Upgrading help needed pls

[Allen]

Hi,

I've gotta get some new bits for me PC. Mine is so outdated it's untrue. I need some kind of futureproofing for when I have the cash to really splash out on some decent kit. Performance is OK at the moment but I need to quieten down my machine a bit more too!

I won't list everything I have but so you know my mobo doesn't have an AGP slot so that needs to go. Also my RAM is PC133 so can't be used in most modern boards now. The things I want to try and keep for now are:

Athlon 1.4GHz CPU
Dell 17" Monitor
Pioneer DVD Slot Drive
WD 40GB HDD

I have two major choices that need to be made first, do I keep my existing case and get a new motherboard, RAM and perhaps a new graphics card or do I go down the SFF route and chuck everything in a nice spanking new shuttle using my crappy GeForce 2 MX400 (PCI) for the time being?

I have budgeted myself about £200 for this (considering it's Xmas) perhaps I can squeeze a little bit more if necessary.

Your help would be greatly appreciated!

[acidrainy]

Hum.....

Just looking at the shuttle route.. I'm not 100% sure you chip is supported but I'm pretty confident it is.. (Can someone verify?) Infact wait, can that CPU use ddr? If not you will have to add a new one to your shopping list and your budget...

For around 200 Buck's could get yourself....

For £206 from ocuk...

• Shuttle Spacewalker XPC SN45G nForce2 Ultra 400
• Corsair 256MB DDR XMS3200C2PT Platinum CAS2

For £213.79 from cpucity you can have...

• .
• Shuttle Spacewalker XPC SN45G nForce2 Ultra 400
• TWINMOS PC3200 512MB DDR400 CL2.5 OEM

That would mean you've done your psu, case, mobo, ram & cooler shopping for the year (providing your current CPU is up to the job of the new kit...)

[Allen]

I like the sound of the shuttle route TBH, and looking at shuttle's site at the support page for the SN45G here it looks as though it will support my Athlon CPU. I would have thought that since it only accepts DDR memory and it also accepts my CPU that they would be compatible. Not 100% sure though...

Of course, with PC3200 RAM I can just underclock it to PC2100 spec for the time being to run with my CPU at 133MHz and still have futureproof RAM eh?

Then I'd just need to save up for that 9800SE AIW!

[Allen]

SN45G for £135inc at Aria, I think I'll have to order one!

Now, for cheap memory. How does TwinMOS compare to Corsair then?

[BUFF]

Depends which chips the stick uses.
If you get the Twinmos with Winbond it basically uses the same chips that Corsair use.
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?a...rpID=9&cks=PRL

[Allen]

Cool, thanks!

Right, sounds good. SN45G with my Athlon 1.4GHz CPU and TwinMOS PC3200 512MB with Winbond chips. Anyone see any problems with that setup (apart from the lack of processing power!)?

Then I chuck in my HDD, DVD and graphics card and I should be away.