Need opinion on planned hardware upgrade

Well, I've been thinking about getting some new internals for my computer, and made a preliminary list of stuff I might get...
* CPU: Athlon K7 XP 2400+ Thoroughbred* MoBo: ASUS A7V333 RAID VIA ARU2F KT 333* memory: 512 MB PC333 DDRAM* CPU cooler: Cooler Master HHC-L61 Silent Heat Pipe
I might also need to get a stronger power supply, I guess - but could I take any power supply, as far as external dimensions are concerned?Note that cost is a factor for me, which is why I would not want to spend more than about € 600 on the entire package. In fact, I've been thinking about upgrading my video card as well - probably to a Radeon 9700 - , but this I would do only in a second step later this year. My current VC is a GF3 Ti 200, which, while probably not the optimum, should be able to tide me over until then.
Well, I'd be glad to hear your opinions on what I outlined above! Dominik Mann Visit www.tssf.de - www.bahn.de - http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/ - www.eisenbahnforum.de

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RE: Need opinion on planned hardware upgrade, derekmorton, Feb-11-03, 04:32 AM, (1) RE: Need opinion on planned hardware upgrade, OTTODAD, Feb-11-03, 08:36 AM, (2) RE: Need opinion on planned hardware upgrade, cjmaclean, Feb-11-03, 09:37 AM, (3) RE: Need opinion on planned hardware upgrade, OTTODAD, Feb-11-03, 01:36 PM, (4) RE: Need opinion on planned hardware upgrade, obo, Feb-11-03, 06:06 PM, (5) RE: Need opinion on planned hardware upgrade, cjmaclean, Feb-12-03, 09:33 AM, (6) RE: Need opinion on planned hardware upgrade, OTTODAD, Feb-12-03, 04:47 PM, (7)

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Hi Dominik,The cpu, mobo, memory and cooler look good.
Make sure you get good memory, cas 2 crucial or samsung.
Bigger power supply?,if you have a 300watt then try it.I have a gf3 Ti200 and I get frame rates of 2 or 3 below the best, so I would stay with the ti200 for now.Derek

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Dominik,if you can curb your impatience a little while longer, it might pay you to wait for the next release of MSTS ? Any money spent on improving the current version of your hardware and MSTS could be short-term only and not be suitable for the next.O t t o

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I understand what you're saying, Otto, but looking at the upcoming releases from my other fields of gaming interest I was thinking that I should better prepare for these in the near future. Moreover, I don't think MSTS 2 would render the Athlon XP obsolete at a stroke, would it?
Dominik Mann Visit www.tssf.de - www.bahn.de - http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/ - www.eisenbahnforum.de

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The planned CPU with WIN-XP will suffice for some time to come ! It's the AGP x8 and Cards using it like the nVIDIA FX and RADEON 9700 under DirectX-9 which play an important part in improving the Graphics of newer Versions of Gaming and Simming Software using them. Not forgetting the faster DDR1-400 RAM now being available for the latest MoBos with Chipsets and slots for it.MSTS may by one of these new releases coded for most of the above ?I got an A7V333 - VIA KT333 Chipset MoBo too for my AMD XP 2400+ but it has no AGP x8 slot. Like I said, money spent for short-term benefit only.O t t o

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I presume that for the rest of the system you'll be reusing components you already have? It would be helpful if you listed them as well.A few comments, out of the many possible:Power supply is definitely a concern. I wouldn't go below 350W for a new system, but as Derek says if you already have a 300 you might want to try it.Cooling of the case is also an issue. If reusing an old one you might want to add some new fans to your budget.Your GF3 is a good but aging card. I agree with your plan of sticking with it until your budget allows an upgrade to the best.Putting together a new system is very time-consuming, but it sure is fun!Rob.

Obo's MSTS Locomotive Catalog: http://msts.banal.net

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Yes, my plans are to upgrade only the CPU, main board and memory in the first stage.These are the remaining parts of my system which I would like to keep for now:* PCI ethernet card Realtek RTL8029(AS) for my DSL connection* AVM Fritz-Card PCI for sending faxes and backup ISDN connection* Creative Sound Blaster AudioPCI (WDM)
When I bought my current CPU in spring 2001, I also added a cooling fan to the case, which ejects warm air through an unused card slot on the back. Moreover, I added a double cooling cooling fan unit which is mounted in front of the HD in one of those 5.25" slots on the front of the case. The reason I added the latter is that I once lost a HD due to overheating, which, however, I did not recognize until it was too late.
Dominik Mann Visit www.tssf.de - www.bahn.de - http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/ - www.eisenbahnforum.de

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LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-03 AT 04:58 PM (EDT)

Dominik,all the kit you mention is perfectly useable, but watch the new MoBo's AGP slot is compatible with your GF3. Voltage considerations ?You will also have to remember that it is still a DirectX 8.1 compatible card, not sure how it would react to DirectX-9 ?O t t ohttp://www.leadtek.com/graphics/gf3ti200/ti200-t.htm
http://www6.tomshardware.com/mainboard/20020514/p4x333-02.html

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