Ikonboard » Printable Version of Topic » Slow Computer + Not alot of Cash

Forum: The Classroom
Topic: Slow Computer + Not alot of Cash
started by: Neophyre

Posted by Neophyre on Nov. 19 2000,04:42

I've got a P-166mhz mmx, 24meg EDO RAM, 2.5 Gig IDE HD, and a 2 meg ATI 264-VT3 3D graphics Card.

Now I know what your thinking... what a piece of shit.

I was wonderin, should i upgrade my existing system, and if so, what? or should i just save up for a new box?

Posted by askheaves on Nov. 19 2000,17:06

Don't bother. My P150 lasted through 4 years of college (granted, I overclocked to 166 and had a school laptop for my last quarter of senior year). I have found that computer labs are awesome for work (yeah community of potential help), and games become not all that important.
What year are you? If you're a senior, don't bother until you graduate. If you're a sophomore, I would recommend a cheap ASUS mobo or something with a cheap ass chip. I have the ASUS CUSL2 board (815E chipset). It'll probably support cheap PII 450s or something with the possibility of upgrading to a weak ass server in a few years when you graduate. Anymore, you can get a good system for work for under a grand (like 6-700 if you shop hard). If your computer is for gaming, then you're probably out of luck. Those gaming computers are getting awfully expensive.

Cases are cheap, slow chips are cheap, active heatsinks are cheap (allowing extra performance from your cheap chips), and HD's are cheap. Making a cheap computer of your choosing isn't going to hit too hard if you shop around and make your priorities. (check < www.bunta.com > for my fav e-parts shop)

------------------
"My name is John Johnson but everyone knows me as Vickie."

Posted by Neophyre on Nov. 20 2000,17:03

hmmmm either that or go to school with screwdriver, etc, and take what i want

heheh i doubt!

Posted by LinkDJ on Nov. 20 2000,19:17

My suggestion is to save up and buy a Duron, I saved up 跾 and bought myself an AMD Athlon Thunderbird 800MHz and an Abit KT7 Motherboard, and i love it. Check < http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/weekly_cpu/ > for the lowest CPU prices. I'd also look into buying at least 64 megs of ram, it runs pretty cheap these days.

Another good idea, if you're into gaming, is getitng a GeForce2 MX if you're into gaming, its next on my upgrade list. I'm getting the Creative Annhilator MX 2 because it has DDR RAM and it costs 贘. For sound, go with a Sound Blaster Live! Value card.

This message has been edited by LinkDJ on November 20, 2000 at 02:22 PM

Posted by hal0 on Nov. 20 2000,20:19

check this out: < http://www.sharkyextreme.com/theguide/value_game_pc/ >

------------------
"I'm not dumb. I'm smart in my own way."

Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Nov. 24 2000,06:54

the ASUS CUSL2 won't run a PII at all. You need a Pentium III or Celeron in Socket 370 packaging.

The Duron advice is right on, though... you'll need 1. a Socket A motherboard (贄-贶), 2. a Duron CPU (about 贄), and 3. some PC133 SDRAM (128MB, about ๠).

You might also have to replace your case (ุ-贄) if yours isn't ATX format.

Posted by incubus on Nov. 24 2000,09:32

Yup, Athlons need a higher watt power supply.
Best bet is get a duron 600+, with a corresponding motherboard, after that to make things fast buy as much 133/100 ram as you can, it's really cheap at the minute and it really makes things faster.

Mike

------------------
-- incubus
As I chase the leaves like the words I never find ...

Posted by Cyrino on Nov. 25 2000,05:17

I like the Asus A7V, that's a nice board... it's a litle pricy thou.

Posted by Erwos on Nov. 26 2000,18:19

As a current college freshman, I can tell you that the P100 in the corner of my room can do damn near anything I need it to _for school_. I doubt it'll play Doom 3 too well, but as a pure work machine, it's fully adequate.

Do yourself a favor: buy a new hard drive, and get a version of Linux, preferably Debian 2.2. Learn that. Helluva lot less expensive than trying to be a gamer, and it may just help you out in life :-).

_BUT_, assuming you're set on the gaming upgrade path:
Duron 700
ABIT KT7 (or the -RAID version if you want to spend the money. I wouldn't, since the sucker will be obsolete in a few months anyways, and you won't be needing the additional controller, prolly.)
256mb PC100 memory CAS3 (less than 贶, don't pass it up)
Geforce2MX (pref with Twin View, but it's your choice)
20gig 7200rpm hard drive (cheap)
Sound Blaster Live! Value

You're set with that system for at least a little while. Trust me.

-Erwos