Gaming PC Upgrade (Need 2nd Opinion)

[Powertrip]

Game Requirements:

Supported OS: Windows XP (Only)
Processor: 3 Ghz Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 3000 (3.5 Ghz Pentium 4 or Athlon 3500 recommended.) Game optimized for Dual-processor-enabled computers.
RAM: 1 GB
Video Card: DirectX 9.0c-compliant, Shader 3.0 enabled 128 MB video card (256 MB recommended.)
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c-compliant (EAX recommended.) PC audio solution containing Dolby Digital Live required for Dolby Digital audio.
DirectX Version: 9.0c or Higher (9.0c on disc.)
DVD-Rom: 4x DVD-ROM or higher
Hard Drive Space: 8GB
Peripherals Supported: Mouse, keyboard
Multiplay: Broadband connection with 128 kps upstream or faster

*Supported Video Cards at Time of Release:
ATI RADEON X1600 / X1800 / X1900
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 / 6800 / 7300 / 7600 / 7800 / 7900

My friend is ready to upgrade his system to run Splinter Cell: Double Agent, and Rainbow 6 Vegas.


His Current System Specs:

Motherboard: LANPARTY nF4 SLI-DR
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+
RAM:1GB ( 2x512 Dual Channel) Kingston
Video: X600 Pro 256 MB PCIx
OS: Windows XP Home SP2
DVDRW: AOpen DUW1616 PRO
HDD: Samsung SP2004 C 200GB SATAII (Failing needs replacement)


Budjet $400-600 Canadian. ($100 for labor) so $300-550 or so to spend.

Thinking about keeping the LANPARTY Board for sure.
We want to jump to 2 GB Of Ram for sure ($95 for 2 more 512's) or $150 for 2 new 1GB sticks.
Need a Replacement Hard Drive, 200 GB Should be lots perhaps a WD 250 GB for $80.00

Now this is where I really need you guys. 2 questions.
1. What Video Card Should we go with
2. Should we touch the CPU perhaps get a dual Core S939 or ride the 3500+ to death?

If we don't upgrade the CPU we can get a $300 video card, but if we touch the CPU it's going to cut way into our Video card budjet. We also need $60 for a bigger Power Supply.

We need a shader 3.0 Card that ix X1600 or 6600 or faster, here is what I have to pick from.


