PSU, mobo, CPU and RAM

[Norky]

My rig is getting a bit old now, but it still performs well with the latest games as I have shown it some love with a 9800 and Audigy 2 over the years.

However, I'm in need of a new PSU, after experiencing some problems with the one it's got in atm (unbranded jobbie). I am looking for an upgrade to the main parts. I've got a budget of around £150 (this must include cables). I don't want to go completely overblown, I just want good bang for my buck and to see improvement over an XP2600+ and 1024mb PC2700.

Can anyone give me some ideas? Provided the budget isn't too pitiful

Also, I'm looking for recommendations for a good online retailer...

[skuzgib]

What I would do is get a s939 a64 3000+ £100, a decent AGP mobo (a8v?) £80, tagan 480w £70 and keep the RAM you have untile you sell it/ can afford better.

[Norky]

A bit over budget but that sounds good. Any more suggestions?

[mike_w]

Right now, there isn't really anything cheaper than what skuzgib suggested that would actually give a decent performance boost.

[korda]

You could go for a cheaper PSU, like the Hiper Power 420w for around £35.
It's got good reviews, and although it's probably not 100% as stable as a Tagan (or another well-established make) you're saving a lot.

I'd check around and decide for yourself.
I've ordered one, so i'll see for myself if it explodes in my face, or not.

[http://www.ukgamer.com/article.php4?id=161&page=1 check here for a review of the 350w version - but bear in mind the 420w is a lot better!]


edit: http://www.bit-tech.net/review/382/ for a review of a more powerful PSU if you want to O/C.

[Norky]

Hiper 420W looks a bargain, anyone else who can back this up?

[Lu-tze]

i wouldnt bother upgrading your components at the moment as you wont notice that much of a difference. just get a psu. the tagan is good, as is the akasa paxpower, and antec neo power. many others too, but these i would look at first.

online retailers:

www.scan.co.uk
www.overclockers.co.uk
www.komplett.co.uk
www.ebuyer.co.uk
www.microdirect.co.uk

[Norky]

I'm looking to updrade to SATA drives, with RAID. Will I need a new mobo for this or can I just buy a card?

[shiato storm]

keep the memory, keep the 9800 and get an AMD64 939socket board (i have teh MSI K8N neo2 platinum) and the AMD 3000+ chip to go with it. should be near (just a touch over) budget but a good enough upgrade and has loads of room for overclockage

[skuzgib]

Hiper psus have a reputation for blowing up...

[BlueMagician]

...www.overclockers.co.uk...

I've dealt with half a dozen companies over the last few weeks, and if I had to do it all again, I'd be paying www.scan.co.uk , www.cpucitystore.co.uk and www.microdirect.co.uk a visit..

HTH,
S.

[shiato storm]

Hiper psus have a reputation for blowing up...

so lets spell that out in plain english for him:
AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!
yup, i think thats good enough. really mate, you'd do well to get yourself a decent psu and save yourself a life of pain and anguish. trust us, tagan or enermax (as suggested) are teh ways to go...

[Norky]

Hiper psus have a reputation for blowing up...

So do the Tagen's, as my research has found. I really don't want a £100 PSU, how about an Akasa Paxpower 460w for ~£60?

And can anyone give me a definate recommendation for a 939 mobo (link to review preferred)?

[skuzgib]

Got an akasa and have no probs with it. Best AGP mobo is the ASUS a8v or MSI k8n neo2.

Google for reviews - there are tons.

[Lu-tze]

I'm looking to updrade to SATA drives, with RAID. Will I need a new mobo for this or can I just buy a card?

depends on what motherboard you already have. unless your hdd/s are knackered or you need the extra capacity, swapping to SATA isn't really an upgrade. in fact some of the older SATA drives are just PATA drives with a socket converter and thus have the same max bandwith of 133mbs. the effects of RAID have often been discussed and their real world benefits dont seem worth the money if it means buying two drives and a raid card should you need one. of course, if you're building a whole system and need lots of capacity then it would be worthwhile.

[Norky]

K8N looks by far the best mobo for me, 4x raid, dual 1gb LAN.

So far I've got:

MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum £88
Akasa 460W Paxpower £60
AMD64 3000+ £117

£100 over budget I think, as has already been mentioned, hold out for a bit for some more cash to get a more noticeable difference, but will go for the PSU now.