Western Digital Caviar Black
Display(s) 22" BenQ FP22W LCD, 700:1, 5ms, 16:10
Case Don't know exactly, metal, built on LED's.
Audio Device(s) Integrated - Altec Lansing 5.1 Speakers (6.5" Sub)
Power Supply Antec True 550W, 24 AMP on 12v rail
Software Vista Home Premium 64bit - AVG - Spybot
Hi,
I recently bought a new computer, went into deabt with my mum to get it and i'm wondering what will be the next bit I get after I have enough money. I am using the intergrated geforce 6150 and an 80gb hard drive currently and I want to upgrade one of those bits. If I got a video card I would go for something like at minimum 8600GT and if I went towards a new hard disk I would get like a 250-320gb. My question is, which would be more usuful to upgrade? I have games for my 80gb HD like Toca3 which is like 11gb, Oblivion is like 8gb and I also have games like need for speed carbon and most wanted, flatout 2, AOE 3, battlefield 2142. My hard disk is FULL so I need a biger one. On the other hand I have my 6150, can play all the new games like battlefield, oblivion and surpreme comander reasonably/playable but I will be upgrading eventually just not sure which would be more usuful to me either a hard disk or an 8600GT.
Thanks,
From Josh
 
Joined
Sep 9, 2006
Messages
994 (0.16/day)
Location
SoCal
Processor Intel C2D E6420 (3.2 gHz @ 1.365v)
Motherboard Gigabyte 965P-DS3
Cooling Zalman CNPS9500 LED
Memory 4 x 512mb Corsair XMS2 DDR2 667
Video Card(s) Visiontek HD 4870 512mb
Storage 200gb Maxtor SATA, 400gb WD SATA
Audio Device(s) Audigy 2 ZS
Software Windows XP Pro SP2
8600 for sure. The hard drive can wait... just uninstall games that you don't play, and back everything up to a DVD when you start running out of space.
 

Joshmcmillan

New Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2007
Messages
892 (0.14/day)
Location
Australia, NSW,Mid North Coast.
System Name Commander
Processor Intel i3 540 3.06Ghz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-H55-UD3H
Cooling 4x 80mm Case Fans, Zalman ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller, Stock CPU Cooler
Memory 4GB DDR3 1333Mhz (2x 2GB) - Kingston
Video Card(s) HIS ATi Radeon HD3850 256mb DDR3
Storage 640GB Western Digital Caviar Black
Display(s) 22" BenQ FP22W LCD, 700:1, 5ms, 16:10
Case Don't know exactly, metal, built on LED's.
Audio Device(s) Integrated - Altec Lansing 5.1 Speakers (6.5" Sub)
Power Supply Antec True 550W, 24 AMP on 12v rail
Software Vista Home Premium 64bit - AVG - Spybot
ok yeah I had to format my hd when I got my new pc and I only have like 4gb of stuff not backed up on dvd's that I copied onto a different computer because It wasn't worth the dvd. Games is the main thing taking up space. Mabey I could like pick up an 80gb hd or something for like AUD$40 on eBay or somthing.
 
Joined
Sep 9, 2006
Messages
994 (0.16/day)
Location
SoCal
Processor Intel C2D E6420 (3.2 gHz @ 1.365v)
Motherboard Gigabyte 965P-DS3
Cooling Zalman CNPS9500 LED
Memory 4 x 512mb Corsair XMS2 DDR2 667
Video Card(s) Visiontek HD 4870 512mb
Storage 200gb Maxtor SATA, 400gb WD SATA
Audio Device(s) Audigy 2 ZS
Software Windows XP Pro SP2
That's what I'm saying... unless you play ALL of your games ALL of the time, just uninstall the ones you play less, and reinstall when you do want to play. I'd take the ability to play games in higher resolutions and settings over more hd space any day...
 

GLD

Joined
May 13, 2006
Messages
1,631 (0.25/day)
Location
City 17, California, U.S.A.
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5700X, AMD Wraith Prism.
Motherboard ASUS TUF X570-Plus (Wi-Fi).
Cooling Antec 120mm RGB case fans.
Memory 4x8gb, G.SKILL F4-3600C16D-16GVKC.
Video Card(s) Sapphire Pulse RX 6700.
Storage PNY XLR8 CS3040 2TB 4.0x4 NVMe ssd with Vantec ICEBERQ heat sink.
Display(s) ASUS VP278QG 27", 1080p, 75hz, FreeSync.
Case Antec GX202.
Audio Device(s) Onboard sound, Logitech Z625 THX 2.1's, Logitech G430 headphones.
Power Supply Seasonic Prime GX-750.
Mouse Logitech G203 Prodigy.
Keyboard Logitech G213.
Software Windows 11 Pro, @ Day 1.
A hdd isn't that expensove, is it?
so why not buy bouth!

