upgrade or buy new?

[shenmueguru]

I've got an aging Dell Dimension 2400 (here's an info page - http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...&~tab=specstab)

It's got a 2.6ghz intel, 512mb ram, 250 wattage I believe, and a Radeon 9250 PCI card. My rig can't run RTW very well at all. My question is should I get a new motherboard (since I only have PCI slots) processor/more ram/and new video card or should I just buy a completely new computer, such as when vista comes out with DirectX10. (don't know enough to build my own) Thanks.

Another option- my friend has an almost identical computer except he's got a geforce FX550, and upgraded his 512mb to a gig of ram and has noticed great results (i.e. no lag in WoW at all, good fps in many games) should I save my money for a new computer or just upgrade to a gig ram?

[krazykarl]

It depends on how future-proof you want to be. You could get away with throwing in a new gfx card, and upgrading the ram, but in a year, you will have an obsolecent system again. If you go with a new rig (and spend a decent amount on good parts) You will most likely be good for 2-3 years.

[PyrrhusIV]

If I were you, and didnt have money to "throw" around, I would personally go with saving up until Later this year (i.e November-October) so you can build yourself a pretty decent machine. Though, if you want a machine that will run most games pretty good, but be obsolete in, a year or so, i could help you.

Oh, and Building computers is simple, all you need is common sense and a screwdriver.

[shenmueguru]

If I decide to build my own, should I wait for Vista to come out?

[Proximus]

Should you upgrade or not? Hard question. Sure prices will go down if you wait, but with that mentality you'll never buy any computer parts .
Anyway here's my suggestion for your upgrade for around 130 $.
Vid card
Geforce FX5700LE
RAM
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB)

This upgrade will at least postpone you need for a whole new computer for a while.

[shenmueguru]

Thanks for the suggestions. If I'm getting an average 15 fps with RTW now (all low settings) do you know an approximation of fps improvement? Or, will the 5700LE and gig be able to comfortably play behemoths like BF2 or Oblivion?

Also, I found this while looking at the 2400's details: "Between 32 and 64 MB of shared system memory may be allocated to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors." Does this mean anything important? Just checking

[Zuwxiv]

Just a sugguestion: If you build your own (Not that hard, and much, much cheaper), go to www.newegg.com

They have the best prices, and are very reliable. But I have a computer that is nearly identical to yours... I think its 2.4 Intel, 512 ram, almost identical. I can run RTW at 30+ fps at high detail; 1280x980 (whatever resolution it is), and high detail on almost everything. I just turn the unit size to large. Desynch'ed animations, glints and reflections, it works fine... Have you considered that your hardware is fine, but something else is wrong? Scan for spware using Ad-Aware (from lavasoft) and check for viruses (viri) using Avast! (avast.com; lavasoft.com) and whatever programs you have, the more the better. Rome should probably be playing better than 15fps; make sure AOL and stuff like that isn't running in the background.

[PyrrhusIV]

Yeah, if you want to spend a couple more $ Than Proximus Reccomended:

RAM (Corsair ValueSelect )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145440 (Same suggestion as him)

Video-Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150061 (GeForce 5200 PCI)

The Video card I reccomended has been said to Run Cool by many people, but hot by others. So, if you have the spare 4 pin Connector in your case, a spare PCI slot, and if you want to be safe, buy this as well:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835888602 (system Exhaust Blower)

Read the reviews if you do plan on buying it, lots of helpful tips. I love the System blower, it moves alot of air, and reduces the temperate drastically if you put it in the right place.

Total : $159

[shenmueguru]

Isn't the 5700LE a better card than the 5200?

[PyrrhusIV]

Well, they are both PCI and GeForce 5's, so they cannot be of brilliant quality. the 5700 has a higher Memory Clock (400 mhz) compared to the 5200 's 333mhz memory clock. Yet the memory size of the 5200 is 256 MB's, while the 5700 is 128. It is really your call.

[DarkKnight]

Yet the memory size of the 5200 is 256 MB's

Not if you have an ancient 5200...
mine is only 128MB


But when my 7800GT arrives in the mail

[Lee1026]

it doesn't really matter how big the memory size is.

[Proximus]

IMHO the 5200 is pne of the crappiest cards NVIDIA ever made, heck even the earlier generation Ti series destroys it. :original:
Also according the reviews for the FX5700LE I read before recomending it, it will OC like crazy.

[PyrrhusIV]

Meh,

Beat down by the sheer logic of Proximus once again. Atleast it is better than oboard graphics.

Edit: 1300th post.

[Proximus]

Meh,

Beat down by the sheer logic of Proximus once again. Atleast it is better than oboard graphics.

At least you tried m8 that is what counts :original: . Also those are PCI cards neither of them will perform great in any modern games. But it should be playable, at least on low settings.

[shenmueguru]

I see. Now if I were to custom build, I'm assuming you're recommending to do so in october/november because of vista/directX10?

[Proximus]

I see. Now if I were to custom build, I'm assuming you're recommending to do so in october/november because of vista/directX10?

Unless you’re in desperate need for a gaming PC it is my suggestion that you wait, yes.
Or you don’t need to be desperate to buy one now, whenever you buy a computer it is the wrong time. Something new is always coming out in a couple of month. The question you need to ask yourself is weather you think it is worth waiting a few months more to get a computer or not.

[Gogoas]

I say you wait, windows vista looks sick!

[Incinerate_IV]

I say dump that dell. You should get a new mobo/video card/ram, you can reuse the processor and hard drive and CD Rom. The PCI cards are a rip off, and their performance will be very very poor.

If you tell me what socket your processor is and what kind of hard drive you have I can recommend a cheap mobo for you.

[Aristocrat]

If you have a dell, or a HP, or computer built by any other company like those 2, I say build from scratch, and either keep the old one for a server, internet browser, siblings computer, or sell it.
If you want the best prices on todays hardware, build in 2 years, it will be dirt cheap and obsolete.
If you want a good computer for a decent price, build now, and shop smart and enjoy the damn thing.