What would you do with USD$400?

[Brazooka]

Here's the thing. I'm from Brazil and since all hardware here is imported from US, it can get really expensive (80% taxation). But I'm going to Canada next saturday, and I was thinking that maybe it's my opportunity to get some upgrades for a nice price...

The problem is that I'm a complete noob regarding hardware, so I figure u guys might help me. I have about USD$400,00 to spend with upgrades to this machine:

P4 2,0Ghz
512 MB SDRAM
40 GB HD
GeForce 2MX(hope to get a radeon 9800)

What is the better way to spend these 400 bucks? What should I get?
Where is a good place to buy upgrades(Toronto, ON)?
Please be specific about the models, I was not kidding about the noob part...
Thanks :E

 

[Shuzer]

Ditch the SDRAM, and go with DDR (PC3200)
Try and find a Radeon 9800 pro..

and, if you have any money left, I'd go for a larger harddrive

I'd say your processor is fine, the least of your worries

 

[ShinRa]

www.newegg.com

Get urself a nice 9800 pro...and with the 120 left over get urself a nicer harddrive.

if not a harddrive get DDR ram pc3200...even 128 mb of it will be faster than that ram.

 

[umop]

Also, since you're new to hardware, beware that if you get DDR RAM you will need a new motherboard as well, which can get pricey. The best upgrade would be a better video card.

 

[Shuzer]

Also, since you're new to hardware, beware that if you get DDR RAM you will need a new motherboard as well, which can get pricey. The best upgrade would be a better video card.

Not necessarily true. Some motherboards have support for both DDR and standard SDRAM, my old P3 had both slots.

I'd check your motherboard documentation on what type of RAM your motherboard supports before making any decisions, Brazooka.
I think another 512MB PC133 (assuming on the speed) SDRAM would be a good choice if you're stuck with SDRAM. Again, check your motherboard/manual to see if your board supports DDR (unless you know off-hand)

 

[Brazooka]

Thanks for the responses mates,

One doubt: Waht about the "bottleneck" that some are talking about? Will I get a bottleneck if I maintain the P4 2,0Ghz and get the RADEON 9800 PRO ?

 

[Shuzer]

Thanks for the responses mates,

One doubt: Waht about the "bottleneck" that some are talking about? Will I get a bottleneck if I maintain the P4 2,0Ghz and get the RADEON 9800 PRO ?

It might be bottlenecked a little bit, but it's nothing to worry about I'd say.

 

[umop]

I agree, it shouldn't be too much of a bottleneck, but if there is one it would be at the CPU. Anyway I completely forgot that mobos can support both, I've just never seen one. How rare are they?

 

[Shuzer]

I agree, it shouldn't be too much of a bottleneck, but if there is one it would be at the CPU. Anyway I completely forgot that mobos can support both, I've just never seen one. How rare are they?

I don't think they're made anymore, it was probably just a solution for the SDRAM to DDR transition

 

[Brazooka]

Not necessarily true. Some motherboards have support for both DDR and standard SDRAM, my old P3 had both slots.

I'd check your motherboard documentation on what type of RAM your motherboard supports before making any decisions, Brazooka.
I think another 512MB PC133 (assuming on the speed) SDRAM would be a good choice if you're stuck with SDRAM. Again, check your motherboard/manual to see if your board supports DDR (unless you know off-hand)

I've just checked the Mother Board manual, and it doesn't support DDR... so I should get another 512MB PC133, right? So if the bottleneck is not a big problem , if the money doesn't last long, would i be fine with just the vid card?

 

[Asus]

The biggest single upgrade would be going to a 9800Pro.
The remaining upgrades would only give you marginal increase for the cost.
If you run WinXP, a total of 1GB of memory would be nice though (if your board supports it).

 

[KiNG]

9800pro = 190-200
512 3200DDR = 90-100
80-160gb HD = 80-100

there u go 400, there are good deals out there for good hardware. do a lil reaserch, read some reviews (both professional and customer) and buy your babies.

EDIT: those are online prices, expect a 20% increase in-store.
good ram to look for is corsair or kingston. your mother board might not support ddr memory so u might have to stick with sd.

 

[Johan_Tayn]

9800 Pro seems the way to go for you! ;-)

I find it hard to belive that a P4 could live with SDRAM.. I guess you live and learn.. ;-)

You might want to still crack the case and check and make sure there isn't a DDR slot or two in there. And plus, you might want to see if you have two 256 chips or four 128 chips and how many more chips you can and should get.

 

[poseyjmac]

dont waste your money on a new harddrive. 40gb is fine. people with 180gb hardrives download lots of illegal stuff. you want more speed and performance.

get the 9800 pro for sure(one on pricewatch for $170 with shipping), and get an amd xp 3000-3200 cpu with board and adequate cooling. if you need specific help msg me, but dont buy a hardrive, your cpu is lacking and you will get a dramatic increase in performance with an xp3000 cpu. allocate 200 for vid card 200 for cpu/mb and youre set.if you skimp on cpu, you shoot yourself in the foot. think about the future too.

if you dont upgrade often, you should really consider this.

 

[Brazooka]

I found it in the manual and it sucks. It says "PC133 SDRAM only". So I think I'll go for the RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB, and if there is money enough, I'll get another 512MB PC133 SDRAM, what do you guys think?

 

[Brazooka]

dont waste your money on a new harddrive. 40gb is fine. people with 180gb hardrives download lots of illegal stuff. you want more speed and performance.

get the 9800 pro for sure(one on pricewatch for $170 with shipping), and get an amd xp 3000-3200 cpu with board and adequate cooling. if you need specific help msg me, but dont buy a hardrive, your cpu is lacking and you will get a dramatic increase in performance with an xp3000 cpu. allocate 200 for vid card 200 for cpu/mb and youre set.if you skimp on cpu, you shoot yourself in the foot. think about the future too.

if you dont upgrade often, you should really consider this.

sorry, wrote the above post before read yours, already sent you a msg...

 

[Shuzer]

posey -- the problem with your ideas? I doubt Brazooka can order his goods online and wait for them to be shipped to him while he's in Canada, not to mention most American sites (such as newegg) won't ship to Canada.

 

[Brazooka]

posey -- the problem with your ideas? I doubt Brazooka can order his goods online and wait for them to be shipped to him while he's in Canada, not to mention most American sites (such as newegg) won't ship to Canada.

Yeah. Shuzer yuo're right mate, I'll be in hotels all the time. I need a retailer, I'm searching the net and I got just one adress so far...

 

[poseyjmac]

posey -- the problem with your ideas? I doubt Brazooka can order his goods online and wait for them to be shipped to him while he's in Canada, not to mention most American sites (such as newegg) won't ship to Canada.

Ok, i didn't know his stay would be brief. there are plenty of stores on pricewatch that ship to canada though. but this does change things.

brazooka: you might want to go somewhere like amdmb.com forums and ask where a good canadian computer store is that will be near you. thats a forum for hardware geeks of all kind, and they know a lot. thats the best advice i can give

 

[Brazooka]

Nice, thanks again mates!!!!!!! I'll check the forum for a good retailer near my hotel... the prices I found so far are not good at all...