help me upgrade

[Ennui]

I'm a hardware noob. I want to upgrade but when I go to newegg I'm overwhelmed.

Help me out! I want to upgrade as best I can. Current specs:

Athlon 64 3200+
2x512mb DDR PC3200 RAM
Geforce 6600GT 128mb
nF-CK804-8712 nForce4 Chipset PCI-E motherboard
420watt power supply (generic, came with case)

I have around $500-600 USD. What should I upgrade with that? Note that my goal is to be able to run Unreal Engine 3 games decently, if possible with just this upgrade, but if not with another upgrade after.

 

[$kelet0r]

get 2 7800s for $600 then - your system is fairly good already
another GB of RAM maybe but not really necessary

 

[Ennui]

wouldnt the 3200+ bottleneck 2 7800s?

 

[DEATHMASTER]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562
a 3800+ X2 dual core for $297 (weekend sale right now)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Order=PRICED&Page=1&N=2010380048+4018&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=48
a few 7900 gt's here for $299...the fourth one down is actully $269 after rebate.
Hope this helps

 

[hungryduck]

get an x2 3800 and a 7900gt, youll be set for awhile

 

[Asus]

wouldnt the 3200+ bottleneck 2 7800s?

Yeah you need high CPU speed to keep those 2 cards pumped full with data. Otherwise its a waste.

 

[Ennui]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562
a 3800+ X2 dual core for $297 (weekend sale right now)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Order=PRICED&Page=1&N=2010380048+4018&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=48
a few 7900 gt's here for $299...the fourth one down is actully $269 after rebate.
Hope this helps

if i got these two, would i need to upgrade the power supply? and to what, if so?

 

[DEATHMASTER]

You're 20 watts above the minimum recommendation. I'd say you're good.

 

[Qonfused]

If it's a generic PSU then it probably doesn't have any PCI-E connectors.

And ffs people...


Do not buy a PSU according to the wattage. Ignorantly doing that will create a dangerous enviroment for all of your hardware.


When a PSU blows, it takes everything else it can with it. If you just look at the wattage, you're not even touching on the most important thing on a PSU -- the voltage ratings. Something like this would do fine for just about any PC aside from the more intense machines. When buying a PSU, look mainly nowadays at the +12v ratings. The minimum rating for an AMD 64bit CPU is 20A on that rating.

Also, dont be fooled by rating alone. Trust me when I say to buy from well-known and reputable companies like Seasonic, Antec, PC Power and Cooling, amoung others. Don't be fooled by companies like HIRPO, Coolermaster and any other shading sounding PSU company. Take this PSU for example. Sure the ratings look good, right? However, companies like these will blatently lie to Newegg.com and other sites.

Generally, cheap PSUs are complete shit. There are some few exceptions like XCLIO and such but a $70-100 PSU will suit anyone. I know it's hard to spend that much on "just a little PSU" but look at it this way: if the PSU can't supply power to the PC, you're not going anywhere. And if a PSU blows, it'll take anything with it including your MB and videocard.

Do not cheap out on the PSU.

 

[Barney Fife]

Well, the answers I was about to give are already given, so there you have it.

Why not, though, wait for a while and save some more and get those goodies which are about to be released? That would be like your dream going crazy on ya. hehe.

 

[Shamrock]

Edited for stupidness.[/U][/B]

I have a 400 W 18A +12v. It runs a +3200, 1 Gig of ram, 7800GT flawlessly.

Oh by the way, mine is completely and 100% generic. It came with the case. The case is nonexistant anymore.

Generics are perfectly fine for me. Of course, mine could have been a 1 in a million generic one.

 

[Qonfused]

Edited for ignorance.

Shamrock: think you know things about psus
Shamrock: you know nothing!
Qonfused: ok
Shamrock: :-P
Shamrock: i am using a generic 400watt 18amp psu with the same exact set up as you
Shamrock:
Shamrock: i love my qonny
Qonfused: and im going to laugh at you
Qonfused: when it goes boom
Qonfused: and you have to replace everything
Shamrock: :-P
Shamrock: haha ill laugh too
Shamrock: at the damn irony
Shamrock: :-P

 

[DEATHMASTER]

However, companies like these will blatently lie to Newegg.com and other sites.

How do you know this? And if it's true, why doesn't newegg do something about it?

 

[Qonfused]

How do you know this? And if it's true, why doesn't newegg do something about it?

People and reputable websites have bought PSUs and have tested them with voltage meters and they've come out all wrong. Why doesn't Newegg do something -- who knows?

 

[3ssence]

Because they still make money from selling low quality PSU's, and not everybody knows their stuff about pc's, therefore may well buy them. Also, if you don't have a high powered rig, sometimes they will be sufficient. But as far as i am concerned, a quality PSU is a must.