Could I buy a Processor Video Card and 512MB RAM or a new Computer all together?

Question

I have a 1300MHz (1,29 GHz) Processor, NVidea GeForce 2 with D+L shading. and 512 RAM. I want to get a nice gaming computer up. I bought the Tower for $200 but I want to do little add-ons so I can run quality games. Would you recommend I get a new processor, Video Card and 512 more RAM? If so which ones do you recommend(Processor + Video Card.) I really don't feel like getting a new computer though also. I don't want to get Exspensive though, a 64MB Video card would do and I don't know what a good cheap processor would be either. I have an Intel Celeron right now. Thanks for you help.

In response to the latetst answer. I've got this computer at a refurbishing shop. Its got WindowsXP and 40GB Hardrive. SInce it's my gaming computer I haven't given it the internet because of no Anti-Virus spam spyware and such. It does have DDR support and even 2.0! =D But I've found out whilist plugging in my iPod that the USB ports are not high speed ones

Answer 1

Stick the fastest pentium chip your motherboard will support, as much memory as the motherboard will take and the best card the motherboard can support. It still will not play the latest and greatest games, but it should work well for a lot of games.

Answer 2

If you were to upgrade, I would recommend getting either a new system or upgrade the board, CPU, RAM, and video card. Incremental upgrades will only give you incremental improvements and you will be limited by the old hardware architecture your old machine is using. For instance going by the specs you have now, your current motherboard likely doesn't have USB 2.0 ports, probably has a 4X AGP or less graphics port, and is limited to IDE hard drives and can't take advantage of newer DDR RAM if it will even fit in the slots.

Here's are some recommendations for a decent budget system under $1000. Mind you this isn't a hardcore rig by any means but definitely good enough to run most of what's out there and still be affordable.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 or AMD Athlon X2 4200 Dual Core
$200

RAM: 2 X 512MB dual channel DDR/2
$100

Motherboard:
$80-$100 for a decent one (depending on processor)

Video Card:

256MB GeForce 7600GT (best deal for games)
$150

If you want to go full board the rest of the way then...

Case with power supply:
$100 average

Hard Drive:
$60 for 200GB (IDE or SATA almost the same price now)

DVD burner:
16 speeds go for $50 or less

So estimated cost for a new gaming system would be $760 give or take $100 up or down.

Additional note: If your iPod is saying it can't run at high speed transfer then your USB is running at USB 1.1 (11 meg/sec transfer speed). USB 2.0 (480 meg/sec) is substantially faster.

Answer 3

If you want to play some of the latest games, then I'd recommend buying a new computer, if your into playing some of the latest games. If not then yeah just buy a decent video card and you could play some of the older games like Halo or something.

If you want to play the latest games then you can easily upgrade your computer for just a couple hundred bucks. You can get a AMD 3400+ CPU and mobo for $99 online and you could use the same case and RAM. Just spend another hundred on the video card. So at least you can play some of the latest games at lower settings.

Answer 4

First get the 512 RAM. Then find out if you have a 370 pin socket (older-pentium III) or 478 pin socket for your celeron (pentium 4). The 370 is older, and I think you have the fastest chip for it already. If so, consider getting a new motherboard or new computer. If you have the 478 pin, you can get a pentium 4. Be sure the CPU is for your socket. Keep the graphics card, if you don't want to get a much better 256 MB one.

Answer 5

Ok, wait a bit....
Intel's coming out with Quad Core so you should wait a bit. If you arn't going to, still wait a bit because dual core's price are exponentially going down nowdays from the quad core's influence...

Anyways, Get some SLI-GeForce or visit the nVidia's website, they should have all the latest technology stuff... Secondly, to play quality games, you need at LEAST 1GB of RAM, if not 4GB. 2GB is at least recommended.Also, that 1.29Ghz's not gonna do it for ya. Need at least dual-core, above 2.00Ghz.

Or just buy a new HP. their laptops around $1200 are like pimped up processor, graphics card, sound card/speakers and LCD. Dude, those can play almost all the games out; Call of Duty 2, Battlefield 2048, Doom3, Halo, more...

I mean $1200 should be below your budget...

Answer 6

I would not put too much into this one. Better to save up and get a new computer, because what you have should already be just fine the way it is, for what you say you want to use it for.

Answer 7

64 mb wont run any current games.
I recomend 256mb vid cards only for games.

realy u cant update because its so old. and most current hardware requeire XP.