want to upgrade computer, need helpful advice

Alright, first off, here's my current computer specs:

550mhz Intel P3
Intel Warm Springs WS440BX Motherboard
16MB 3dfx voodoo3 video card
384MB SDRAM
114GB HDD
DVD-ROM
CD-RW
zip drive (wtf is this for?)
200-Watt PSU

Now, all I'm really going for is a nice upgrade so it can play Counter-Strike 1.6 and source smoothly at more than 30fps >_>;;

I don't want to buy parts that aren't going to work together, so I want to know what I should buy.

I'm targetting 1.5-2ghz, 512MB+ DDRAM.

The current case is just a regular tower.

I don't want to blow money either, so what can I do here?

 

You won't like this suggestion, but you really need a new PC.

If that's not an option, then see if your motherboard supports a faster processor.

A new video card would also see an improvement, although it would have to be a lower end one.

More RAM would also help, however, by the time you add everything up, it's generally far better just starting from scratch.

Personally, I wouldn't waste money trying to upgrade this machine.

The only parts that are worth keeping are the hard drive and the optical drives. (CD and DVD drives etc)


BTW, a zip drive is basically like a floppy, but has much more capacity and speed etc.

 

Meh.

Question:

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=MB-BA03096

That is the motherboard with the cpu already mounted onto it, right?

 

No mate, that is the CPU alone in a "retail box".

 

Bleh then what do they mean by a motherboard bundle?

 

A motherboard bundle is generally a motherboard and a CPU.

What you linked previously was just a CPU in a box.

 

Description Price

INTEL PENTIUM 4 2.26 GHZ 533MHZ RETAIL BOXED BUNDLE W/
$120.00
SKU: MB-BA03096More InfoUser Reviews In stock
Bill Me LaterBuy Fast. Feel Secure. Pay Later!SM Click here for details.


I thought that's what I linked to...anyways, is that a good deal there?

I guess I'll just aim to get a new mobo, some ram, and a new vid card and probably a new sound card (and a psu of course). I think that's all I'll need.


Another question: how will windows react when it sees all this new hardware (including the processor/motherboard)? I don't feel like formatting the hard drive again just because of windows -_-

 

It probably was, although it doesn't go into much detail on the motherboard and is misleading.

Anyway, you know what it is.

Depending on what you need the computer for, you may get by fine with onboard video and sound.

As far as Windows, you would be better off reinstalling it as the new hardware will require different drivers.

Some people do a repair, but a format and install is the way to go.

Back on the motherboard, choose wisely as this is the most important componenet and will dictate what hardware you can use.

 

Speaking of the motherboard, and this actually correlates with the processor...what are all of these socket types? Socket 478, Socket A, etc. what is the difference?

 

That's just the labelling the manufacturers give them, and is the form factor used to connect the CPU to the motherboard.

It can sometimes relate to how many pins the CPU has.

For example, a socket 478 has obviously 478 pins etc. This doesn't apply to every model though.

The current best sockets for AMD are the socket 939, and for Intel is LGA775 (I think).

 

yup intel is the 775 and amd the 939 for what you are looking for you could probably get by cheaply
example 1
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1121331&Sku=MBM-D915G-520
or maybe this

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1538040&CatId=1734
then a couple of ram sticks a vid card and power and youre off

for a real tight budget try this
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1538046&CatId=1735