Rebuild or Build new? Help please.

[Clueless4]

My PC is one that i built in Jan of 2003, with lots of help from the people on this site.
He are some of the specs.

MoBo ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4PE REV 1.xx
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Award Software, Inc. ASUS P4PE ACPI BIOS Revision 1007 11/10/2003

CPU 2.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Not hyper-threaded

HardDrive WDC WD800JB-00CRA1 [Hard drive] (80.03 GB) -- drive 0, s/n WD-WCA8E5437666, rev 17.07W17

RAM 2048 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Video Card ASUS X1300 Series

Op Drives ATAPI iHAP422 8 [CD-ROM drive] Lite on?
JLMS DVD-ROM LTD-166S [CD-ROM drive] Lite on??

OS Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

Case Cooler Master Model# ATC-201-sx

Im Not sure what I have for a power supply. Im sure its a good one because when the orignal one went out I bought one that was recomened by the people on this site.

The problem I am having is that my PC locks up when I try to play NASCAR Racing 2003 Season.

I also have the Mod for NASCAR Racing 2005 Season.
They both lock up!!!

I have not been into gaming for a while, the last games I played were BF1942 and BF2142.
They both seemed to run fine from what I can remember? Its been well over a year since I played either. I dont even have them installed anymore. I played both of them online.

I would really like to play NASCAR Racing 2005 season online, But I cant even get it to run when I play it ofline. It crashes within a few minutes and I have to reboot.

I tryed updating drivers and lowering all the settings in the game and that made no difference.

Do you guys think I should build a whole new PC or maybe just get a new video card and power supply?

I think if I bulid new I could use this case, and optical drives, Maybe even the hard drive? (have planety of room left on it).

Other than wanting to play this game online all that I really use my PC for is the internet.

I know you guys will will give me great advice, everytime I have had a problem i come here and it gets fixed. If you need more info to help me please ask, since I am not sure of everything that you need to know to help me.

So thank you all in advance.

[glc]

Your components were top of the line - 7 years ago. Trying to do a piecemeal upgrade just isn't feasible, any of the old components will wind up being a "weak link" and impact on the system, or won't be compatible. I'd do a complete build, and that would leave you with a spare machine for other uses or for someone else to use for less demanding use than gaming. It would make a fine machine for some kid to use for homework, etc.

Building a new machine with current mainstream components will cost you a heck of a lot less than that machine cost you back then.

[Clueless4]

Thanks for the reply glc.
Can you give me an idea of what you mean by mainstream components? I dont really have a budget but I would like to see what you would recomend and then I'll go from there.

I would like to use Intel and ASUS since my last PC lasted so long.

I think 80GB Hard drive would be enough.Do they even make them that small anymore?

I would like a case with front USB and audio ports.

Onboard sound is good enough for me, Im not into music.

Windows 7? or XP? Idont know about that. Ill get whatever you think.
Thanks again.

[pam123]

You would be able to keep the DVD drive but, honestly, if you've had it since 2003 you're just inviting a drive update later and possible firmware problems in the interim.

320 GB is a good size for a modest drive these days and it's $60-$70 ( Also you're going to find data to put on it now that you have all that room; data expands to fill the space available.).
Yes they do, still make 80GB drives : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...7792&name=80GB

but it's hard to come up with a good reason for buying one unless you have to.

Get Win 7 64 bit home premium.

I build with AMD so I'll let one of the Intel guys give you a recommendation but how much of a gamer are you these days ?

The Antec Sonata III is a good deal if you're strictly a casual gamer but if you're planning anything more than that the 500 watt power supply it comes with, excellent though it is, might not be enough if you go for a top of the line video card like the Radeon 5970.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129024

You may want to get the case without the power supply : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042

And get the psu separately : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015

[glc]

Antec Sonata 3 500
Asus P7P55D
Intel i5-750
2x2 gb DDR3-1333 or 1600
WD Black 640 gb
SATA DVD burner
Radeon 5770

That's around $850. Add $100 or so for an OS.

[systempat]

There are options starting at around 600 for a complete system depending on what you want to get in performance. Even the budget machine at around 600 (not counting a monitor) would be easily twice as powerful as what you have now. For ASUS and Intel I can't make specific recommendations as I don't know the new generation Intel hardware ( I7 - I5 ). The core2-duo CPUs were (still are) excellent 2-core processors although a little expensive at the top end models.

With all-new hardware you should get Win7. If upgrading existing box, you can stick with the XP and save on that part.

[glc]

At this stage, I wouldn't build a socket 775 system except as an entry level budget system. Socket 1156 is now mainstream and will have a lot more future upgradeability. 775 is done, what you see now is what you get.

[systempat]

I was not advocating the socket-775. Just commenting that they were the hardware that I knew better.
And - just my opinion - when I talk about the budget end of the choices it's hard for me to advocate for $200 CPUs. When there are several options in the 100-150 range that are very capable of meeting many people's needs.

[glc]

There are certainly cheaper processors for socket 1156, but $200 for a true quad core with that kind of speed is not excessive. You don't have to beat around the bush - we both know that you heavily favor AMD, but the OP has expressed a preference for Intel and my recommendation stands for the i5-750 as being the best mainstream Intel processor for the dollar now. I consider a $100 processor to be in the budget category and the i5-750 will spank any socket 775 processor in its price range.

Let's go back to a statement made by the OP:

Can you give me an idea of what you mean by mainstream components? I dont really have a budget but I would like to see what you would recomend and then I'll go from there.

If the OP wants to build a budget box instead of a mainstream box, have at it with your AMD recommendations. Fair enough? Note that when he built his current system, it certainly wasn't a budget box at that time.

[Clueless4]

Hey guys, Thanks for all the advice. Right now I dont really have $950 to spend on a PC and if I cant do it right I dont want to do it.

I think I found out why my PC chashes when I play that game???? The fan on my video card is not working!!!!! Also the fan on the bottom of my power supply is not working!!!

I think for now I want to just replace both of them?

Could you give me some advice on what to get?

My current vid card is an X1300, AGP.
My power suppply is an Antec 400w.

Again thanks for all your help.

[glc]

Power supply:

Antec Basiq BP500U 500W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.01 Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371004

Video card:

GIGABYTE GV-R465D2-1GI Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP 8X HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125281

If your PCB version is 1.02 or greater, this processor upgrade is compatible:

Intel Pentium 4 3.06GHz 533MHz
http://www.starmicro.net/detail.aspx?ID=121

What's sweet about this is it's hyperthreaded. This will make a noticeable difference.

[Clueless4]

Wow! That was quick! I would not mind spending more if it would be worth it? Are there better options or would it just be a waste of money?

[Clueless4]

Great! Thanks! Im going to order all 3 right now. Should I get the fan and heatsink that they recomend with the CPU or will my old one work?

[glc]

Your old heatsink will work, just get some fresh thermal compound. There is only one stronger AGP video card made than that 4650:

POWERCOLOR PCS Series AG4670 1GBK3-PV2 Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 AGP 8X Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131329

MAKE SURE you have PCB 1.02 or newer before you order the CPU.

[Clueless4]

What is PCB 1.02? And how do I find out if I have it?

[glc]

Printed Circuit Board revision. You are going to have to physically examine the board, it's either in a corner or near the model number.

MoBo ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4PE REV 1.xx

You have to figure out what the "xx" signifies. If it's 1.00 or 1.01, it's not compatible.

[Clueless4]

Whew! Got 1.03 Good thing too cause I already ordered it and its been shipped. I also ordered the power supply and the 1st vid card you recomended.