1. #1

    Finally time to upgrade the dinosaur.

    Ok. So I've been playing on the same computer since Vanilla WoW. I bought a premade PC from Best Buy in 2002. Model is a VPR Matrix 180R. I upgraded the video card, PSU and Prossessor about 3 years ago but it's time for a whole new system. Here is a list of what is currently in my rig. I'll go ahead and assume nothing is re-useable aside from my case and PSU (maybe).

    P4 2.8GHz prosessor
    Some really old Intel motherboard, does not have a pci-e slot nor do I know chipset
    NVIDIA GeForce 6200 Graphics card
    Thermaltake TR2-430W Power Supply
    Original 60gig Hard Drive
    Original DVD drive
    2x 512mb RAM, unsure of brand but I think it's DDR2?

    Budget: Cheap. Talking like $300 give or take

    Resolution: 1440x900

    Games / Settings Desired: WoW / Anything above min. Would like to actually get more than 10fps

    Any other intensive software or special things you do (Frequent video encoding, 3D modeling, etc): Just college homework stuff

    Country: US

    Parts that can be reused: I believe my case and PSU can be reused but I'll leave that up to you guys

    I'm not looking to run WoW on Ultra or anything high end. I really just need something that will let me raid while I can slowly put money away for a real build.

  2. #2
    Deleted
    Well, I'm guessing that pretty much anything is better than that - even a cheap i3 build.

    I'll look up something after my lunch break..

  3. #3
    Deleted
    Provided you reuse your case, PSU, optical drive, hard drive and copy of windows you could potentially go for the following:

    I3 2100 - $124.99
    MSI H61M-P21 - $59.99
    Corsair RAM 4GB - $19.99
    XFX 6770 $109.99 - $20.00 MiR

    Totalling $314.96 - $20.00 MiR = $294.96

    Potential problems is that the upgrade path isn't excellent. The setup uses a H61 board which does not allow overclocking, doesn't support SATAIII or RAID, or Crossfire/SLI. Otherwise, it would do what you want it to do. At the resolution you're playing at, the above system would do well in WoW and would be okay with your current PSU.

    If you can stretch your budget a little, you could upgrade the motherboard to a MSI P67A-G45 bringing the basket total to $378.96 - $60.00 MiRs = $316.96, which for $20 more gives you an excellent upgrade path as the motherboard supports overclocking, SATAIII, RAID and Crossfire/SLI. The reason I have suggested this is you mentioned putting money away for a real build. The latter setup allows you to add a higher model Sandybridge or Ivybridge processor (when they are released, and with a BIOS update,) plus a higher end GPU and if needed, a crossfire/SLI solution. However, it is more an extravagant solution for a basic situation so feel free to disregard it.

    Fitting a case and optical drive into $300 is difficult. I'm in a bit of a rush but somebody else might be able to design you a system that includes a case and optical drive using a lower end processor/mobo build, which would still suit you at the resolution you are playing at.
    Last edited by mmoc9629105373; 2011-11-23 at 01:29 PM.

  4. #4
    Bloodsail Admiral dicertification's Avatar
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    I would skimp on the video card and get a better motherboard.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115078 i3 2100 $124.99
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161386 6670 $74.99 - $59.99 after mail in rebate.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157251 Asrock Z68 Motherboard $99.99
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145278 Corsair 4GB $19.99

    $304.99 after the rebate.

    You mentioned you were saving up for a better build. Going this route you can drop in a new CPU and GPU and have your upgrade.
    I would suggest getting a better motherboard with Sata III and USB 3.0 they are both features you will find you want in your future upgrades.
    Since you are playing at a low resolution the video card will be more than adequate for raiding on good with maybe some high settings. You could even save another couple bucks going to a P67 board with USB 3 and Sata III

    Just my 2 cents.

    Edit: Guess I should learn to read the entire post nehran put up. I agree with him basically lol. Just got off work so sue me. So replace my motherboard with his and you save even more lol. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130582
    Last edited by dicertification; 2011-11-23 at 07:45 PM.

  5. #5
    Thanks for the help so far. When I get off work I'll go shop around on newegg and check this stuff out. I could probably push my budget up to 375 or so. It really just depends how many ramen noodles I want to eat this winter lol. I would like to get his ordered by the weekend so I can build it next week before DS comes out.

    ---------- Post added 2011-11-23 at 09:41 PM ----------

    Well this is what I came up with. Just double checking before I place the order that everything will work together. I'd like to shave a few bucks off if I could but cannot figure out how. Any help would be nice. Thanks!

    Apparently I cannot post links yet, so you'll have to manually look them up, sorry!
    N82E16819115078 I3 2100 - $109.99
    N82E16814161386 HIS H667FS1G - $69.99
    N82E16820145278 Corsair RAM 4GB - $19.99
    N82E16813130582 MSI P67A - $132.99
    N82E16811164040 Case - $23.99
    N82E16822136112 Hard Drive - $79.99

    Total = $436.94

    ---------- Post added 2011-11-24 at 12:06 AM ----------

    Bump for final setup before I press submit on my order!

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