What do I upgrade next?

Cyan007 · Feb 15, 2003, 09:19 AM

Ok, I know my system isn't GREAT but I work on it a little at a time (whenever I get money to

) I'm just curious, out of all the components I'm about to list, what do you guys think would be the best bet to upgrade?

-Biostar M7VKD (motherboard)
-AMD Athlon T-Bird 1.33 GHZ
-384 MB SDRAM
-ATI Radeon 8500 128 MB DDR
-SB Live! Value Card

I'd probably say my next step would be a new mobo wity DDR memory. With the current motherboard I have, I can flash the BIOS to support an AMD Athlon XP 2100+, take that route? As for video cards... $150 is about my limit cause in a few months time they go down anyway. The top top cards of the time will be $200+, $250+, $300+ anyway. ? ? ?

MikeDaMan · Feb 15, 2003, 04:30 PM

I'd say your next goal should be a new processor. And yes, I'd say go with the AthlonXP 2100+ check out pricewatch...you should be able to get it for about $95 maybe even cheaper depending where you shop. I'm not sure if your motherboard will support it, you'd have to check out the manufactures website. A new processor would make a ton of difference.

Matth · Feb 15, 2003, 05:23 PM

http://www.biostar.com.tw/products/m...vkd/index.php3
Do you have the hardware revision, as well as the BIOS potential, to support an XP?

Given that some places will sell a system with an Athlon XP - on a motherboard with SDRAM AND performance sapping onboard graphics (64 bit 133MHz SDRAM BUS shared between CPU and graphics - UGH!) - I would Say an Athlon XP would not be out of place on an SDRAM motherboard with AGP graphics.

DDR is double data rate, not double transfer rate, since the setup cycles are no shorter than for SDRAM.

384MB sounds like 3x 128MB - and if ONE of those has slower timings and spoils it for the rest, replace with something better.

The Radeon 8500 ought to be good until DX9 becomes required, and by that time, DX9 cards wiull be affordable, and fast DX8 cards should be cheap!

Feb 16, 2003, 05:57 PM

i'd go in this order... Processor, RAM, mobo (never hurts), vid card, then sound card.

Cyan007 · Feb 17, 2003, 04:28 AM

If I flash the bios withi the this: http://www.biostar.com.tw/products/m...7vkd/bios.php3 would that not allow me to go upto an AMD Athlon XP 2100+?

Falstaff · Feb 17, 2003, 05:03 AM

the XP processor would be of more benefit..if you don't want to start all over again, build another better machine and network them in the home...

Matth · Feb 17, 2003, 12:59 PM

Make sure you also have the v1.1 board revision, or even with the BIOS update, the XP might not work.

The revision should be printed on the board somewhere, or may be available via a number of diagnostics.

Try Aida32 - http://www.aida32.hu
It's free, and the information should be available unde COMPUTER, DMI, Motherboard - at least, I see the revision of my Gigabyte board there.

If you can, the Athlon XP is probably the best upgrade for the price.

Feb 17, 2003, 01:59 PM

If you can't go with the mobo flash, then I'd go for a new gfx card. I never see much point in upgrading sound card, but i'm not a sound nut.

gibbon565 · Feb 17, 2003, 02:36 PM

I would agree the 2100 XP is the best value for money, though I'd definately take that memory out and get a nice 512 stick as SDRAM is so cheap these days. If you have 1 - 256 there and 1 - 128 stick then keep the 256 and get another 512. Also what operating system are you using ? The graphics card and sound card are fine. A new mobo may be required also for the 2100 XP and if that is the case so might some nice DDR memory

Though tbh if I had to update anything right now it would be the memory config.

Madgoat1979 · Feb 17, 2003, 02:38 PM

I would hit up a new mother board first for these reasons:

A good kt-333 motherboard is pretty cheap now.

A athlon xp proc is ONLY going to come down in price the longer you wait. (I have a 1500+ 1.33 ghz and you wont see much improvment over a thunder of the same speed..... 1.33 is enough for at least two more months).

Getting a new MOBO opens the door for a lot more expansion. You are going to want the room to play with here in a while.

(this is at least what Im doing with my system, I have a k7s5a with 1500+ and 512ddr 2100, im just getting a kt-333.... seems to be the best path)

peace,
MadGoat

DaSnIpE · Feb 17, 2003, 05:14 PM

Hi Cyan, and I say need mobo + ddr ram should work, I'd say get a decent board with the nforce2 chipset, so that u can get any AthlonXP/Barton when u want to, also u'll have less issues with the nforce's and u can oc later if needed. The a7n8x from Asus is a generally great board with sound, firewire, lan, etc, or something like the Epox 8rda is a great overclocker, I have the latter. Hit me up on irc.

