How do you upgrade?

[TimeParadoX]

How do you upgrade your bus slots from PCI to PCI-E?
Do I have to buy a new computer or what?

 

[wolfram]

You need a new mainboard with a PCI-E slot, but maybe you have to change your CPU and possibly RAM. What CPU socket do you have right now?

 

[TimeParadoX]

CPU socket?

 

[wolfram]

Yes, like socket 478, socket A, socket 754, Socket LGA775 (or simply "T"), socket 939, socket AM2, etc.


You can check this thread HERE by Howard

 

[TimeParadoX]

Ok I got everest and where do I go to check the socket info?

 

[wolfram]

Open Everest (essential ), go to motherboard, then go to CPU. You'll find out everything about it.

Check the "physical CPU info" and tell us the "package type".

 

[TimeParadoX]

I'll just take a screenie of it

http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cpuinfovl3.jpg

 

[wolfram]

You have socket 478. There are no available boards for that socket, using a PCI-E slot. If you want PCI-E you'd need to change your CPU, mobo, and if you want to stick with Intel, new DDR2 RAM

 

[TimeParadoX]

Ok, thanks Wolfram do you think Bestbuy will have PCI-E computers?
or can you give a name of one that has PCI-E and isnt like $800000 =P

 

[wolfram]

They should have PCI-E computers.

But, if you want, you can build one yourself. That way, you'd save a LOT of bucks, it's fun, and you'd learn a lot about PC's in the process.

You can order from Newegg.com, they're the best online retailer, and offer very very cheap prices

 

[TimeParadoX]

Yeah I was checking out NewEgg just awhile ago at 6800 and it was like $120 and the price on Nvidia and Ebay were like almost double that =P

 

[wolfram]

You can get a card like the 7600GT, or the X850XT PE (I just bought it ). They're better than any 6800 card

 

[TimeParadoX]

Cool yeah I want a good enough VC to be able to play Oblivion and any other game without having to look at systemrequirementslab.com to see if I can play it or not ( only WoW, Fear, and BF2 at low qaulity are the games I can play no problem with about 40 FPS )

 

[wolfram]

What is your budget? Do you want to build yourself a new PC? Or just upgrade your current one?

 

[TimeParadoX]

Well like you said, I cant upgrade to PCI-E and I would like a 6800 or better ( hopefully like the one card you had =P ) my budget is decent enough ( about $900 )

 

[wolfram]

If you want to build a whole new cheap PC, go with an AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice, or if you want dual core, an Athlon 64 X2 4200+ or better.

Or go with an Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (best choice), a decent Conroe mobo, 1 GB of good, low latency Corsair XMS RAM, and a good videocard, like a X850XTPE, a 7600GT, or Radeon X1900XT.

Can't post some links right now, because I'm tired :zzz:

Good luck! :wave:

 

[TimeParadoX]

Lol thanks Wolf, i'll go on google or NewEgg and just search some stuff and see if I get lucky with some links ( I was thinking of going to Ebay and buying something like this )

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 x2 4600+ Dual Core 64bit CPU socket AM2
CPU Fan: AMD Heavy Duty Cooling Fan With Heat Sink
Motherboard: ECS nForce 4 M-A new 64 bit CPU support
Memory: 2GB DDR2 533 PC4300 RAM ( upgradeable up to 4 GB)
Video Card: GeForce 7300GS 256MB 16xPCI Express video with TV out
Hard drive: 300GB 7200RPM SATA UDMA 150 8Mb cache
CD drive: 18x Dual Layer DVD +RW/-RW drive (DVD burner)
Floppy drive: not included ( add Mitsumi 1.44MB 3.5" drive for $10)
Sound: AC 97 6 channel 5.1 Full duplex digital sound
Network: 10/100 RJ45 network card (Ethernet, cable or DSL)
Modem: not included (add 56k v.92 modem for $10)
Ports: Six USB 2.0 ports,1 serial, 1 parallel, 1 microphone jack
Case: Mid Tower 400w power supply (four 5.25", two 3.5" bays)
Keyboard: PS2 Windows Keyboard
Mouse: PS2 Scroll Mouse
Speakers: Multimedia stereo speakers

Which was $900 + shipping which came out to about $927-930 which is good because it basicly comes with all the stuff I need and I could always upgrade with better sound / videocards

 

[CrossFire851]

So where did you end up buying your PC? I would have gone with a Core2Duo IMO.

 

[wolfram]

Yeah, better get a Core 2 Duo E6300 or E6400, it will kill the Athlon easily...

 

[TimeParadoX]

Lol, actualy now.. Im thinking of getting a Dell XPS 700 model that comes with a 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS, 20" monitor, 2gig ram and a few other things for about $2300 and the Alienware I looked at was $2800 and didnt come with all that stuff so im saving $500 =)

 

[wolfram]

Just be careful with Dell's. They may be good at the moment, but when you want to upgrade them, you can't. They're not future-proof at all.