Halp! Decision on computer.

[Jazz Kazuko]

Well, I'm really looking for some opinion on what I should do. To bring it short, I'm trying to upgrade my wares - computers. I'm pretty beefy when it comes to repair and build one but I can't seem to decide what to do. Actually, I don't even know the standards. My current computer is fit for FFXI. It plays it without a problem and its awesome. Mind you, its 6 years old. HP computer and I added some memory and a new graphic card.

This is the current specs

Intel P 3.00 GHz
512 mb RAM <--- used to be 256 MB RAM lol
Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 AGB BX graphic card with 128 memory

That's about it. I also added a cooling system in it. I love my little baby, it's been good for me for 6 years. But with all the cool games coming out, I need to change my pace and do an upgrade.

I have only one RAM slot left and there is a limit of 2G on my computer. Anything over 2G ... well ... will remain 2G, I don't want to lock it though, my baby will die if I did that, it won't last long.

So should I upgrade my PC with more memory and a new video card? Or just scratch it and buy a new pc? What are the standards now for games like Aion, FF14, and um... whatever new games are out there. What should I at least expect or get if I was to upgrade or build a new one?

Thanks a ton!

[Tythera]

From that, I'd buy a completely new one. You probably don't have a PCI-E slot which limits your video card selection. The RAM slots are probably DDR, whereas there's DDR2 and DDR3 out now. You also lack a LGA775 slot for modern processors (C2D and C2Q) or the LGA1366 slot (i7s). Once you start buying a new motherboard, so you can do a new video card, new RAM, new processor...you might as well get a whole new PC. What kind of budget would you be looking at as it drastically effects what you'll be aiming for?

[Jazz Kazuko]

Yeah. It is DDR Ichi!

Upgrading would mean a new motherboard =\ What standards should I get for games like Aion and FF14? Heck we don't even know what FF14 requires ... maybe I'll just copy and paste PS3's specs.

[Jazz Kazuko]

Shit sorry, budget.

$800-$1500

I don't want a mamooth. Don't see a reason to get one.

[Isiolia]

You can build a nice machine in that budget range. The particulars would vary depending on what the full scope of your computing needs are, and whether or not you'll also be needing a new monitor and the like in that budget.

Could look at some of the guides like this one AnandTech: System Buyers' Guide: $700 to $1700 that might give you an idea for the general range of stuff to look at.

[Jazz Kazuko]

Well, I might actually build one myself but after looking over newegg cdw cnet and such, man it isn't cheap. Everyone is saying it is cheaper to build a PC here but damn, I don't see it.

case - $49
power supply - $120-$180
Motherboard - $150+
Processor - $120-$200
Ram - $100+
Hard Drive - eh I don't care about this one $80
Other drive 3/CD/Optical etc - I want a standard 3/C so that's $200 right there
Video Card - $150 easy
And I want to overclock it. So a cool unit is going to run me another $100
NIC - $100
Window VISTA Home - $110

$1279 minimum!
I'm itching to build one if I had more dough to waste. haha

[kyamei]

Well, I might actually build one myself but after looking over newegg cdw cnet and such, man it isn't cheap. Everyone is saying it is cheaper to build a PC here but damn, I don't see it.

case - $49
power supply - $120-$180
Motherboard - $150+
Processor - $120-$200
Ram - $100+
Hard Drive - eh I don't care about this one $80
Other drive 3/CD/Optical etc - I want a standard 3/C so that's $200 right there
Video Card - $150 easy
And I want to overclock it. So a cool unit is going to run me another $100
NIC - $100
Window VISTA Home - $110

$1279 minimum!
I'm itching to build one if I had more dough to waste. haha

I don't know what you were looking at to get those prices but....
Power supply - there are lots of good power supplies under $100
RAM - 4GB of DDR2 is only around $50
HDD - the WD 640GB is only $70 (its a fast drive)
HSF - the Xigmatek Dark knight is only $45
NIC - you shouldn't need one

You can actually build a perfectly fine gaming rig for under $800 easy.

[Isiolia]

Well, I might actually build one myself but after looking over newegg cdw cnet and such, man it isn't cheap. Everyone is saying it is cheaper to build a PC here but damn, I don't see it.

case - $49
power supply - $120-$180
Motherboard - $150+
Processor - $120-$200
Ram - $100+
Hard Drive - eh I don't care about this one $80
Other drive 3/CD/Optical etc - I want a standard 3/C so that's $200 right there
Video Card - $150 easy
And I want to overclock it. So a cool unit is going to run me another $100
NIC - $100
Window VISTA Home - $110

$1279 minimum!
I'm itching to build one if I had more dough to waste. haha

It's not necessarily "cheaper", what building affords you is the opportunity to get exactly what you want/need.
If you go to Dell or whomever, and decide that you want to bump up the CPU, the RAM, the video card, you may find that you wind up overpaying for those specs. If you simply want cheap, then leaving one of their promo configs as-is (and waiting for a special) will certainly be very hard to beat pricewise.

You can get a good PSU for under $100. Motherboard depends, if you want an i7...sure, it costs a bit. If not, you can get a perfectly fine one for under $150, possibly under $100. 4GB of RAM is around $50. DVD-RWs are around $30/ea. There are perfectly good video cards in the $100-120 range. NIC is built into the motherboard. Don't -need- a $100 cooler to overclock, and so on.

You can build a solid midrange gaming rig for $800-900. The only reason you'd really be paying over $1k even is going with an i7 due to the higher CPU/mobo cost.

Do your research and find where the bang for the buck is - rarely disappoints, and leaves money in the bank for the next round of upgrades.

[Alishe]

I find it weird, you're prices are super high on ram and optical drives, yet cheap as hell on Video cards and cases. Which brings me to my point, you're doing it wrong.

Instead of buying a 150$ gpu and a 100$ cooler, just buy a 190$ gpu that doesn't need one and still out performs.

Ram should not cost you more than 45$.

Again a 50$ case is going to be a craptastic case, and the extra money you spend on cooling your gpu is going to be useless (which it most likely will be anyways in a good case).

[Alishe]

Case: Antec 900 - pretty much the standard in gaming cases. Amazing air flow -runs cool and large enough for whatever you want. You won't spend more than 120$ if you find it on sale it can be as low as 90$ with free shipping.

GPU: Radeon HD4890 195$ Free Shipping - Designed to be OC'able with out needing any aftermarket coolers.

Ram: 4gigs DDR2 1066 < 45$

DVD Burner - 22$

I'd go with an i7 cpu and mobo + an aftermarket cpu cooler. I really like my 120mm Zalman Heatsink + Fan. It's kind of loud but who cares it keep it running cool. I have 7 fans running at full speed all the time, and it's no where near as loud as the fan I have plugged into the wall, I really never even notice it.

OS - Just pirate one for now, until windows 7 comes out.

PSU: Corsair 750watt for around 100$