BFG Gforce 7600GS OC 256M PCIe $155.00
BFG Gforce 7600GT OC 256 PCIe $169.00
BFG Gforce 7800GS OC 256 AGP $252.00
BFG Gforce 7900GS OC 256M PCIe $257.00
BFG Gforce 7950GT OC 512 PCIe $319.00
BFG Gforce 8800GTS OC 640 PCIe $542.00
BFG Gforce 8800GTS OC 320 PCIe $385.00
BFG Gforce 8800GTX OC 768 PCIe $744.00
Sapphire X1650Pro - 256M GDDR3 AGP $145.00
Sapphire X1650Pro - 256M GDDR3 PCIe $125.00
Sapphire X1650Pro - 512M GDDR3 AGP $157.00
Sapphire X1650Pro - 512M DDR2 PCIe $138.00
Sapphire X1650XT - 256M GDDR3 PCIe $160.00
Sapphire X1600Pro 64 Bit - 256M PCIe $92.00
Sapphire X1600Pro - 256M HDMI RoHs PCIe $155.00
Sapphire Sap. X1600Pro - 256MB VDT PCIx Lite Retail RoHS $117.00
Sapphire X1600Pro - 512M DDR2 PCIx RoHS $138.00
Sapphire X1600Pro 512 DDR2 AGP VDT $154.00
Sapphire X1600Pro Advantage - 256M PCIe V/D/T Lite Retail $99.00
Sapphire X1600 Pro Advantage - 512M PCIx V/D/T $130.00
Sapphire X1600XT 256 RoHS VDT PCIx Lite Retail $134.00
Sapphire X1800XL - 256M GDDR3 PCIx Retail Lite $190.00
Sapphire X1950 Crossfire - 512M Crossfire Host Card $442.00
Sapphire X1950GT 256M 2xDVI+V PCIe $184.00
Sapphire X1950Pro - 256M GDDR3 PCIe $196.00
Sapphire X1950Pro - 512M AGP $264.00
Sapphire X1950Pro - 512M PCIe $244.00
Sapphire X1950XT - 256M GDDR3 PCIe $254.00
Sapphire X1950XT - 512M GDDR3 PCIe 2xDVI+VIVO $325.00
Sapphire X1950XTX - 512M GDDR4 PCIe $417.00
Sapphire X1900XTX - 512M PCIe VIVO $415.00
1602L03012 LEADTEK A7600 GT TDH AGP 8X 256DDR3 FAN $209
1605L03035 LEADTEK PX7300GT TDH 256DDR2 HEATSINK $96
1605L03018 LEADTEK PX7300GS 256M PCI-E RET W3Y $75
1605L03025 LEADTEK PX7300LE 256M TDH PCI-E W3Y $69
1605L03024 LEADTEK PX7600GS 256M TDH PCI-E RET W3Y $129
1605L03032 LEADTEK PX7600GS TDH CLASSIS 256DDR2 FAN $130
1605L03020 LEADTEK PX7600GT 256M PCI-E RET $164
1605L03037 LEADTEK PX7900GS TDH 256DDR3 PCI-E $225
1605L03036 LEADTEK PX7950GT TDH 256DDR3 PCI-E $300
1605L03034 LEADTEK PX7950GT TDH 512DDR3 RET $344
1605Z07001 ZOGIS ZO73GT-D 7300GT 256M PCI-E $102
1602P11144 POWERCOLOR X1600PRO 256M DDR2 AGP CALL
1605P11035 POWERCOLOR X1300PRO 512M PCI-E $118
1605P11017 POWERCOLOR X1600PRO 256M DDR2 PCI-E $115
1605P11030 POWERCOLOR X1600PRO 512M PCI-E $164
1605P11029 POWERCOLOR X1650PRO 256DDR3 PCI-E FAN $157
1605P11033 POWERCOLOR X1950PRO EXT 256M PCI-E $282
1605P11032 POWERCOLOR X1950PRO EXT 512M PCI-E $345
1605P11009 POWERCOLOR X700 256M DDR2 R4BL-ND3/ R41A $131
1605P11015 POWERCOLOR X800GT PCI-E 256M $205
1605P11021 POWERCOLOR X800GTO 256M DDR3 PCI-E $157

Haven't looked a S939 Dual Core Prices yet.

[Wolverdick]

heres some ideas for some quality components...

HARD DRIVE: most here would reccommend the
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140
7200rpm, 16Mb cache and a 5 yr warranty

MEMORY: try CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145440
I just installed these in a computer yesterday, good stuff.
WindowsXP wont recognize more than 2Gb anyway, so theres no use buying 2x1Gb. If you want to upgrade to 4Gb someday, then the Corsair Value Select 2x1Gb is $149.99

VIDEO CARD: most here will advise that you wait on the next Generation DX10 cards.
For a great DX9 card try this:
EVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130056
right now its only $134.99 with a $15 rebate.

CPU: Upgrades range from $65 to $335 at NewEgg for socket 939 AMD CPU's. Dual core prices start at $120 and up. Your most modest upgrade would be the AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego 2.4GHz. NewEgg has a bundle special with Heatsink/Fan for only $77.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103037
There are a lot of levels of upgrade available here, it will come down to what you want to spend. I dont know if you already have a heatsink/fan but that factors into the price.

PSU: while supplies last, Antec NeoHE 500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103940
only $79.99 with $20 rebate. Solid and quiet.

[Powertrip]

Does newegg ship to Canada?

[Alaron]

Originally Posted by Powertrip Does newegg ship to Canada?

No.

I agree that more ram and a new video card will make a big difference. I wouldn't upgrade the CPU unless you can get a dual core. Opteron 939s are kicking around still, I'd grab one if your board supports one.

[YukonMaster]

If your looking for a good site that will ship to Canada-I would highly recommend checking out NCIX (ncix.com). They are Canadian and will price match components. They also have a great selection. I have purchased all of my computer components through them without a problem.

YM