Need help upgrading.

I

Impedimentum

Geek Trainee
Hi. I was hoping someone could help me out with a few things. Mainly, upgrading my computer. Also basic nVidia vs ATI and Intel vs AMD questions.


Alright, so basically I've started wanting to play new games requiring much more than my current computer offers.

I bought this computer like 4 or 5 years ago or something.
Here are the details:

(Note I used SIW.exe to get this info, I might have included too much, so I'll bold out what I think is most important)

Motherboard:
Gigabyte i-DNA series: Intel 945PL Express Chipset. LGA775 for Intel Pentium D Processor.
System slots: 4 PCI
Maximum capacity: 4096 MBytes.
Maximum Memory module size: 1024 Mbytes.
North bridge: Intel i945PL Revision A2.
South bridge: Intel 82801GB (ICH7/r) Revision A2.

CPU:
Intel Penium 4 CPU 3.20 ghz, one core.
Original clock: 3200 mhz
Original system clock: 200 mhz.
L1 Data Cache: 16 KBytes
L1 trace Cache: 12 Kuops
L2 Cache: 2048 KBytes.

Memory Summary:
Maximum capacity: 4096 MBytes
Maximum memory module size: 1024 MBytes
Memory Slots: 4
(Right now I have two 512x2 samsung DDR2 ram)

Graphics card:
Xfx Nvidia Geforce 6600. (256mb).


1st question:

If I wanted to upgrade my computer up to something like the nvidia 9600 or 9800 cards, What would I need to upgrade? Do I have to change every single thing I got? I understand the processor and ram will be necessary, but is the motherboard too? In any case, what do I upgrade, and to what?

2nd: Should I stick with nVidia, or should I switch over to ATI, and why?

3rd: Should I get an intel or amd processor? Also, why?

4th: What makes a motherboard qualified for a certain card or cpu? Just the slots? or is there something else to take into account?

Also, What about the power supply and/or case? does that matter? Should I look out for something specific?

Note: I don't mind details of how things work, I prefer it that way in fact.

Also, if you need additional information, please tell me.
 
Impedimentum said:
Note: I don't mind details of how things work, I prefer it that way in fact.
Click to expand...
What one needs to know about...the difference between Quality PSUs as opposed Poor quality units...and the effects of heat on your computer.

Poor quality units...are tested at a set temperature...from this their rating is determined... for most this No. is 25 degrees Celsius...which falls short of the temperature that most computers are capable of achieving.

Given that a PSU will actually lose 2-5 watts per one degree of heat above the 25 Degree Celsius testing temperature...coupled with the fact that computers tend to run at 10 degrees higher than room temperature... In the summer time when the room temperature can easily reach 80 degrees F... your computer will be running at 33 Degrees C. or 90 Degrees F.

So the...math can make...your 500 watt power supply into a 460 watt unit.

In addition to this...what needs to be taken into account is that each degree that your computer components are operating at...under powered...adds more heat to the equation.

Consider also...the possibility...that ratings given by the manufacturer of single components...such as graphics cards...need to be treated with skepticism... Manufacturers may minimize support issues and under rate the power required...in order to make a larger profit.

Power supplies convert voltages from wall outlets to lower levels used by the PC... During this conversion, some power is lost as heat... The poorer the quality of the PSU The higher the voltage that is required to produce the preferred results. Resulting in more heat that the PSU has to deal with

Therefore heat is the computers enemy...The hotter the temperature your PSU is forced to run at...the poorer the supply of power the rest of the components will receive...which has been known to lead to such things as crashes, freezing, rebooting, BSOD’s, and video distortion, as well as partial and complete failure of other components.

The fact is very few PSU’s are capable of producing the wattage that the companies advertise.

Quality units...are tested at very high temperatures...The efficiency rating of the PSU determines how much extra power must be put into the power supply to run the PC. A high quality PSU can help reduce the noise and heat generated within a computer system. The higher the efficiency rating the less heat the PSU has to deal with...Also the higher the quality of the PSU the higher the temperature that it can...safely... run your computer at...which reduces the need to run your computer at such low temperatures...that are hard to achieve.

A quality PSU of the right wattage...for your computer...can easily give you two or more more years of service

A quality PSU of wattage... higher than required...for your computer...can give you room for future expansion...

For a very good comprehension of recommended brand names, wattage, and models in listed categories...Plus much more...check out this link. Power Supply Information and Selection - Tech Support Forum
 
Impedimentum said:
Hi. I was hoping someone could help me out with a few things. Mainly, upgrading my computer. Also basic nVidia vs ATI and Intel vs AMD questions.


Alright, so basically I've started wanting to play new games requiring much more than my current computer offers.

I bought this computer like 4 or 5 years ago or something.
Here are the details:

(Note I used SIW.exe to get this info, I might have included too much, so I'll bold out what I think is most important)

Motherboard:
Gigabyte i-DNA series: Intel 945PL Express Chipset. LGA775 for Intel Pentium D Processor.
System slots: 4 PCI
Maximum capacity: 4096 MBytes.
Maximum Memory module size: 1024 Mbytes.
North bridge: Intel i945PL Revision A2.
South bridge: Intel 82801GB (ICH7/r) Revision A2.

CPU:
Intel Penium 4 CPU 3.20 ghz, one core.
Original clock: 3200 mhz
Original system clock: 200 mhz.
L1 Data Cache: 16 KBytes
L1 trace Cache: 12 Kuops
L2 Cache: 2048 KBytes.

Memory Summary:
Maximum capacity: 4096 MBytes
Maximum memory module size: 1024 MBytes
Memory Slots: 4
(Right now I have two 512x2 samsung DDR2 ram)

Graphics card:
Xfx Nvidia Geforce 6600. (256mb).


1st question:

If I wanted to upgrade my computer up to something like the nvidia 9600 or 9800 cards, What would I need to upgrade? Do I have to change every single thing I got? I understand the processor and ram will be necessary, but is the motherboard too? In any case, what do I upgrade, and to what?

2nd: Should I stick with nVidia, or should I switch over to ATI, and why?

3rd: Should I get an intel or amd processor? Also, why?

4th: What makes a motherboard qualified for a certain card or cpu? Just the slots? or is there something else to take into account?

Also, What about the power supply and/or case? does that matter? Should I look out for something specific?

Note: I don't mind details of how things work, I prefer it that way in fact.

Also, if you need additional information, please tell me.
Click to expand...

Methinks:

1>Processor is good enough..get atleast 2gb of ram and im too lazy to check out but does your mummyboard have PCi-e slots?

2>Stick with nVidia..they're better..cheap and there wont be driver issues(im not a fanboy btw :) )

3>No idea.. :P

4>Depends on the card..if its a PCi-e card u need that slot..if tis an AGP card u need an AGP slot..if its SLi ur going for..u need an SLi compatible mummyboard..

Whats ur current PSU btw?

and most standard ATX cases will be sufficient if you have the regular components..
 
^for one nvidea is more expensive, 2 ati is doing quite well the 4890 is the best bang for your buck right now.

Intel is on top right now as clock for clock goes but is more expensive, amd is cheaper but also not as good.
 
nvidia cards at my place are quite cheap actually....compared to ati..

but driver problems when switching from nvidia to ati can be a huge headache..
 
^you can use driver cleaner pro. That will fix any driver conflicts hands down.

Also where is your place?

any online retailers will show that for the most part ati is generally cheaper.
 
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