Help me build a new computer!

[SatchmoNater]

Hey everyone, new to the forum's here and i was wondering if you guy's could please help me out. I recently bought a computer for about $800, and i have found out that i got absolutely ripped off...here are the specs for this mighty fine rip off:

Processor: Intel Celeron Pentium 4 2.8ghz
Memory: 224 MB RAM
Page File (don't really know what this actually is): 305MB used, 241 MB availible
Graphics Card (integreated on the motherboard): SiS 661 FX1, 32.0 MB's of total memory.
Hard Drive: 76 gig's
My cooling fan is 270 v's.


So ive pretty much given up on this computer, and have decided i would be better off getting a new one. I use my computer mainly for gaming, and my price range is about $600 AUS dollars (i live in Australia, so ill be paying is Australian currency) So could you guys please help me on building this new computer? What kind of processor is good for gaming? (Found out that Celeron was one of the worst)

Maybe i can sell this computer? How much could i get? Thanks for the help, much appreciated. Maybe i don't even need a new computer for gaming, and can fix the current one i have? What do you guys think?

NOTE: Ive already got a monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers ect, i just need to build the tower!!

[0iD]

What is the case & PSU like? can you re-use them? Also try downloading Belarc Advisor. I'll give you a more in-depth report on your current system.

Do you have any pref toward AMD or Intel?

[SatchmoNater]

What is the case & PSU like? can you re-use them? Also try downloading Belarc Advisor. I'll give you a more in-depth report on your current system.

Do you have any pref toward AMD or Intel?

I don't really have a pref, fine with either. I downloaded that program, and here are the results. Can you tell me if i have an agp slot?

Processor:
2.80 gigahertz Intel Celeron
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
128 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Main Circuit Board:
Board: SiS-661
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG 04/21/2004

Drives:
80.05 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
73.23 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]
SAMSUNG SP0802N [Hard drive] (80.06 GB) -- drive 0, s/n S00JJ30X566853, rev TK200-04, SMART Status: Healthy


Memory Modules c,d
224 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'A0' has 256 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty

Display:
SiS 661FX_760_741_M661FX_M760_M741 [Display adapter]
OEC 15.7 [Monitor] (15.7"vis, June 1997)

Bus Adapters
SiS 180 RAID Controller
SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller (3x)

MultiMedia:
Vinyl AC'97 Codec Combo Driver (WDM)


What do you think? The graphics/sound card where made in 1997...Jesus!
Is this computer fixable? I'm thinking about a Radeon9800 Pro if it is. Should i just build a new computer, or fix this one???

[0iD]

If you're looking at a Celery with 256me of ram & integrated graphics, as you're well aware just isn't going to cut the mustard. From the report I can see it didn't properly list the mobo model, merely the chipset. This is usually the sign of a cheap board, & it doesn't indicate the presence of an agp slot. (best way is to pop the side of the case off & have a peek).
I suggest you go shopping, see how much a new mobo, cpu, cooler, ram & graphics card is going to set you back. The drives are certainly servicable. May I suggest going for an AMD 64 setup. Prices for those & ram is especially low atm. For future upgradability look at socket 939 & pci-e.
As for the case, it's normally a matter of taste. Check your case will take a full ATC mobo.

[SatchmoNater]

If you're looking at a Celery with 256me of ram & integrated graphics, as you're well aware just isn't going to cut the mustard. From the report I can see it didn't properly list the mobo model, merely the chipset. This is usually the sign of a cheap board, & it doesn't indicate the presence of an agp slot. (best way is to pop the side of the case off & have a peek).
I suggest you go shopping, see how much a new mobo, cpu, cooler, ram & graphics card is going to set you back. The drives are certainly servicable. May I suggest going for an AMD 64 setup. Prices for those & ram is especially low atm. For future upgradability look at socket 939 & pci-e.
As for the case, it's normally a matter of taste. Check your case will take a full ATC mobo.

What's a good AMD 64 setup, for gaming? What brand CPU? Ive already decided to get a Radeon 9800 PRO, and 512 MB of RAM. How much is this all going to cost me? I can get a few pictures of my case if you want Remember my budget is $600 AUS dollars, so will i get something decent for that price?

[0iD]

Not beeing too familiar with Auzzie H/W sites I've forind the following

A64 3200 s754 $310
Abit KV8 s754 $120
512 Cprsair PC 3200 $75
(from techbuy.com.au)
rad 9800 pro $225
(from i-tech)
which is a he-awge $805.

This gives you the system you want, but at an additional cost.
So what to do? I don't know. Maybe try second hand kit?

*edit*Send Applecrusher a PM, he's a fellow Aussie & alround top dude.

[Ferral]

Go for something like what I have. I have the XP Barton 2500+ 1Gb ram and a 6600GT on the graphics. Will look into a spec for you a little later on.

[0iD]

Tru, an xp2500 Barton will overclock to XP3200+ speeds and above with a good mobo like an NF7-S. Should work out to be abt $150 for the chip & $115 for the mobo.
A GeForce 6600GT, 128MB, AGP8X, TV/DVI looks to be abt $340.

[Allen]

I still reckon that the Athlon XP and AGP Graphics Card is still a very good setup. OK it might be outdated now and it might not be very upgradeable, but for the price you can't beat the performance IMO.

My setup (XP-M 2500+, 1GB DDR RAM, 6800GT AGP, NF2 Mobo etc) still plays all current games with nearly all highest settings without many problems at all, I see no real need to upgrade mine for a while too!

[Ferral]

Yeah, its the same for me now. Just got my 6600GT and its awsome.

I would go with :

Sempron 2800+ (Runs at 2 Ghz) or XP 2500+ Barton Core (1.83 Ghz but 512 Lvl 2 cache giving it a bit extra kick) Both chips have a 333 FSB, they go for about £65 (maximum) Sterling. Aero 7 Lite cooler for about £15 Sterling.

1 Gb PC2700 Ram (333 Mhz frequency) Ram prices are always changing ! Should be around £100 Sterling approx.

Soundblaster Live Get it for around £20 Sterling

Something on the lines of an ASRock board (K7V88 VIA Chipset, board I have, really stable and cheap) Around £55 Sterling

XFX GeForce 6600 GT 128 Mb DDR 3 (Card I have, superb) £135 Sterling. You can get a few different 6600GT cards but the XFX one the memory runs at 1Ghz (alot of the other brands run the memory at 900 Mhz)

Total : £390 Sterling

Not sure what that would be in Australina Dollars though.

[Trippledence]

I made a my pc in janurary go for £800.

Asus a8n -sli delux
AMD 64 3500+
1gb Twin Mos Ram
XFX 6600gt extream gamers edt.
160gb Seagate SATA hd.
Hiper 340w (or around that) PSU
Coolermaster Centurian C5 Case - Blue
Nec 3520a(i think) Dvd-r
and a microsoft wireless keybord and mouse.
And a nice copy of XP home.