Upgrade help plz!!!

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

I got the OK to spend 75 buckaroos on the computer (not the 3500 someone else got but enough for me!!!)...anyway here is my specs:

2.1 processor
gf 2 64mb vid card
40 gig Maxtor 7200 rpm h/d
256 generic pc2100 ram
cd burner
dvd player
zip drive

I don't need a 'supercomputer' but this is what i'm thinking: I'd like to upgrade vid card, memory and h/d. Video card is decent, but there is much better out there (obviously), memory seems to be a must right now since i'm down to 256mb's, and i would like to run dual 40's mainly for more space and also as a backup h/d.

so this is what i came up with:

256 mb generic ram $27 on pricewatch
40 gig maxtor 7200 rpm $51 on pricewatch

watchya'll think?????

[LA_MERC_goose]

I'd run with it!

[LA_MERC_MadMAX]

I think it's more then $75 :D

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

also, is a radeon 9200se 128mb much better than my gf2 64mb??? newegg has several different versions of the 9200se card for about 45-50. i'm swaying between the vid card and hard drive.

[LA_MERC_MadMAX]

I would stay away from a 9200 - it probably wouldn't be enough better than what you have now.

[Wratt]

yep what they said...i got a 128 vid card for 60 bucks...you can get a geforce 128 now days for about $60 from microcenter and others cause 256 cards r out now..c ya round with my card and a few tweaks i run about a 56 ping ..i just upgrade my system to a 2.4 gig athlon and iwill motherboard with 566hz bus which should make my stuff even better..i had a 1.1gig celeron which gave me the 56 ping..i should really rock now...hope yours does as well as mine or better...i have an ati allinone wonder 128 vid card with tv out.....which works great normally it was $199 but got it on clearance for $100.

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

is it true that if i buy generic ram, there is a possibility that the new & old chips will not work together?

[LA_MERC_Captain_Obvious]

stay away from generic ram. compatibility will alwaysbe an issue or in question. and name brand ram doesn't cost that much more. RAM is one of the most vital and most quirky components. Crucial (while not the fastest most of the time, still a great consistent performer) is not expensive by any means. go to crucial.com look up your motherboard and it will give you options from only what is compatible with your system. (free shipping too I believe)
Mushkin, Corsair, and Kingston HyperX series are all great brands too. youcan check the prices for them on Newegg.com
click here:
http://www.newegg.com/app/manufactory.asp?catalog=147&DEPA=0
on the left side in advanced search, put in type of memory (DDR), how much memory, speed you want etc. and it will show you all that fit. stick to the brands I listed above though. (I have heard good things about Geil, but I have no experience with it myself)

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

Thanks CO, I was about to buy 256 mb of generic..lol.

[LA_MERC_Captain_Obvious]

it looked like you needed an intervention...

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

AT LEAST YOU DIDN'T SAY "DEVINE INTERVENTION" LOL

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-118&depa=0

i just got the ok to buy this....i read the review on 'tomshardware' and i didn't see any bad things...but wanted to see what you guys thought first.

[LA_MERC_Captain_Obvious]

first thing I think is stay away from Tom's hardware site...unless you need a good laugh.

second is, that's a great HD at a great price. Anandtech just did an artical on mid range PC building and that is the ahrd drive they choose for their system. http://www.anandtech.com/
or for the article I'm talking about:
http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.html?i=1979

[LA_MERC_Sabre]

thanks for the input CO, i actually found a place on pricewatch that is selling it for $88 shipped, but i think i'll stay with newegg because i know that there cust. service is top notch.

and i get a newegg pen free with order!! woohoo!!!!!

[CajunTech]

CO, shame on you for shooting down poor Tom :D (Have to admit he has a good VGA chart -65 cards).

I usually check out..

Toms Hardware (http://www.tomshardware.com)
8 Dimensional (http://www.8dimensional.com/)
Sharky's (http://www.sharkyextreme.com)

and a lot of times I'll read articles from Anandtech (usually through links).

I pretty much use the above sites just to see whats new out there. Then I look at a couple of online reviews. Easy way to find information on a product you like is to open up Google (http://www.google.com) and type in the products name or number followed by the word review. Then just read over 4 or 5 of them and see if they all have the same opinion on the product.

I pretty much use the above method for all of our IT purchases except for items over $10,000 or so. Then I usually call around and find other comapanies I can talk to that are using the product.