Upgrade question...

[BMorg003]

Hi all, I'm in a bit of a delimma! My mother-in-law wants me to build her a new computer, and I'm not really gonna get paid, but I will be able to swap some of my part into her computer and have her get me a part or two. I've narrowed down the upgrade candidates to mobo. proc, or video card. I currently have an Iwill KK266, Athlon 850 (Oced to 1Ghz), and a Leadtek GeForce 256 32M DDR. I was thinking of swapping the board for a Shuttle AK31 Rev. 3.1, or the proc. for an Athlon 1.2 (maybe a 1.4 but that will take some smooth talking), or the video card for an Inno3D GeForce 2 TI 32M (or other card). This is for my main gaming rig, and I'm open to other suggestions, but money is a factor! I appreciate an/all help, Thanks!:burn:

[Yodums]

Originally posted by BMorg003
Hi all, I'm in a bit of a delimma! My mother-in-law wants me to build her a new computer, and I'm not really gonna get paid, but I will be able to swap some of my part into her computer and have her get me a part or two. I've narrowed down the upgrade candidates to mobo. proc, or video card. I currently have an Iwill KK266, Athlon 850 (Oced to 1Ghz), and a Leadtek GeForce 256 32M DDR. I was thinking of swapping the board for a Shuttle AK31 Rev. 3.1, or the proc. for an Athlon 1.2 (maybe a 1.4 but that will take some smooth talking), or the video card for an Inno3D GeForce 2 TI 32M (or other card). This is for my main gaming rig, and I'm open to other suggestions, but money is a factor! I appreciate an/all help, Thanks!:burn:

Here's my sugestion: Your motherboard is a great overclocker and you should keep it and get her an ECS motherboard or something since she is not intentionally hardcore into overclocking correct?

Money wise is very important since you shouldn't go where you don't need to go.

So depending on what she uses, I think a resonable

ECS Mobo
DDR Ram
Duron 1gig

and the rest is sort of your decision.

That shouldn't be much money and believe me it'll last for awhile as well.

[Dark Illusion]

o/c'ed to 1ghz you say? Well then a video upgrade will get you the furthest in terms of framerates.

[mbigna]

Why don't you just give her your entire computer, and you get all new parts?:D But seriously, what kind of budget do you think your 'smooth talking' will net you?

[BMorg003]

I'm also kinda leaning towards the video card upgrade myself, the DDR chipsets are still kinda immature and not very "overclocker friendly." As for the money, I've already compiled a list of prices and drawn up some possible configurations and given an estimate for each, so it can't be something that will signifigantly impact the price. I originally figured $41 for the vidoe card (an ATI Radeon VE), so if I switch my card of it and get the Inno3D GeForce 2TI that is a difference of $40, but I'm not willing to go much farther than that. It would be a difference of $46 if I get the 1.2G Athlon and $58 for the 1.4G. Oddly enough, she'd save money if I upgraded the board and memory. This project is still in the planning phase and things may change before I order, I might try to see if I can save some money (not gonna be easy, the wife's birthday is right after christmas) and work out a deal with her to switch out some better or multiple parts. Also, are there any more good video cards coming out soon? I've been waiting to see if Nvidia will release a GF3 MX, but I'm getting tired of waiting...I think the Inno3D GeForce 2TI will improve my gaming rig, but are there any other cards out there in the same price range ($81 @pricewatch) that I should consider? Well that's pretty much the situation, any thoughts?Thanks...:beer:

[Yodums]

I'm confused do you want the ATI Radeon VE?

Let me just say that the Radeon VE is not a good card at all and it is defintely a no for hardcore gamers since processing through 2 screens will slow down the pixels that it is capable.

If you want a card here are the ones I would get from cheap to expensive top of the lines.

ATI Radeon 32DDR
GeForce 2 Pro
GeForce 2 TI
ATI Radeon 7500
ATI Radeon 8500
GeForce 3 Ti500

The card from all those I would recommend is either ATI Radeon 32DDR or the 7500.

The 32DDR keeping up pretty good to modern games and the 7500 surpassing today's technology by not awhole lot and it will last for years.

Peace Out

[BMorg003]

Sorry, I know this musical PC Parts is confusing. I picked the Radeon VE to be her video card if I switched out either the processor ($40 estimated) or board/ram ($109-124 estimated depending on the board), so it's the basis for how much money I have alotted toward a video card ($41), and I know it sucks for gamers, but it'd be a great card for her. !I've got about $40-50 dollars "cushion" to spend on upgrading(swapping) a part of mine (Which gives me about $80-90 to spend on a video card I want). If I switch out board/ram it comes out best/cheapest for her, If I switch proc. it's worst, and the GF2 TI is in-between. I hope that clears the situation up a little. After viewing the numbers, the project is a GO and I'll be buying parts for it immediately after Christmas, so it'll be nice to be sure about what I'm going to get before then, and I was just looking for some other opinions. I never buy without researching and getting opinions first, cause overclockers are great and they know what's good. I got the board for my birthday earlier this year from my wife and I'm a little afriad she might try to divorce me if I trade it so soon, and I really do LOVE this board, so I'm a little hesitant about swapping it. Thanks for the help

[flounder43]

I like my Radeon VE...that is what I have to add.

[BMorg003]

Not to knock the Radeon VE, it's a great card for it's purpose, but for my purposes (hardcore gaming) it is a little weak (sorry flounder). I'm also toying with the idea of getting her an ECS or Shuttle Mobo and still switching my video card for a newer one... I'll continue my video card specific questions in the appropriate section, as for the mobos, I don't know much about ECS and I've heard of more than a few problems with these boards, I'd be a little more comfortable getting her a shuttle mobo, I've heard some good things about the AK31 rev3+. I had originally planned to get her an Iwill KK266 like mine or maybe an Abit KT7A, but the price of DDR mobos is so low, I might be better off getting her one of those. Well what do you guys think? I appreciate any opinions, Thanks.:D