I built my own system completely from scratch about 3 or 4 years ago. I basically have a few questions, and I need a few suggestions for buying new parts. I use this computer mostly for gaming and the usual word processing and internet browsing. I want to update this computer so that it will work well for the next few years.
I am looking for a new Video Card, since the one I am using currently is about 5 years old, the fan completely broke off. I can't run Hitman: Blood Money on it at all, I get about 1fps. All of my other games seem to run just fine, I play WoW, Counterstrike and a few other random games. My brother told me that the best video card that I can get for my current computer is a ATI Radeon X800XT since my monitor uses a D-SUB plugin and my motherboard only supports AGP video cards. He also told me that this video card is pretty outdated and it might not be worth the 299 at the moment.
Link to the Video Card my bro was talking about: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102492
This brings me to my next question. Is it worth the 299 to spend on a video card that will soon be obsolete? Since my motherboard only supports AGP, I was thinking that I might as well buy a new mother board so that I can buy a better video card, and not need to replace it as soon. Can I replace my motherboard, keeping the same processor and other parts in my computer without losing any of my saved hardware and information?
Last part of my 3 part question. I am also looking for a LCD monitor between 19 and 21 inches. I am looking for suggestions as to what to buy. I don't really know much about monitors but I have been searching newegg and reading a lot of reviews. Many new video cards no longer support D-Sub, and my current monitor is a D-Sub. I was thinking that if I replace my mother board and my video card I will have to replace my monitor also. I am looking for a monitor that will also be able to be used as a TV in a dorm room, with hookups for ps2 and the such. I'm a noob when it comes to monitors, keep in mind I would like to use it for gaming.
Some monitors I was looking at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824112160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824014111
Here are the specs for my system, just took a flashlight and checked this stuff real quick, so if something doesnt look right tell me and I'll check more thoroughly.
Mother Board: Prescott 800 dual CHannel ASRock DDR400
Processor: Intell Pentium 4, somewhere between 2.8g and 3.2g, not sure since i got it replaced at a shop a few years ago.
Power Source: Antec True 430w
Monitor: NEC Multisync LCD1525V (14.5inches?)
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9500 Pro 128M
I am looking for suggestions for a 1) Motherboard, 2) Video Card, 3) Monitor that will all be compatible. I dont want to spend more than 350 for a video card or more than 350 for a monitor, price of the motherboard doesn't really matter.
Sorry about the lengthy post
I am looking for a new Video Card, since the one I am using currently is about 5 years old, the fan completely broke off. I can't run Hitman: Blood Money on it at all, I get about 1fps. All of my other games seem to run just fine, I play WoW, Counterstrike and a few other random games. My brother told me that the best video card that I can get for my current computer is a ATI Radeon X800XT since my monitor uses a D-SUB plugin and my motherboard only supports AGP video cards. He also told me that this video card is pretty outdated and it might not be worth the 299 at the moment.
Link to the Video Card my bro was talking about: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102492
This brings me to my next question. Is it worth the 299 to spend on a video card that will soon be obsolete? Since my motherboard only supports AGP, I was thinking that I might as well buy a new mother board so that I can buy a better video card, and not need to replace it as soon. Can I replace my motherboard, keeping the same processor and other parts in my computer without losing any of my saved hardware and information?
Last part of my 3 part question. I am also looking for a LCD monitor between 19 and 21 inches. I am looking for suggestions as to what to buy. I don't really know much about monitors but I have been searching newegg and reading a lot of reviews. Many new video cards no longer support D-Sub, and my current monitor is a D-Sub. I was thinking that if I replace my mother board and my video card I will have to replace my monitor also. I am looking for a monitor that will also be able to be used as a TV in a dorm room, with hookups for ps2 and the such. I'm a noob when it comes to monitors, keep in mind I would like to use it for gaming.
Some monitors I was looking at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824112160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824014111
Here are the specs for my system, just took a flashlight and checked this stuff real quick, so if something doesnt look right tell me and I'll check more thoroughly.
Mother Board: Prescott 800 dual CHannel ASRock DDR400
Processor: Intell Pentium 4, somewhere between 2.8g and 3.2g, not sure since i got it replaced at a shop a few years ago.
Power Source: Antec True 430w
Monitor: NEC Multisync LCD1525V (14.5inches?)
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9500 Pro 128M
I am looking for suggestions for a 1) Motherboard, 2) Video Card, 3) Monitor that will all be compatible. I dont want to spend more than 350 for a video card or more than 350 for a monitor, price of the motherboard doesn't really matter.
Sorry about the lengthy post