Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Got an ageing Pentium 4 2.8ghz with 512mb ram, 120 gb hd and a 128mb ati gfx card (AGP). Case will not allow much expansion neither does the mb. Also have a 250 mb hd from a external drive that I plan to swap into new base unit. The old base unit will be used as a media player.

What I'm looking for is the best possible upgrade for my money (£200 - might be flexible a bit).

I'm thinking I'll keep the gfx card as it seem up to my requirements and change the cpu, motherboard and case and add new ram , probably a gig 2 if possible.

Would like to get back to AMD as I think they are value for money but if a 805d is going to give better ooomph then I'm open to suggestions.

I do a fair bit of graphic design so the memory would be useful, also do a bit of video conversion so raw grunt is required. Case wants to be as plain as possible in silver or black with space for at least 4 hd and 2 cd/dvd drives.

Going to have a look about but unsure about what cpu/mb combinations work well together.

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

You want www.zings-pc-knock-up-shop.very-nice. :D but of course we know that, seriously though, he had a nice bit of kit the other week when I was down there :tu:

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

What I'm hoping is that I can get a nice 805 overclock or a cheap opteron dual core for the money.

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Think you might need a tad more, don't wanna quote Zing's prices in open forum, but you know he'll look after you :)

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

cheapest option is with the 805. You will be able to keep the gfx is you use an upgrade board like Bops. TBH with a £200 budget its your only real course of action for best results
The case only needs cost 25 quid to cover your needs and 20 quid will buy you a hiper psu to go in it. 35 quid for mobo 65 quid for cpu only leaves enough for a gig of ram and that will be slightly over 200 notes componant costs:)

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

true

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

How would that fair against :


http://www.ebuyer.com/product/111288...rb/24067510928
Amd dual core 64 3800 2ghz £86.61

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119408
as rock mb £33.84

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/82244/rb/24067558371
1gb ddr2 ram £54.99

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=92054
case £27.69

total £203.13

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

The AMD wont overclock thats about it. An overclocked 805 will beat the 3800 hands down. Costs are very similar remember I added 20 quid for a hiper psu so add that to your price there and there pretty much evens. Im running a 3600 x2 am2 cpu in my second machine and its a nice fast stable machine so really its down to you :)

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

What is the spec of your main system?

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

E6600 on a P5W Deluxe DH mobo 2 gig ocz ddr 667 less hard drives than I want as ive suffed a few failures close together x1900xt pioneer dvd rw and an nec dvd rw all in a Thermaltake Armor senior case with a hiper 580 modular psu. Its quite a modest machine by all standards but does its job :)

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

soooooo, from ebuyer whats the recommended kit?

ebuyer as I get discount :)

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

They aint got the 805 so its what you have on your list or if you can stretch
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/112704

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/114742

with the ram you said and your existing card

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Drewls yeh plug that dual core : I cant say it more - for the sake of a few pounds more just do it

Seriously dual core is the best thing to happen to computing since linux.

I just love working on my dual core it even makes windows USABLE too

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Does not leave much room for a case though :(

The Amd is dual core in real terms how much slower will it be that the E6300?

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

massively in real terms. Specially if you hit it with any form of encoding

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Cool, looks like I have some sums to be done then see if it can be afforded.

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Dont forget to post your basket mate :) I might just copy yer :)

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Having a shufty about and found 805's still in stock. Also found 820's as well for only a tenner or so more. Still confused as to what to get.

Do I go 805 with the as rock board and over clock or go the E6300 with the as rock board?

hmm 805 is a bit cheaper, would allow other things to be upgraded also.

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

but the 6300 is a much better cpu ;)

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Right Zing options seems to be:

Microdirect
805D £58.74
Case £27.53
Postage £6.95
Ebuyer
Asrock dual Mb £36.99
1gb ddr2 533 £54.99

Total £185.20
or

Ebuyer
820D £64.27
Case £27.69
Asrock Dual mb £36.99
1gb ddr2 533 £54.99

Total £183.94

or

ebuyer
E6300 £119.90
Asrock dual mb £36.99
Case £27.69
1gb ddr2 533 £54.99

Total £239.57

Very tempted to o/c the 805 as is best part of £50 notes cheaper but not sure still.

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

it is totally upto you mate I always say however spend as much as you can its down to your wallet :)
As a side not you will need to add 15 to 20 quid for a none stock cooler as an oc 805 with stock cooler sounds like a helicoptor lol

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

This one? http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...7&GroupID=1106

Or this one? http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...4&GroupID=1106

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

i always use this one http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...3&GroupID=1106

It is a standard atx case isnt it?

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

yes it is , job done then. will go down the 805 route. Will post up the full linkies and will be ordering as soon as the cheque from the bank clears. :) Thanks for the advice

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Awwww handyman :( I'm too late !

That 50 quid extra would have gone a very long way the E6300 is a great o/c on a decent board :rolleyes:

Anyway best of luck with 805

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Right I'm ready to order.

Going to go down the 805 route but before I order any care to give me in real money the expected speed difference on using the E6300 over the 805. I'd much prefer to have an extra hard drive in there using up the money.

I plan to get back into gaming but mainly it's used as a video encoding / web dev work horse. FYI on this p4 2.8 with 512mb it takes upwards of 4 hours to convert a rat dvd. :-( I can batch them up and set them off overnight then through the day whilst at work so I normally never notice the time they take.

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

the c2d will pee on the 805 however if you clock the 805 it will be faster than any other cpu bar the fx 62 the 5000 and most intels but the c2ds (all others at stock speeds of course)

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Well all the kit has turned up.

Problem is the lugs that hold on the front of the case have been broken. Ebuyer are sending out another one for Monday which is the best I could expect really but its such a dissapointment to have to wait till then to build and test the machine.

It was only 4 of the quick release lugs that had shattered plus one of the permamanant ones. Tempted to just use the other permanant ones as there are enough to hold on the front.

Do I cancel the RMA and just do that or should I wait till Monday for a fully functioning case?

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Unlucky mate :

But do you need a case ? If you've got a spare PSU lying around do what I do : Test machine first THEN make pretty and put in a case :) besides its easier than fixing into the case then trying to squeeze the panel leads, cpu and fat heatsink.

I hate the putting into a case bit its so BORING unless its a Sugo SG01-E or other SFF of course :D

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

I normally build pc's by placing the motherboard on top of the case i'm going to use (on it's anti-static mat of course) then attach all of the componetnts, once it's had a soak test I then proceed to fit it int the case as I'm fussy about my ccableing and like then all cable tied back to help airflow. Still have 100'2 of self adhesive anchors for cable ties from when I used to build pc's for a living. Seems so long ago though.

I'm thinking that as the front panel is detachable (and fully detached as its busted) that I would simply build the pc anyway then when the courior comes at work I'll whip the delivery upstairs rip open the box (telling him I'm checking it) then bring down the return having slipped in the duff front panel :-) jobs a winner fannies your aunt.

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

LOL you the man !

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Posting from said pc now. Do all cases now not have a removeable motherboard plate or have I just bought a really cheap one?

Going to wait till I get the front plate on on Monday then start with the overclocking.

Tis running sweet already though.

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

ive not seen many removable plates in a while

Re: Whats the best upgrade possible?
 

Welcome to the dual core clan :D