My thoughts exactly. But most definitely a video card first. A 6150 chipset (6200 gpu) may play your games, but you are missing out on the eye candy. Eye candy and good sound can make a game really come alive. Get a good gpu for your rig. You are shooting yourself in the foot otherwise. :rockout:
 
Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Messages
2,276 (0.36/day)
Location
Cairns QLD, Aussie
System Name GaMEr / HTPC
Processor FX8320 4.5ghz so far NB- 2815mhz / X2 255 @ 3.2ghz (Temp till BD)
Motherboard 990FX-UD5 / GA-MA785GPMT-US2H
Cooling XSPC - 240rad 480rad 5 x 120mm out, 6 x 80mm in / H220-edge 1/2" & 2 x 120mm Magma
Memory 4gb PI 6,8,6,18 1T 1706mhz / 4gb Crucial D9's 1400 @ 6,6,6,18,1T
Video Card(s) 3gb HD7950 / Onboard
Storage 2 x 120gb Sandisk ultra plus 2tb WD / 60gb vertex 2 + 2 x 2tb WD Greens
Display(s) 3x24in Dell Ultra (portrait) / NEC 32" FullHD LCD
Case LL PC71A Full tower / Antec fusion black with Imon remote Modded for WC
Audio Device(s) OB / Auzentech cinema 7.1
Power Supply TT 700w TR2 / TT 600w Litepower modded with Noctua S12 fan.
Software 7 Ult / 7 premium x64
Hey Josh, I see quite a few second hand hdds on ebay for like 60-70 bucks. That should be good enough until you get your new vcard. I reckon the 8600gt will be expensive as hell when it first comes out anyways... Are you savin now?? Maybe you would be better off getting like a x1950 or something and a hdd, wait 6 months then get the DX10 card. I have a heap of hdd's here too I will see if I can find one that works. Might be able to dish out some freebee's...

:)
 

Joshmcmillan

New Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2007
Messages
892 (0.14/day)
Location
Australia, NSW,Mid North Coast.
System Name Commander
Processor Intel i3 540 3.06Ghz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-H55-UD3H
Cooling 4x 80mm Case Fans, Zalman ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller, Stock CPU Cooler
Memory 4GB DDR3 1333Mhz (2x 2GB) - Kingston
Video Card(s) HIS ATi Radeon HD3850 256mb DDR3
Storage 640GB Western Digital Caviar Black
Display(s) 22" BenQ FP22W LCD, 700:1, 5ms, 16:10
Case Don't know exactly, metal, built on LED's.
Audio Device(s) Integrated - Altec Lansing 5.1 Speakers (6.5" Sub)
Power Supply Antec True 550W, 24 AMP on 12v rail
Software Vista Home Premium 64bit - AVG - Spybot
Drunken, I'm not that full of money I am saving but still in debt $200 for my new computer. When I buy a video card I will be using it for at least 3 years, so I wanted a DX10 one so it will last that long. It would be awesome if you could find a hd that worked to sell to me.
 
Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Messages
2,276 (0.36/day)
Location
Cairns QLD, Aussie
System Name GaMEr / HTPC
Processor FX8320 4.5ghz so far NB- 2815mhz / X2 255 @ 3.2ghz (Temp till BD)
Motherboard 990FX-UD5 / GA-MA785GPMT-US2H
Cooling XSPC - 240rad 480rad 5 x 120mm out, 6 x 80mm in / H220-edge 1/2" & 2 x 120mm Magma
Memory 4gb PI 6,8,6,18 1T 1706mhz / 4gb Crucial D9's 1400 @ 6,6,6,18,1T
Video Card(s) 3gb HD7950 / Onboard
Storage 2 x 120gb Sandisk ultra plus 2tb WD / 60gb vertex 2 + 2 x 2tb WD Greens
Display(s) 3x24in Dell Ultra (portrait) / NEC 32" FullHD LCD
Case LL PC71A Full tower / Antec fusion black with Imon remote Modded for WC
Audio Device(s) OB / Auzentech cinema 7.1
Power Supply TT 700w TR2 / TT 600w Litepower modded with Noctua S12 fan.
Software 7 Ult / 7 premium x64
Its cool man I said freebe!!! If I can find one I will send it to ya, I have a heap here that are really old but I think I may have a 40gig or something somewhere...
 
Top