Max out on PCChips!!!

[Jdcrys_Shinkuu]

Does neone have a PC that they built themselves back in like 2002 that happens to be a PCChips board...
well i have one with onboard processor clocking 1.3Ghzs
onboard video SIS 650 i think
onboard sound C Media 5.1
10/100 LAN

the Bios allows me to use RAM as Video memory up to 64Mb. which was kinda cool since parts were still pricey for my pockets at the time...

but alas it only had PCI slots no AGP...

now after some months salary n some effort

1.3Ghz
765Mb DDR Ram
128 GeForce FX 5200 PCI
C Media 5.1 Sound
Lite On DVD ROM
Lite On DVD Burner 16x DL
30Gig HD soon 2 b 120 GigHD 7200 rpm
etc...



Main point of thread......

What else can i do with my baby? what more can i add to improve specs / performance?


i am currently saving for KT8Neo board n Sempron 2600 (at least) wants 3600

ideas neone?                    

[TrinireturnofGamez]

no your baby is pretty much hopeless , the most you can do is try to put in a faster processor  but it won't help much for gaming with a pci 5200 .  

   my advice, stick with your system for 6-8 months till you can get a PCI-X athlon 64 based rig with at least a geforce 6200 128bit/128mb ...  its more than twice as fast as your 5200 .... you should be able to keep the DDR ram you have now . If you upgrade to an AGP slot , you'll find yourself in the same situation again,  upgradability .... besides , PCI-X graphics cards are alot cheaper .                      

[Jdcrys_Shinkuu]

thanx
but what do u think bout the board n processor                    

[Synth]

#1 Faster pci videocard:

Nvidia 5700LE PCI
Radeon 9100 PCI, 9250 PCI

http://www.sudhian.com/showdocs.cfm?aid=445

Both are WAY faster than that 5200. For that matter, a GF4 MX440 pci would have been better.

#2 Without knowing mobo model I cant say if its upgradable. You could check bios and see what fsb and multiplier support it has currently. Best if you can find model number and look for latest bios upgrade. That will tell you what it can support.

#3 Less ram and tigher timings will give more performance in games.

#4 Use win2k and not xp.

#5 Dont use onboard sound. Get a low cpu usage soundcard.
Set onboard video ram to smallest even though it should be disabled by using the pci  one.


Please don't buy any MSI mobos. You can get better for less $$$. And when buying a cpu be aware its your videocard holding you back the most with respect to gaming.


AGP is not dying anytime soon...From what I can tell you don't upgrade or can afford to upgrade at every whim...so even if you get AGP now by the time you ready to upgrade or by the time its worth upgrading you it still be viable. After all you still have AGP 6600GT and ATI future solutions ahead as choices.


Worrying about PCIX is ONLY for those who also have in mind future upgradability...as in months not a year+.



                     

[Jdcrys_Shinkuu]

kool much thanx
                     

[TrinireturnofGamez]

a 1.3GHZ thunderbird athlon ? or is it a palimo core ? either way its okay-ish .... considering you have a PCI 5200 i'd think all your games are much more graphics limited than CPU limited.  
  If you don't really care about future upgradability , do yourself a favour and at least go AGP .... AGP cards are alot faster than PCI, PCI parts are usually failed AGP components , and the standard PCI bus is horribly slow , newer games like half life II and Doom require you to move endless data constantly to and forth ,  a 133mb/s bus will slow things down alot .  
   I don't recommend even trying to max it out , you'd be just wasting money that can be spent on a l33t  newer system that would last years without upgrading....   save up and upgrade to this  :
  Nforce II motherboard with soundstorm : 80 US
  AthlonXP mobile :  75 US
   Fan  : 10 US
   Radeon 9600/Geforce 6200 AGP : 100 US
  total + shipping = 290 US .....  1800 TT .  sprang someone's credit card and order it all off www.newegg.com . I find parts in trinidad tend to be extra low quality   and higher price .                      

[Synth]

lol man gone from recommending a64 pcix to nforce2 yes...
after reading my analysis.

I guess there is some hope.

But then he says "PCI parts are usually failed AGP components"...Just where do you get your info from?

The talk of pci limiting is worthless to mention since no one should be use such low end cards to play such games in the first place.

PS. There is no such thing as lasting years anymore. Hardware outdated before you even buy it; Its planned obsolescence.                    

[TrinireturnofGamez]

i know the hardware industry designs their products so that you will have to spend loads of money upgrading them all over again .... but you CAN build a system to get decent performance for several years .   My brother built his P4 2.4ghz/512mb/8500 128mb back in 2002 and it still plays games great to this day... though the last few big titles cannot be played on the highest settings , it still gives great gameplay , much better than any low end system you buy today .    
                     

[unforgiven]

i totally agree with trini here .....i have the same 8500le and to runs every game so far i tried good ....not at high quality but the games runs good.....those damn system all them comp places selling trying to be the cheapest and every thing in them cheap those system are really crap ...only intergrated video and thing and ppl who buying thing it go lay games and thing....

but my opnion on the pcchips board and chip i say get rid of it sell it or something and them put down a non intergrated ...u can put down a decent machine for a reasonable price ....at least just get the main parts and keep adding start with board and cpu...u can use the pci5200 until u can get a better card                      

[W1nTry]

Nothing is wrong with the MSI line of A64 boards, true I would not necessarily buy on, currently they are one of the only offering the nforce 4 ultra chipset with as much options as it has. I buy Asus. Nothing is wrong with an AXP system if ur strapped for cash, though I agree with Trini save up for the next few months and get a A64 instead. Go 939 socket not 754 (they will have 939 pin Semprons later this year). As for ur current system, leave it as is, no need to invest more money in a system is that is reaching the end of its life. The money u save by NOT upgrading ur old machine any more will come in handy when u change ur platform altogether. And AGP is not dead true, but why buy into old technology? Go PCIe.                    

[unforgiven]

Nothing is wrong with the MSI line of A64 boards, true I would not necessarily buy on, currently they are one of the only offering the nforce 4 ultra chipset with as much options as it has. I buy Asus. Nothing is wrong with an AXP system if ur strapped for cash, though I agree with Trini save up for the next few months and get a A64 instead. Go 939 socket not 754 (they will have 939 pin Semprons later this year). As for ur current system, leave it as is, no need to invest more money in a system is that is reaching the end of its life. The money u save by NOT upgrading ur old machine any more will come in handy when u change ur platform altogether. And AGP is not dead true, but why buy into old technology? Go PCIe.

does the pcie mainboards also come with agp?                    

[TrinireturnofGamez]

some  pentium 4 boards have both APG and PCI... there may be some A64 boards too once Via/ATI/SiS bring out some chipsets.                    

[Synth]

i know the hardware industry designs their products so that you will have to spend loads of money upgrading them all over again .... but you CAN build a system to get decent performance for several years .   My brother built his P4 2.4ghz/512mb/8500 128mb back in 2002 and it still plays games great to this day... though the last few big titles cannot be played on the highest settings , it still gives great gameplay , much better than any low end system you buy today .

THAT WAS THEN. Now is now.  The computer industry is slowing down...drastically.  You got alot more for value back then. As time goes you get less staying power...and more forced upgrades.                    

[Synth]

@ wintry - This is a perfect example of how we can disagree yet not have me "attacking you". Your points are all valid and your logic is fine. We can have differing opinions and I still respect what you say.

As for why buy into old tech? There are many reasons...among the top is the cost factor and probably the most important reason, the fact  that all his foreseeable needs can be met by old tech. One shouldn't buy tech cause its new and supposedly better but based on ones needs...present and foreseeable needs.