Time for a third build or upgrade?

[Clover]

Hello,

It seems I am in need of a new build or upgrade. So I came to the best place I know for advice! (yes I am a suck up!)

Below is what I have.

Tower - Enlight EN-7602-OK1 Beige/Blue 0.8mm thick SECC/SGCCrustproof & galvanized JIS st MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case 300W Power Supply

Motherboard - ASUS K8S-MX 754 SiS 760 GX Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Processor - AMD Athlon 64 2800+ Newcastle 1.8GHz Socket 754 Processor Model ADA2800AXBOX

Memory - Kingston ValueRAM 256MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 333 (PC 2700) System Memory Model KVR333X64C25/256

I would like to stick with AMD and ASUS. I'd like to re-use my memory if possible, as well as my tower.

My dilemma is this. My son and his gaming. The games he is wanting or buying these days will not run on this computer. He came home with an ASUS AX300SE video card, but has to return it because it will not fit in my PCI slots. So he's bumming. Is there a different card I can use, or do I need to do a new build?

Thanks!

Clover

[Staren]

That build is pretty much at the end of it's life as a gaming box sad to say. Socket 754 is pretty much gone, and really so is 939 in all practicality. All current AMD processors and motherboards are either AM2 or AM2+ and that would mean DDR2, so DDR memory wouldn't be able to transfer. Personally, I think you could get more value out of that system by finding a new use for it as a whole and building a whole new gaming box rather then using a few peaces from this one. You waited a little too long to make partial upgrades the best bang for the buck.

What I would probably do is pull the optical drive(s) from your current computer and turn it into a storage server or use it as a word processing / light duty machine or perhaps donate it. It's still a great computer, just not real suited to being a day to day desktop for a gamer.

[Clover]

Thanks for your reply. Any suggestions around the 700 range that will keep us up and running for a couple of years?

[Icyman23]

Well, I don't know if you could game on it for a couple of years for 700...(It might run that long_)

Umm, have you considered building a pc? It will save you a bit...

[Staren]

I'd be glad to help you spec out a new build. A good solid tower for $700 is easily doable. Tell you what, I'll run up an AMD and an Intel and you can take your pick.

AMD Build:

Case:
MoBo: ASUS M3A AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail - $99.99
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz Socket AM2 Dual-Core Processor - Retail - $109.99
GPU: EVGA GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $109.99
RAM: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail - $46.99
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail - $99.99
Optical: Lite-On DVD-Burner - OEM - $31.99
HDD: Seagate 7200.10 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $84.99

Total: $583.93

Intel build:

Case:
MoBo: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $96.99
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 Allendale 2.4GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail - $144.95
GPU: EVGA GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $109.99
RAM: CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model VS2GBKIT667D2 - Retail - $36.99
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail - $99.99
Optical: Lite-On DVD-Burner - OEM - $31.99
HDD: Seagate 7200.10 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $84.99

Total: $605.89

A little more expensive, but the better upgrade path in my opinion. I pulled these together pretty quick so others might be able to get a little better deal from tweaking a a few parts.

Around $100 for a case and shipping for either one and both would upgrade well.

[Clover]

Thanks Staren, that'd be great!

Icyman, this will be my third build.

[Clover]

Thanks Staren! I sure do appreciate your help!

[Masaki 7-11]

The computer spec'd above looks pretty good, but I would change the video card to a performance series like a x1950gt or a 7900gs. These are much faster than a 8600gt, will work well with the power supply and cost about the same. The x1950gt is actually the same price as a 8600gt but it also comes with a $15 mail-in rebate at the moment, here are the newegg links for both.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814186013

[Clover]

Thanks Masaki!

Choices, choices..... :0)