Upgrade suggestions?

Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
edited December 2003 in Hardware
I know a guy who got NFS: Underground for X-Mas. This poses a problem, as his current system is a PowerSpec 8620 from Microcenter, and the specs are:
<table border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=463&selection=8620'>Processor</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 1.9GHz</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=458&selection=8620'>OS</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=519&selection=8620'>System Board</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>MSI™ MS-6533G-L</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=522&selection=8620'>System Memory</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>512MB DDR266 SDRAM 184-pin DIMM</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=73&selection=8620'>Diskette Drive</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>3.5" 1.44MB Floppy Disk Drive</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=453&selection=8620'>Hard Drive</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>60GB ATA/100</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=514&selection=8620'>CD-ROM Drive</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>LiteOn 52X CD-ROM Drive</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=516&selection=8620'>CD-RW Drive</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>LiteOn 32x12x40x CD-RW Drive</p></td>
</tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=523&selection=8620'>Video</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>Integrated SiS650 Chipset with Ultra-AGPII Technology</p></td>
</tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=527&selection=8620'>Sound</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>Integrated Wavetable Audio</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=512&selection=8620'>Modem</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>56K PCI Modem MDP 7800</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=525&selection=8620'>LAN</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>Integrated 10/100 Ethernet Adapter</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=355&selection=8620'>Keyboard</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>Windows PS/2 Keyboard</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=35&selection=8620'>Mouse</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>PS/2 2-button Internet Scroll Mouse</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=153&selection=8620'>Speakers</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>Stereo Speakers</p></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="middle" width="120" class=component><p><A HREF='system_components.phtml?component=72&selection=8620'>Warranty</A></p></td><td align="left" valign="middle" width="460" colspan="2"><p>On-Site Limited Warranty</p></td></tr></table>

He wants to play NFS: Underground. Those SiS graphics have made that impossible... (too slow) He also has a 19" LCD, so something that could run the game @ 1280x1024 would be ideal.

In terms of budget, his exact statement was "i really do not want to spend a ton of money on this but i want it to get the job done."

So what do you think?
I was thinking a Radeon 9100, 9500 Pro, 9600XT, or 9700 Pro, depending on how much he wanted to spend.

I was also thinking maybe an i865 board and another stick of 512MB PC2100, if he wanted to spend the money on those.

What do you think?

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    I think that sounds fine. -Shrugs-
  • Al_CapownAl_Capown Indiana
    edited December 2003
    Depends on what "a lot of money" is.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited December 2003
    Al, to answer your question, err... statement;
    $200 is alot but if i absolutely must spend more then i guess i will have to spend more but i really don't want to spend more then 200 if i don't have to
  • ketoketo Occupied. Or is it preoccupied? Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    If he has an AGP slot, all he *should* need to add is a 9600XT which will put him right at his budget limit - everything else looks to be more than adequate. Maybe if a 9700Pro is out there for the same $$ (keto stick ups hand and goes to lower price in FS/FT thread). I don't really see the value in having him spend $ on memory or mobo without upgrading the processor, not even to acquire dual channel capability.
  • Al_CapownAl_Capown Indiana
    edited December 2003
    $219 :-/

    http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=14-131-199
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited December 2003
    Keto, so you don't think the board would make a difference? Is the CPU just too slow to take advantage of the dual-channel memory, then?

    One of the 9600s may be the best choice, since they're 0.13um. The case is a mATX thing, and I have no idea what the PS wattage is. However, I'm betting on two things:
    1- the case has fairly poor cooling
    2- the ps is probably not a monster 500w unit; I'd guess 300w or less.

    The 9700 Pro and 9500 Pro are both very power-hungry, hot-running cards. The 9600XT, on the other hand, is not... so it may be the best choice, even though it's not quite as fast as the 9500 Pro or 9700 Pro.
  • ketoketo Occupied. Or is it preoccupied? Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Dual channel WOULD make a difference but at (assuming here, haven't looked it up) 133 fsb (could even be 100), the difference is going to be small. The 1.9 is adequate for the game he wants to run, assuming a video upgrade, but the difference in speed spending all the extra cash over and above a video card just won't add enough performance to justify the extra $$ imho. It doesn't sound like he's a hardcore gamer who would benefit from a more 'overall system' upgrade. Factoring in your 'take' on his budget, the video card is far and away the best bang for buck - he can get what he wants for what he wants to spend.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited December 2003
    Got it. And just for the record, the P4-1.9 is a 100 ("400")MHz bus CPU.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited December 2003
    Well, just so you guys know...

    He ordered a Radeon 9700 Pro from www.mwave.com , which has them for $199.
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