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AR15.COM
6/9/2007 12:28:43 PM EDT
My system is getting old, and I can't decide to upgrade what I have or completly rebuild.

AMD Athalon 3700+ Manchester Core
Nvidia 7600 GT
512 x2 Corsair ddr400
160 gig WD HD

I would like to only have to upgrade, but I'm still on DDR not DDR2, and I'd like to make the switch. But if I make the switch, I would have to get a new processor, because I wouldn't want to be held back by the Socket 939. If I did get a new mobo, I'd like to run AMD but Intel core 2 duo has AMD beat right now. Worst of all, I'm in high school and don't have a job, so money is tight.

Any thoughts?
6/9/2007 12:41:36 PM EDT
[#1]
8600 GT

Is there room for another 1GB on the motherboard? If so, another 1GB should be around $68 shipped.  Corsair DDR400 512MB x 2

I would get the 8600 GT card first.  Looking at $131 shipped.  You'll have DDR3 with it.  Should be a very noticeable difference.  This is the card I'll be using once I start building my system.

For $200, you'll have both upgrades above.  

ETA:  You could sell your old video card on Ebay to help pay for the upgrades too.  Or, you could go with a cheap dual core and another motherboard.
6/11/2007 2:22:25 PM EDT
[#2]
How tight is the money? and how much of the upgrading can you do yourself?

for about 100 bucks you can go to 2 gigs of ram. That's a good stop gap should run most games for the next year. If your running AGP id shy away from a new video card, If you have PCI-E then it will also give you a boost.

If you get a job for about 500 bucks you can upgrade to mid range rig with new cpu, mobo ram and vidcard. Thats if you can do the installing yourself and shop around a little.