Feb 15, 2003, 09:19 AM	#1
Cyan007 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 212 Rep Power: 0	What do I upgrade next? Ok, I know my system isn't GREAT but I work on it a little at a time (whenever I get money to ) I'm just curious, out of all the components I'm about to list, what do you guys think would be the best bet to upgrade? -Biostar M7VKD (motherboard) -AMD Athlon T-Bird 1.33 GHZ -384 MB SDRAM -ATI Radeon 8500 128 MB DDR -SB Live! Value Card I'd probably say my next step would be a new mobo wity DDR memory. With the current motherboard I have, I can flash the BIOS to support an AMD Athlon XP 2100+, take that route? As for video cards... $150 is about my limit cause in a few months time they go down anyway. The top top cards of the time will be $200+, $250+, $300+ anyway. ? ? ? __________________ Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2 Shuttle SN95G5 v3 AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Geil 1024MB PC3200 DDR400 (512x2) ATI AIW Radeon X800XT Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Seagate Barracude 500GB SATA

Feb 15, 2003, 04:30 PM	#2
MikeDaMan DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 874 Rep Power: 0	I'd say your next goal should be a new processor. And yes, I'd say go with the AthlonXP 2100+ check out pricewatch...you should be able to get it for about $95 maybe even cheaper depending where you shop. I'm not sure if your motherboard will support it, you'd have to check out the manufactures website. A new processor would make a ton of difference. __________________ DFI Lanpart UT 250GB motherboard. 1GB 2X512 Crucial Ballistix PC 3200. AMD Athlon 64 3400+. Retail ATI Radeon X850XT PE AGP

Feb 17, 2003, 04:28 AM	Thread Starter #5
Cyan007 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 212 Rep Power: 0	If I flash the bios withi the this: http://www.biostar.com.tw/products/m...7vkd/bios.php3 would that not allow me to go upto an AMD Athlon XP 2100+? __________________ Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2 Shuttle SN95G5 v3 AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Geil 1024MB PC3200 DDR400 (512x2) ATI AIW Radeon X800XT Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Seagate Barracude 500GB SATA

Feb 17, 2003, 05:03 AM	#6
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	think your right man the XP processor would be of more benefit..if you don't want to start all over again, build another better machine and network them in the home... __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Feb 17, 2003, 02:36 PM	#9
gibbon565 Bouncy BOUNCY! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 316 Rep Power: 0	I would agree the 2100 XP is the best value for money, though I'd definately take that memory out and get a nice 512 stick as SDRAM is so cheap these days. If you have 1 - 256 there and 1 - 128 stick then keep the 256 and get another 512. Also what operating system are you using ? The graphics card and sound card are fine. A new mobo may be required also for the 2100 XP and if that is the case so might some nice DDR memory Though tbh if I had to update anything right now it would be the memory config. __________________ 3500 x64 ASRock Dual Sata 2 7900 GTO 512 1 gig OCUK HANNS-H HW13D

Feb 15, 2003, 05:23 PM	#3
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	http://www.biostar.com.tw/products/m...vkd/index.php3 Do you have the hardware revision, as well as the BIOS potential, to support an XP? Given that some places will sell a system with an Athlon XP - on a motherboard with SDRAM AND performance sapping onboard graphics (64 bit 133MHz SDRAM BUS shared between CPU and graphics - UGH!) - I would Say an Athlon XP would not be out of place on an SDRAM motherboard with AGP graphics. DDR is double data rate, not double transfer rate, since the setup cycles are no shorter than for SDRAM. 384MB sounds like 3x 128MB - and if ONE of those has slower timings and spoils it for the rest, replace with something better. The Radeon 8500 ought to be good until DX9 becomes required, and by that time, DX9 cards wiull be affordable, and fast DX8 cards should be cheap!

Feb 16, 2003, 05:57 PM	#4
generalstupid Guest Posts: n/a	i'd go in this order... Processor, RAM, mobo (never hurts), vid card, then sound card.

Feb 17, 2003, 12:59 PM	#7
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Make sure you also have the v1.1 board revision, or even with the BIOS update, the XP might not work. The revision should be printed on the board somewhere, or may be available via a number of diagnostics. Try Aida32 - http://www.aida32.hu It's free, and the information should be available unde COMPUTER, DMI, Motherboard - at least, I see the revision of my Gigabyte board there. If you can, the Athlon XP is probably the best upgrade for the price.

Feb 17, 2003, 01:59 PM	#8
orbital Guest Posts: n/a	If you can't go with the mobo flash, then I'd go for a new gfx card. I never see much point in upgrading sound card, but i'm not a sound nut.

Feb 17, 2003, 02:38 PM	#10
Madgoat1979 VTX NuTz!!! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 763 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	motherboard I would hit up a new mother board first for these reasons: A good kt-333 motherboard is pretty cheap now. A athlon xp proc is ONLY going to come down in price the longer you wait. (I have a 1500+ 1.33 ghz and you wont see much improvment over a thunder of the same speed..... 1.33 is enough for at least two more months). Getting a new MOBO opens the door for a lot more expansion. You are going to want the room to play with here in a while. (this is at least what Im doing with my system, I have a k7s5a with 1500+ and 512ddr 2100, im just getting a kt-333.... seems to be the best path) peace, MadGoat __________________

Feb 17, 2003, 05:14 PM	#11
DaSnIpE Driverage Snipe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Montreal, Canada or NYC, USA Posts: 372 Rep Power: 0	Hi Cyan, and I say need mobo + ddr ram should work, I'd say get a decent board with the nforce2 chipset, so that u can get any AthlonXP/Barton when u want to, also u'll have less issues with the nforce's and u can oc later if needed. The a7n8x from Asus is a generally great board with sound, firewire, lan, etc, or something like the Epox 8rda is a great overclocker, I have the latter. Hit me up on irc. __________________ Antec SX1030 Case - Enermax 431 W Whisper PS - 4 Case Fans -ThermalRight AX-7 With Panaflo Ultra Fan - Sb Audigy / Logitech Z-560 Speakers / Sennheiser HD497 Headphones WD 80GB 7200 rpm HD - Samsung SyncMaster 955DF - LG 16x10x40x Burner / Pionner 16x Slot DVD View my rig http://nl.dodhq.net/Rig/