Puter needs updating and such

[Insanecyclone]

I've had this computer since '03 maybe and the only thing I've updated is my graphics card(and drivers) from a crappy dell one to a NVIDIA GeForce 6200. I've been planing to update or buy a new computer all together if I have too.

Current:
CPU
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.60GHz

CPU Speed
2.59 GHz Performance Rated at 3.89 GHz

I use XP, will not goto Vista unless I really...have too.

Video RAM
256.0 MB

DirectX9

I'm not sure what else I should add. What would be the cheapest computer that I could possibly buy?
I just want one that can run the latest games(fuck crysis req.) and be able to run since I share my computer with my family also for photos etc.

[viperlasson]

You looking to build your own computer or buying a customized one on a website? Building your own will be cheaper and you'll know exactly what is being put in there. I could help with all the parts, price range?

**also I should have added that you should just make a whole new computer and instead of adding newer parts to the old computer. But I kind of hinted towards that.

[Kiro]

Get a new PC altogether so you don't have to share it. Who the fuck shares their computers nowadays? >:O

I'd go for a barebones and just add on what you want from there, but I dunno how much that'd cost compared to just getting a pre-built Dell or something.

[Isiolia]

I'd say to go for an all-new one. Really your current machine should be fine for web browsing, photos, etc. So why not get a new machine for gaming and let the family keep using your old one? Good excuse to get all-new stuff too.

Personally I'd say to go with building a machine from the ground up. It'll actually probably cost you a little more, assuming you use good components, but you can avoid paying for things you don't want and make sure all the money goes into stuff you do.
If you just want a cheap system, it's frankly very hard to beat a commodity brand like Dell or HP for a consumer machine. Building, on the low end, does not tend to mean cheaper, unless you're recycling parts, pirating Windows, and buying crap. When you start looking at midrange/higher end machines, that's when companies are putting a bit more of a margin on things, and you can save money doing it yourself.

[Avanarius]

http://pc.ncix.com/ncixpc/ncixpc.cfm...9FDD87-1633131
cheaper then that? It's hard to say what exactly what your expectations are. Maybe you can elaborate using what I've shown.

$681 without the operating system

I'd recommend a faster processor then what comes with that one, an e4400 would be nicer.

[Sakurakinomoto]

What's your budget ?

[Boyiee]

Christmas is comming and I saw this thread, debating upgrading my PC again or giving it to my sister (who DESPERATELY needs a better one) or just building a new one.

Right now i'm running on:

2.21ghz AMD athlon 3700+ (this will be changed to an intel quad core prob)

2gig ram

8800gts (prob going gtx)

I think a 600watt supply thats new

and it's running on Vista, which will be upgraded to XP pro lol.

I can basically give it to her as it is (it runs really really great actually), just change to xp, upgrade the processor/mobo and maybe gfx card, or spend about 1700 just starting from scratch and buying a whole new case and everything but a monitor.

For 1700 on newegg I can do a 2.66 quad core i think it was, nice mobo, 8800gtx, 2x 1gb corsair, XP, some cheap dvd player and 7200rpm harddrive...

is it worth upgrading for the 1500-2000 with a whole new setup, or just changing those 2 things? It's alot of money but I'd pretty much be getting 2 PC's since she'd be getting a major major major upgrade, like no joke how major. Her's is a Gateway shes had for at least 3years and it was a cheap buy back then lol.

[Isiolia]

Eh, for that, you really probably only would need a new mobo, CPU, and possibly RAM. That could probably be done in the realm of what, $500-700 or so? The video card would be slightly better, maybe pick another case, etc...but I don't think you'd see $1700 worth of improvements.

Consider what your sister's computing needs are. Is she going to take advantage of that 8800gts? Or would she be better served by a smaller, quieter, cooler-running box better suited towards MP3s and blogging? What about sprucing up her machine, or just buying a brand new $600 Dell for the next three years?

I can certainly understand wanting to build an all-new box, but it sounds more like either you've upgraded half of yours already, or built with a bargain CPU more recently.

What I would price out is what it'd cost to upgrade your system's CPU/mobo/RAM (if needed) and then take the old parts and use them as the basis of a machine for your sister. That way the new cast/PSU/video card/etc will (presumably) be lower end and therefore cheaper, but still (presumably) something that would meet the needs of your sister.
I'd guess you could do that for maybe $800-1000 total, possibly less.

[Boyiee]

I upgraded the gfx card and supply only recently, since I burned out my 6600gt and I knew the 8800 would need more power. I think it would cost around 600-700 to upgrade this one, processor+mobo+ram and it's done really.

Her's is one of those models that you can't really do much to. The inside of the case is a nightmare. She does play WoW now lol, and I know her pc can't really handle it, but yeah it's mostle mp3's and photoshop things she does. The thing is, she's not going to ask for, or ever get an upgrade... she has horses so thats where her priorities are and she wont ask or put out the money herself for a new pc...

And yeah, I did start to upgrade this and I could keep going, just seems like the nicer thing to do would be to pass it to her since it's still pretty decent for being about 3yrs old I think.

One things for sure, XP will be put in mine regardless if it's brand new or just an upgrade.

[Isiolia]

Well, I've done similar things for siblings in the past. One I wound up building a machine for ~$550 and tossed in an older AGP card of mine. The other I wound up chipping in with my parents to buy a new Dell for, which wasn't much more, honestly, and was generally better.
For casual gaming and other use, a computer is dirt cheap these days. For instance, head to Dell's site, look at an Inspiron 531 or so. Remove the monitor, add a video card instead, and you'll generally be under the initial price still. Can easily config up a decent system for under $500, albeit with Vista Home basic.

So I understand where you're coming from in terms of wanting to do something nice. But there's money to consider. If you can easily afford it, then sure, build a new machine entirely and hand your current one down. If it'd be putting a dent in your savings though, then there'd be more cost-effective ways of getting you a quad-core and her something better than she has now.