Spec me a budget upgrade!

[Jonny]

Hi!

Situation is;

1) I'm going to uni in September and will need something better suited to the huge journey to take with me.
2) Graphics are ageing a tad.

Current spec is;

A64 3700+ Overclocked
2Gb RAM (4 x 512)
MSI K8N Neo 2 Platinum
9800 Pro
36Gb Raptor (SATA)
300Gb SATA
250Gb SATA
DVD RW
CD RW
Cheap and Tacky Case
Thermaltake PurePower 480W

And 2 17inch CRT monitors!

SO!

With a STRICT £200 limit, what should I upgrade? I don't need any more storage, CPU is fine, but I don't fancy lugging a 17inch CRT across the country. The case is also very poor.
So, for £200 can I get a flat panel and a new case? I was looking at the ThermalTake soprano. I will be using the screen for a bit of everything, some DVD watching, photos, browsing, and a little bit of gaming.
Or am I best of upgrading to PCI-e, or maybe just getting a better AGP card, and putting up with the tacky case and big monitor?

Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any advice!

Jonny

[chuckskull]

I'd usually say go for graphics, but I know how small uni rooms are, so get an LCD.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=413004 £201 with free delivery 19inch, decent monitor too.

[johnny02004976]

mate id go for the monitor as well, i had to lug a 21" monitor up about 8 flights of stairs and i is not good at all - id get a monitor now, and then just wait for that lovely student loan cheque to arrive then get some new kit

[uk_sam]

Definitely go for the LCD. You will regret having to transport that CRT at least twice a year (term start and term end) especially if you're living quite far away from home. You can get a decent 17" LCD for about £125. With the remaining £75 budget, you could maybe pickup a second hand 6600GT from ebay but it wouldn't be a huge jump in performance. If you sell the 9800pro, you might have a little bit more to add to your graphic card budget.

[kalniel]

Pfft. what's happened to students these days?! In my day we thought nothing of lugging a 17" - it certainly beat the 23" SGI beast!

I'd spend the money on a decent gfx card - CRT are so much nicer than LCDs anyway.

[maverick77_uk]

Hi,

Having been a student for a number of years, definately, definately go for the monitor and case option. Computers are a godsend to have at uni, besides the odd game and DVD, for doing this "work" suff on, like essays. Bearing that in mind, I think your 9800 will be able to handle Word or Excel!

Also, dare I say it, even though I had my computer at uni, I barely used it for games for a number of years - if I wasn't at lectures or working, I was out with my mates, or at one of a number of clubs I joined. Uni is an amazing experience - join as many clubs as you can, work hard and play hard - you won't regret it!

Saying that, a 17" CRT will take up a large proportion of the back of a car - its amazing how much spaxce your stuff will take up when you stick it all together in boxes - loose the CRT for flat panel without a doubt.

[Jonny]

OK, I'll see if I can get a decent LCD for £150 and spend £50 on a case. Any reccomendations for a £150 LCD?

EDIT: Are widescreens any good? How are these specs?

- 1440 x 900 (WXGA) Optimum Resolution
- 16.2 Million Colours
- 700:1 Contrast Ratio
- 8ms Response Time
- 300 cd/m2 Brightness
- One DVI-D Input
- One Analogue Input
- 3 Years Manufacturer On-Site Warranty (Call Manufacturer direct on )

That's for the OcUK value monitor. (NO BASHING, PLEASE!!!)

[rainbow]

STOP.get the viewsonic 17 vx724 great screen and only 160,then sell ati then u will have bout hundred quid and get a nice 6600gt.then later get a nice case

[MadduckUK]

6600gt definetly. and keep the crt's. you dont know weight till you have to lug a 28" sony trinitron widescreen up 4 flights on your own.

with the extra money left over id get a lap dance and then the rest on vodka. welcome to university!

[Jonny]

It isn't the weight I'm worried about, I have to pay money to lift weights normally...

My concern was the desk space, primarily, and also getting it there and back (small car).


Is 17" big enough? I've seen 19" for that price.

[alcor]

If you are going into halls in your first year then desk space will definatly be an issue, so an LCD is deff a good idea.

I have seen all sorts of tricks for people with big monitors putting them on bed side tables positioned next to the desk, etc, because the desks in the room are too small.

Its just a thought but you may occasionally want a little room to do some work also, which may not be possible if the monitor takes the whole desk.