I've been thinking about building a computer but am reluctant to do it because the one I have now doesn't really seem that out of date at all. here are some specs for it:
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Power Supply Belkin 250 watt
Mother Board Nvidia Nforce2 chipset
Sound Nvidia Nforce with dolby digital 5.1
Video Nvidia GeForce 6800 128MB
512 MB Ram (plan on upgrading to 1024MB soon.. its max)
5 USB 2.0 ports
AMD Athlon XP 2800+ processor (2.1 GHZ equivalent to 2.8 GHZ pentium 4..)
Drive C: Western Digital 80 GB
Drive D: Western Digital 120 GB
DVD Drive JLMS 16X max
CD-RW Drive LITE-ON 48X max (writing)
Network Card Linksys 100mbps

I think I got all the specs anyway.
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So, what are some thoughts on the hardware? It should be pretty good for quite some time still, right? I don't think it'* so bad. I just need some experience in building a computer, I've never done it before.

(note that I left the brand out.. I did it for a reason. People usually look down on the brand even though it seems to have pretty good, quality parts on it.)

Stick with what you've got, THAT is out of date? That'* more along the lines of my machine too, and I don't consider my machine to be obsolete, I'm playing HL2 and such rather easily.

'Cept, I've got a 2500+ overclocked to 3200+, a gig of RAM (I started out with 512 too) and an overclocked Radeon 9700.

No need for a new comp, I say, just RAM? Not sure how that video card of yours is.

Dude, that sounds way too much like my system . Anyways, that is a perfectly fine system, except your PSU is WAAAAAAYY too small, that is the incorrect wattage, for sure. You will want a good Antec [or comparable] 400watt unit.

If you want experience with building PC'* just go onto eBay and buy a big pile of junk PC'*. I know building 486'* is nothing like building an AMD XP+ system, however, you still get the experience, and if you blow it up, no harm done. Not to mention 486'* are classic pimpin . I knew I was big pimpin' when I turned mine into a server .


-justin

I'd say find a nice 350-400w power suppy. www.pcpowersupply.com was a great place last time i checkd, antec has good ones, etc. WIth dual hard drives, and todays Vid card power requirements, and all your toys, that would be a good size.

Your Nvidia doesn't have a second power hookup does it?

I'd say your next goal to upgrade would be Mobo/Proc/Ram. www.hardocp.com, www.anandtech.com www.tomshardwareguide.com are all good places. You don't NEED to upgrade at all. I have a 2.26 P4 with RDRAM (pimp but expensive).

I'm gonna go drop in my 9600XT now though...

I'm a computer geek myself. Your machine is fine, Just kinda really depends on what you wanna play. Far as the newer games go: Half-Life 2, EverQuest 2 ( New engine games) You will be fine, It wont be the best, best, looking when you play those games but you will be able to play it with little to no lag.( Frame rate wont drop too much). I would upgrade your RAM tho, I didnt catch how fast your RAM was, but i would get PC3200+. Other then that, your fine.

I would tell ya what I'm running but compared to you guys, its like spitting on a wildfire.

and a pre Y2K os to boot :(

Wow you think that'* outdated....strap this on:
Pentium II 350
128 Megs Ram
10 dollar vid card
10mbs Network card of an unknown orgin...Much like my vid card
2 - 4GB with like no room on either or
Running Window'* 2000.
48X CD ROM no CDR or anything


So ya I'd kill to have your system. I think you're just fine for a while.

pretty close here, old Compaq notebook, P/200. 96mb ram. 4 gig HD 56k. win98. Parts of it held on with tape, probably should have a "Honk if parts fall off" sticker too.

Home Desktop PC, also win98, 233 with 256mb of ram, 4 gig HDD generic 56k. does have a nice ATI card though, and a SB card with some okay speakers. Every bit of it second hand or rescued just before it hit a dumpster LOL.

I think you guys got it good!

Custom looks to me your doing fine...your higher than my specs for the most part

Compaq case
Chaintech Nvidia Nforce 2 mobo
Athlon XP 2400 overclocked to 2.1xx from 2 ghz
Chaintech Nvidia 5600 XT with 256 mb
1 Gig of pc 3200 dual channel Centon Brand


52x40x16 CyberDrive CDR/RW
40 GB western Digital 7200 rpm
8 gb quantum fireball

i've got you in ram thats it..and my machine is only 8 months old.

James

Heh, Your pc is still new....

I'm on a P1/120 with 64MB RAM, 4GB HDD, 4x CDROM, everything onboard but a Realtek 10/100 NIC, running win98.