Nil's "I can't believe this still plays games" Rig

[Nil]

Eh, I figured I'd go ahead and do a little upgrading since I had some gift certificates laying around from Christmas. So, when it arrives, I'll have:

An Athlon 64 3000+ at 2.4 gigs (I had this)

ECS 410 Motherboard (Yeah, it's not the best, but it's a 754 motherboard. How much do you want me to spend?

2 gigs of DDR400 ram (I had this)

Barrucuda 250 gig Sata2 Perpendicular drive

HIS X1950 Pro 256

It's a pretty good upgrade for me, and I only spent $30 after gift certificates.

[raghajabooy]

Thats not to bad considering its only a Budget computer, only just worse than my computer.

[Nil]

The wife wanted a computer for our daughter, so I got to "upgrade" an old one of ours.

I have a 64-bit 3000+ and 2 gigs of ram (the MB is new as well, obviously). Have I hit the big time or what?

[Neatton]

Thats awesome man should hold you for awhile

[Raolinx Aeromancer]

Mine since Jan 2001

Operating System: Microsoft Windows ME (4.90, Build 3000)
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) Processor, MMX, 3DNow, 1000MHz
Memory: 384MB RAM
Video: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX
Monitor: 21" pavilion

plus generic CD reader writer, dvd, onboard sound, think its 133 bus speed.
Plus I have to reformat all the time due to the fact I havnt updated any of my virus protection since 2001. Installed a higher end Video card for a while but power supply couldnt handle it. (250 wat)

[Nil]

Originally Posted by Raolinx Aeromancer

Mine since Jan 2001

Operating System: Microsoft Windows ME (4.90, Build 3000)
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) Processor, MMX, 3DNow, 1000MHz
Memory: 384MB RAM
Video: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX
Monitor: 21" pavilion

plus generic CD reader writer, dvd, onboard sound, think its 133 bus speed.
Plus I have to reformat all the time due to the fact I havnt updated any of my virus protection since 2001. Installed a higher end Video card for a while but power supply couldnt handle it. (250 wat)

I would say I'm jealous as a joke, but, um, I just can't. I guess you've got an upgrade coming for VG?

[Neatton]

Bah thats not bad I bet you play frogger on that full res and all the options on!

[Dliw]

Originally Posted by Nil

This was budget when I built it in late 2003 in anticipation of WoW (the portal opens in 2003, you know.

But goodness, it still runs pretty much everything I want to play well enough for me (I've never been a graphics whore - just let it play smoothly. Oblivion on low settings is still miles ahead of the Pitfall and Berserk I grew up with).

AMD Athlon 2600 XP with the Barton Core (1.6 mhz)
Radeon 9600XT (Fear the APG power!)
2 512 mb sticks of the cheapest ram I could find on the internet
A $100 19" Viewsonic monitor (1600x1200 is its max resolution, not that I care)
I don't remember what the case was, but I bought it with a 530 watt power supply for $40 (something tells me I'm a pretty lucky guy)

The secret of my success is, obviously, that AOL has never been installed on this computer.

I would upgrade it, but it seems to work pretty well so far, and I'm pretty much at the point where I need to replace everything except the drives because of the way technology has advanced. Maybe for the next big game after Vanguard...

My system was last upgraded around the same time (I think it was autum 2003)

Pentium 4, 2.8 GHZ,
1 gig ram
Radeon 9800 XT

yes, Vanguard will be a very expensive game for me...

[Pirotess]

Originally Posted by Dliw

My system was last upgraded around the same time (I think it was autum 2003)

Pentium 4, 2.8 GHZ,
1 gig ram
Radeon 9800 XT

yes, Vanguard will be a very expensive game for me...

Actually doesnt have to be that expensive. You can get a nice 7600/7800 GS (assuming you have AGP on a board from 2003) and maybe another gig of RAM. All told you could be up and running just fine on a couple hundred bucks not a couple thousand.

[Dliw]

I agree... have been doing some research the last few days. First I thought it's about time to get a completely new rig, but I guess new CPU, GPU and RAM will do