Dfigga

Hey all, first off, first post, but I've been lurking for a bit thanks to the omega drivers and such. I'm looking to update my pc, mainly cuz I need more hard drive space, but I can't resist not updating everything all at once. My current set up is

Intel P4 2ghz Gateway PC
768mb ram
Radeon 9600XT
40gb Hard drive
Stock mobo and everything else.

I was looking to cheaply upgrade to this through newegg:
$274.99 Recertified eMachines W3609 Celeron D 356(3.33GHz) 512MB DDR2 120GB Intel GMA 950 Windows Vista Home Basic

$96.99 HIS Hightech H260PRF256DDN-R Radeon HD 2600PRO 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

$81.98 ($40.99 each) pqi 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Desktop Memory Model MAC41GUOE - Retail x2

I can't really afford to go over $500 so I know I can't get anything amazing, but I'm assuming this would be a definite upgrade over my current pc and that it would allow me to play the new half life stuff coming out and Halo 2 and maybe even crysis?

I don't know anything anymore about new graphics cards and there was a lot in that price range so if there are better options let me know, or just advice in general. You guys are awesome thanks.

BlueMak

Isn't that new CPU slower in performance than your P4? And less memory?

Why get a more expensive Radeon when you can get a better less expensive Geforce?

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Dfigga

This is where my inexperience comes in, I'm not at all aware of the difference between a celeron D processor and a P4. As for the 512 I was gonna take that out and replace it with the 2gb memory.

As for graphics card I'm looking for a something DX10 compatible in the 100-120 dollar range. The one I listed there was just the one that caught my eye.

BlueMak

I am not 100% certain, so better wait for someone more certified regarding the CPU. In general I would avoid getting a Celeron cpu, but...

For cheap dx10 card I would get a geforce 8600 card. Not sure what model is the best for the money, but I am pretty sure that they are better than the radeon 2400 series.

What you can do is google somethiing like 8600GT review.

Someone else might be more helpful.

Also, it greatly depends on what you are going to use the machine for.

And make sure, that the power supply is powerful enough, at least around 500W.

And that the mainboard can support future upgrades if that is what you are going to do over the next year or so.

__________________

The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

ChaosMinionX

Crysis will eat the build alive.

$500 total on a machine, wont get you crysis even remotely playable.

If you got a nice LGA 775 mobo, I may be able to get you a cheap Core2Duo

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PangingJr

from reading your first post, if the system mainly needs is a new and larger size hard drive, you could buy a new hard drive for now.
and this is after looking up the new computer you are considering to buy... i think, it's better if you could resist yourself from upgrading the existing computer system, and save some more money for a new and better computer for a better gaming system than that one you're considering buying now.

Dfigga

yeah... that does seem like a more reasoned and rational approach. I figured $274 might be too good to be true. Thanks for the replies, I'll be back when I've got some more money and better ideas.