I'm looking to upgrade my computer and I was wondering if you all could give me some suggestions on what to get. I use my computer for gaming.

Here is my computer:

~~NOTE: ***** is a section ------ is a sub-section~~


************************************************** ********
CPU
************************************************** ********

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Processor
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Name: Intel Celeron
Code Name: Northwood
Package: Socket 478 mPGA
Technology: 0.12 um
Brand ID: 10
Voltage: N/A

Specification: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.50GHz
Family: F
Ext. Family: F
Model: 2
Ext. Model: 2
Stepping: 9
Revision D1
Instructions: MMX,SSE,SSE2


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Clocks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Corespeed: 2491.5 - 2491.9
Multiplier: x 25.0
Bus Speed: 99.7 MHz
Rated FSB: 398.7 MHz


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cache
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

L1 Data: 8 KBytes
L1 Trace: 12 Kuops
Level 2: 128 KBytes
Level 3: N/A

Extra Info
-------------
Cores: 1
Threads: 1

************************************************** ******
Mainboard
************************************************** ******

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motherboard
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manufacturer: TriGem Computer, Inc.
Model: Imperial 1.01
Chipset: Intel i845G
Southbridge: 82801DB (ICH4)
Rev: B1
Sensor: N/A


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIOS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Brand: Phoenix
Version: 6.00
Date: 09/16/2003


************************************************** ******
Memory
************************************************** ******

------------------------------------------------------------------------
General
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Type: DDR
Size: 1280 MBytes
Channels #: N/A
Performance Mode: N/A
Bank Interleave: N/A

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Timings
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Frequency: 132.9 MHz
FSBRAM: 3:4
CAS# Latency: 2.5 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 3 clocks
RAS# Precharge: 3 clocks
Cycle time (Tras): 6 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (Trc: N/A
Command Rate: N/A
DRAM Idle Timer: 16 clocks
Total CAS# (tRDRAM): N/A
Row to Column (tRCD): N/A



Well, I hope I gave you all enough info. If you need any more.. Just ask and I'll get back to you ASAP

If anything, I would like to have some tips to at least increase my FPS (Frames Per Second) in games like Counter Strike: Source above 14 fps.


Thanks for your help!



Fatality

seems like a decent PC.... why do you want to upgrade? is it performing slower than it used to?

how big is the hard drive?

how much are you willing to spend?

if i was you, i would upgrade the CPU to higher than a 2.5GHz:
P4 2.8GHz: http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...=82850&_LOC=UK

P4 3.2GHz: http://www.cqout.com/item.asp?id=1947947

you have over 1GB RAM which is good..

If you press Ctrl+Alt+Del on your keyboard, and go to performance, what does it say under physical memory
a) when no (or few) applications are running
b) in the middle of a 3D game (such as halo or half-life)

Mike

"seems like a decent PC.... why do you want to upgrade? is it performing slower than it used to?

how big is the hard drive?

how much are you willing to spend?"


1. Yes, it is.

2. Hard drive..? If I'm correct, it's 40 gbs..

3. Nothing too much...

well, i would sugest downloading an antivirus program (if you dont have one already) and ad-aware SE (both can be downloaded free from http://www.download-files.tk/ ) when you have downloaded them, update them both

also, if you click start> my computer and SINGLE click on your C drive, what does it say next to "free space" under details?

if you wanted to, you could do a clean install, this will delete everything on your computer and install a fresh copy of windows and restore your pc to how it used to be..

i would sugest if you where to do this, you burn the setup files (the file you download) for anti-virus and firewall software to disk and install them as soon as windows is installed and set up... you will also need to re-install graphics/audio drivers (and ethernet/wireless if you use them) you may have these on disk, if not, they can be downloaded from the manufacturers website.

Hope this helps,
Mike


P.S- i would use the clean install as a last resort or if you are fed up trying all sorts of things

From what I've seen.. It's nothing spyware/virus related. Everytime I scan for viruses/spyware, after it's finished, it seems as though my computer has become even slower.

Also, It says I have 14.8 GBs of memory left (had 18 yesterday but I downloaded Diablo 2 (A little over a gig), Battlefield 2 (Doesn't work.. I think about 3 gigs)).

NVIDIA SLI- ECS PN2-SLI2+ (V1.0) w/NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI Motherboard

Conroe- Core 2 Extreme Quad Core Kentsfield Processor w/1GHz FSB

OCZ 2GB Dual Channel PC26400 RAM

SeaSonic SP-650W PSU

Western Digital 10,000RPM HDD or FireWire 800 HDD or a SATA2 HDD

And wait for DirectX10 Graphics Processing Units to come out for the card.

I'd say wait till May or so, buy it and it'll last you another good 2 years although as you expect, it'll be pricey.

I think that Mike has identified the best "value for money" upgrade. Celeron processors are designed to be budget processors, whereas the "full" Pentium 4 is for gaming and other intensive applications. If your motherboard can support it, a Pentium 4 2.8GHz should give you a noticeable boost and a 3.2GHz processor would be quite a significant improvement. This is also a pretty straightforward upgrade, whereas changing the motherboard in order to get a dual-core processor is a relatively big job for experienced upgraders.

Hi guys ive got an almost identical computer to fatality's here same processor, socket and amount of ram, with the exception that i have a radeon 9600. Im trying to increase games performance (HL2, Quake 4 and BF2) and i was wondering which would give me a more noticeable lift:

1. Upgrade processor to S478 3.0Ghz P4 CPU and upgrade to 200GB HDD

Or

2. Upgrade graphics card to a 6800GT/X850

i can pick up the CPU and the HDD for about $300 ($AUS) all together and the graphics card costs about 300-350. $350 AUS is my max budget as i just want a little more oomph not a total build-up.

Any help would be appreciated a lot.