FF:VIC So, where's a good place to upgrade a computer in Melbourne?

PoT!!! 32mb!!! You have to upgrade!!!!!

Minimum now would be at least 256mb!!!!

 

Thanks guys I really appreciate it!

I can't decide whether to upgrade and guarantee some great games or buy a game cube on ebay. I love the Metroid, Mario and Zelda games! But, I think PC games have more depth and, hell, there are so many more to choose from.

By the way, on my current system, how well would something like Sim City 4 run? I would really like that game.

 

Sorry Hawk but what are the exact stats of your current system?

Buy a PC!!! Consoles are over priced, under utilised and basically not upgradeable. PC games are programmed better, play better and look better. Also easier to get games and apps.

 

Tell me exactly what you need to know and I will tell you.

 

All system specs, CPU type and speed, amount of RAM, video card etc etc, everything possible

 

Pentium III Genuine Intel x86 Family 6 model 8 stepping 1

128 RAM

Graphics Processor: nVidia TNT2 Model 64, 32 MB

19.1 GB Memory


Is that enough?

 

What processor speed? PIIIs are alright, but you should be able to afford something superior hopefully. While you're at it, get an extra 128MB of RAM (it's cheap), and perhaps a new video card if you play games regularly.

 

Whoops, I think it is 650. It is the figure on start-up right?

 

Indeed it is, fellow Hawk. That'll do for the basics, such as word processing and a bit of web browsing, but if you want to run business apps, games, imaging programs etc. then you need to upgrade. You should be able to get 1.5+ GHz fairly cheap these days.

 

The games have been running well until I came across grand theft and aliens Vs Predator. What should my video card be? How much minimum do you think I need and how much will it cost??

 

Hmm...a GeForce 4 MX440 goes for a good price IIRC, though I can't remember exact prices. Under $200 though, I think. It's not the most powerful card on the market, but it is more than sufficient for almost anything you can throw at it. If you're going to play games, you'll definitely need to upgrade both that and your processor (and probably motherboard, since you current one might not support the newer processors).

 

Just quickly I owuld say for a gamer get an Athlon CPU XP1800+, new motherboard to suit (With built in sound card,networkcard etc, 256mb(at least) DDR RAM, lower end GForce 4 v/card.

Easy and cheap!

 

How much would something like that set me back?

 

Hmm have not seen the lastes prices but roughly

CPU:XP2100(1.7g) $180 even much cheaper even for the XP1800 $120?-
M/Board:ASUS all in one $120?
RAM:256mb DDR $80?
V/CARD: 64mb Winfast GForce 4 MX440 $110?

These are only by memory. You would have to look around. This would be a fairly fast and up to date games machine!

 

Sounds about what I wanted to spend. I'll await your research...

 

For computer-related stuff, I would reccomend this place in Sunshine, (Infinity Computers, 10 Sun Crescentt, 9364-8666). In 2001, I bought a 1.2g Athlon with GeForce2 MX, 256 ram, 17-inch monitor, scanner, colour printer, burner, mic, 3 speaker system, optical mouse and ext. modem for $1800 (pretty good back then).
Then, when I took the same computer to get a DVD player put in the gave me an extra 256 ram! (although I'm not sure this was intentional...).

They have always been polite, cheap, the components never screw up (well.. ok, i used to have stability issues with my cpu), they give free technical assitance, and didn't charge me when nothing was my wrong with my comp after they looked it over.

I have only read the title of this thread, but judging by the avergae on-topicness of the VicFF Forums, you will all probably be talking about beer, or huggard by now (not that I have anything against the two).
If so.. disregard this post.

BTW, I'm not even sure if these guys are still open though.


EDIT: Ok, I have read back through the thread. Someone said something about getting a gamecube, I have one and while they have some good games, they weren't as good as I expected (I have been a Nintendo fan since the SNES), however, don't let that stop you if you really want one like I did.

 

Don't skimp out on your motherboard - a cheap one generally (now I mean generally, not all the time) a cheap one will be unstable, won't run "out of the box", will need BIOS updates and will slow you up.

ASUS are my pick for motherboards - the A7V333 if you can afford it ($240 or thereabouts) is fantastic and runs like lightning. Slap an Athlon XP 2000 on it, and 512Mb PC2700 DDR. That will probably total around the $600 mark all up, but will absolutely FLY. Don't skimp on your CPU cooler either !

Personal experience with this combination - I had to UNDER-clock the CPU initially when running Win98 or it crashed the OS as it shut down WAY too fast. I had to add the shutdown patch - something I've never had to do on any other system before.

Add on a GF4 or a Radeon 9700 for sweet gfx performance, but you'll pay $500- or thereabouts for one of these babies. Again, personal recommendation to the MSI GF4 Ti4800SE-VTD8X - got everything, comes with plenty of software, and marks over 9000 on 3DMark2001 with an older Athlon chip. For a budget option, one of the GF4-MX440 would be good - Leadtek makes a couple that are pretty good, and these run out at around $150-.

So sticking to the budget video card, you can then add in a Creative Audigy DE (Digital Entertainment) card for another $150-.

Nearly there - final thing to do - buy a new power supply. Get something AMD approved. Antek make some excellent units. This can just screw into the case in place of your existing one. Set you back around $60.

So there you have it. For around a grand, you get a thrashingly good system !

---2 edits! I can't spell today !!!---

 

regarding how well would SimCity4 run...

Umm....

on your current PC ?

It won't. It may load up and all, but that will be about it. It will be too slow to even consider playing it.

It ran slow on my PC before I updated my video card (I had a GeForce2 GTS Pro) - it was jerky and stilted, plus it crashed a lot.

It runs fine on my GF4.

 

Well I'll be buying some parts and building a new computer (with some help ) in the first week of the holidays.

And Mixo, I will be having a look at MSY.

 

Do it Brutus!! MSY are excellent. We travel all the way from the country just to go there!

 

Love MSY. It's been in my family for generations!!

 

Hmmmmmm....

Isn't it just fun as the costs just keep on getting higher and higher as you remember the little things you've forgotten to include.

 

Yes but Brutus the costs at the moment are so low for what you get. Components have plummeted. Do the MSY journey and you will not be upset at all!

 

I shall be doing that this weekend.

Mmmmmmm..... Radeon 9700 Pro..... *drools*

 

How much are you paying for that? I'm interested in buying a new video card myself, and the Radeons are looking increasingly desirable.