Sorry, it just got longer and longer as I went…this has a lot of my computer hardware experience poured into this post.
If you don’t care about computers and such shut up and post nothing of this posts length you damn post junky :angry:
On with the post!
It’s NOT all about the CPU you know, all the pieces work in concert.
keep in mind you get an amd, youre gonna need new mobo and ram too....
Any major upgrade (to me anyways) normally has these:
CPU (processing output, not always just Mhz/Ghz)
Motherboard (for the new CPU) fsb (front side bus) is a good thing
Note: If you really have to upgrade you probably can’t but a new/semi-new Intel chip in the old motherboard anyway.
RAM (to match the CPU/motherboard) make sure it’s what the motherboard can take.
Note: You can have anywhere from 1 to 4 sticks of RAM depending on the motherboard. RAM likes to be alone or in pairs. 512Mb +512Mb
cha-ching!
Note: I know where I am, I can get motherboard/CPU combos; some are quite good…just make sure you look at
all the specs.
Case (cuz you probably changed the motherboard type; ATX,AX, est.)
Power supply (for the new motherboard/ more power to run your new goodies)
Note: You can sometimes get good deals on Case/Power supply combos
Note: no-name brands aren’t
normally a good thing; they’re cheap ($$$) because they’re just that…cheap (crap) >.>
and hafta reinstall windows and all...
Not so, just as long as the processor can run in 32-bit, you can run your old operating system (windows), even if you buy a new hard drive you can still transfer it all over. Some hard drives come with a program that moves it all over (operating system and *chough*
other files) for you (western digital for example)
Note: you can have 4 IDE devises, hard drives / CD drives / DVD drives (you get the picture…)
that said, i dunno how the 64 2800 stacks up against the 3200 / 3200-400. if you dont want the 64, the choise between 3200/3200 400 is based on your mobo. if your mobo does 400 fsb, get the 400. if not, the standard 3200. 400 will be a better performer with the right board.
Check
http://www.tomshardware.com for some good info, and check out stores where you live. Ask for when they’re getting a shipment of new stuff, AKA when the prices for the non-leading edge goods go down. You don’t want do this kind of costly upgrade often. I see it as everything in the computer is good quality so there’s no bottle neck and so I’m getting
everything out of
all the parts that spent money on; and not end up broke when I could have wauted a week or month and gotten the same thing but much lower price. I’m ‘thrifty’…ok I’m cheap cuz I don’t have the cash to go around throwing it at random people’s heads.
I sure as hell can’t buy the 64-bit processors… too much green ($$$). I normally have second-rate equipment, then upgrade when either I’ve run it into the ground or when it just doesn’t cut it anymore. AKA, can’t play a new game that I
really want to play.
Omg…
