upgrade time

[John Doe]

I am gung ho for a quality upgrade, on a budget. Specifically
USD120.

A performance upgrade would be great, but audio is important also.

I don't know how to improve performance without spending
significantly more.

I could use exceptionally low noise microphone input. Currently
there is some hum at very high playback volume, but otherwise very
clear. Will a USB external soundcard stop the low frequency hum?
Maybe the audio output amplifier, or the speakers, produces the hum
at very high playback volume?

SYSTEM WEAKEST POINTS:

.... probably could use a new heatsink/fan (the Athlon XP 3000+ CPU
runs a little hot, in my opinion, but not critically so)

.... GeForce3 AGP
.... GeForce FX 5200 PCI
(two video cards or one dual output video card required for dual VGA
monitors)

.... mainboard, hardware chip audio

.... low end Creative Labs SBS270 speakers

.... aging Logitech Desktop Pro cordless keyboard (a split/ergonomic
and cordless keyboard is required, would like one with a built-in
touchpad if anybody makes that)

.... one 60 GB 7200 RPM HDD plus one 10 GB 7200 RPM HDD (I am not
cramped for space, but could use one of the current hard disk drives
for another system)

DETAILED SYSTEM:

.... MSI K7N2 Delta2-LSR, 200/400 megahertz FSB, Socket A

.... Athlon XP 3000+ with stock heatsink for a lesser CPU

.... PC 3200, 1 GB RAM

The basic system runs very well speed wise, in my opinion.

I do not want to buy another video card unless I am sure this
current system will greatly benefit over the current GeForce 3. If
necessary, I will wait and spend a little more on a video card
later.

Thank you.

 

[chris]

I am gung ho for a quality upgrade, on a budget. Specifically
USD120.

A performance upgrade would be great, but audio is important also.

I don't know how to improve performance without spending
significantly more.

I could use exceptionally low noise microphone input. Currently
there is some hum at very high playback volume, but otherwise very
clear. Will a USB external soundcard stop the low frequency hum?
Maybe the audio output amplifier, or the speakers, produces the hum
at very high playback volume?

SYSTEM WEAKEST POINTS:

... probably could use a new heatsink/fan (the Athlon XP 3000+ CPU
runs a little hot, in my opinion, but not critically so)

... GeForce3 AGP
... GeForce FX 5200 PCI
(two video cards or one dual output video card required for dual VGA
monitors)

... mainboard, hardware chip audio

... low end Creative Labs SBS270 speakers

... aging Logitech Desktop Pro cordless keyboard (a split/ergonomic
and cordless keyboard is required, would like one with a built-in
touchpad if anybody makes that)

... one 60 GB 7200 RPM HDD plus one 10 GB 7200 RPM HDD (I am not
cramped for space, but could use one of the current hard disk drives
for another system)

DETAILED SYSTEM:

... MSI K7N2 Delta2-LSR, 200/400 megahertz FSB, Socket A

... Athlon XP 3000+ with stock heatsink for a lesser CPU

... PC 3200, 1 GB RAM

The basic system runs very well speed wise, in my opinion.

I do not want to buy another video card unless I am sure this
current system will greatly benefit over the current GeForce 3. If
necessary, I will wait and spend a little more on a video card
later.

Thank you.

.... one 60 GB 7200 RPM HDD plus one 10 GB 7200 RPM HDD (I am not

cramped for space, but could use one of the current hard disk drives
for another system)

For 120 us I'd look to upgrade the hard drive.Maybe SATA or another 60
gb and create a software raid array with the 2.There is a difference
in speed between 7200 rpm an 10,000 rpm.


.... probably could use a new heatsink/fan (the Athlon XP 3000+ CPU

runs a little hot, in my opinion, but not critically so)

Maybe a new psu with round cables that do not impede air
flow.(ultra-x).Round Ide cables and a decent copper based heatsink and
fan. www.pricewatch.com

C.

 

[John Doe]

For 120 us I'd look to upgrade the hard drive.Maybe SATA or
another 60 gb and create a software raid array with the 2.There
is a difference in speed between 7200 rpm an 10,000 rpm.

That's probably what I should do, will see. I don't even need 60
GB for the Windows drive, so this would do.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101221

That's right folks, Windows does not require 40 GB, yet.

Trivia. I actually put Windows 95 and AOL 3.0 on a 42 MB hard disk
drive, starting with DOS disk/file compression.

Maybe a new psu with round cables that do not impede air
flow.(ultra-x).Round Ide cables

I was impressed with the idea of round IDE cables, until I got
some which were just crumpled up parallel cables.

and a decent copper based heatsink and fan. www.pricewatch.com

I hope my next CPU cooler is better than the last one I wasted
money on.

Thanks.