My PC is biting the dust. It's about 4 years old I think? (AMD 3700+). It's starting to do some weird stuff like not turning on or freezing on startup when I don't login so I want to move on before I can't access it at all.

Need something stable (for work) and can also play a modern game if I feel like it (left for dead or whatever), and will run Windows 7 when it comes out. I'm all about bang for buck - I want the pc to be useful for a few years to come but not go over the top as it's 99% work.

Got this list from Whirlpool for "bang for buck":

CPU: Intel E5200 $102
Motherboard:ASUS P5QL-SE $134
GPU: ATI HD4770 $158.20 (Digitan Tech NSW)
HDD: Western Digital 640GB HDD $98
RAM: 2 x 2GB DDR2 800 Kingston $74
Case: Antec NSK4480B-II with 380W Earthwatts PSU $137
PSU: Included with case


Questions:

1) I currently have a 150gb Samsung HDD which has never missed a beat. Should I replace it because it's a few years old now just as a precaution? I don't download movies or anything so I don't need much space.

2) My current case is an Antec Sonata quiet case with 450 watt Antec power supply. Is this good to keep or should I ditch it as well?

3) ATI 4770 is out of stock at Umart. Any better/equal options or should I wait it out?

4) Should I get 4GB DDR2 1066 (kingston HyperX) for only an extra $17?

5) I'm still running XP - cool to keep using XP until 7 comes out? I don't it won't make use of 4gb ram but I cbf changing O/S twice.


Lastly, if anyone works in a PC Store within 20min of Taringa and can do a good price which includes building it, let me know. Otherwise I'll be hitting up Umart again, but I'd rather get someone to build it and I don't feel like paying umart $130 for 10min work.

Thanks doods!

msy at morningside would be closer:

those parts look ok for a budget pc

brave the msy website and check em out, better service, better prices (than umart, most of the time)

if theres nothing wrong with your harddrive and case, keep them:

you mite see a tiny increase in performance with 1066mhz ram, probably about $17 dollars worth of improvement

id see what msy have in stock for video cards, nothing special about that particular card, you coudl get any number of similar performing cards for the money

last edited by Spook at 10:23:00 20/May/09

1. Yeah thats fine, stick with it.
2. Yeah thats fine, stick with it.
3. Go the 9600GT. Same price, i'd say a better card.
4. As long as it's 2x2gb for dual channel purposes
5. Yes stick with XP.
6. Just get a slightly better CPU i'd say, something like a 7300/7400 or so.
7. What spook said, msy for the win

I have a E7300 with a 4850 (512mb).

Runs TF2/L4D and source games at 1280x res, all VERY HIGH, 8xMSAA and 16x filtering at 100fps+

Throw in a few extra dollars for max settings :D

I know nothing about vid cards - will anything in that price range do? Who's better out of ati and nvidia at the moment?

in that pricerange ($150) they're pretty neck and neck.

at that price, bugger all difference;

ok sweet so i just need to get

cpu intel
m/board asus
vid (any in that price range)
ram kingmax

sweet.

http://msy.arpatubes.net/ - MSY But readable

plz 2 bookmark

What do they charge for putting s*** together? Might be difficult if I have a BYO case....

usually $70 for build at msy from memory
mite be cheaper to not byo case if they're gonna charge extra to build in the old one