Hi,

I've been wondering if it's time I updated my desktop's parts..

Here are my specs.


Intel Pentium D Dual Core 3.00 Ghz (as in 1,50 Ghz for each processor)


3 GB of DDR2 Ram (1 x 2GB + 1x 1GB)


Hard Drive is roughly 190GB


nVidia GeForce 6600GT (I know, it's really old)


So what do you guys think? Being a bit of a PC geek myself, I personally feel that my hard drive is as old as hell - Seriously, most hard drives are at least 300 GB these days so 190 is obviously not enough.

Plus I might need to change the processor because dual core is about to kick the bucket with quad core on the scene.

I know my ram is awesome but would it be a wise thing to move up to DDR 3 in let's say about a year's time?

And as for my graphics card? Ha! What a big joke. I bought that thing in the summer of 2006, and for a gamer such as myself it's embarrassing to be caught with that thing nowadays.

I'm looking for a good graphics card, not too expensive somewhere in the price range of let's say, 100-130 euros? Something that will last and is good for gaming (stuff like Far Cry 2 which recently came out - I can barely play it on low with my card).

Any advice will be greatly appreciated,

Thanks,

-Xm8

190gb is fine if you ask me... nothing wrong with that.. if anything, sure add another drive, or keep the 190 as a media storage disk..

Yes UPGRADE the GFX card :) is it AGP or PCI-e?

As far as the cpu.. don't go jumping on the quad core bandwagon. I have a core2 duo 3.14 (e8500.. or was it e8400? Lol) anyway.. they easily overclocked - not many games are going to take advantage of the quad core anyway. Put more into new ram and a good gfx card

Hey Static,

Thanks for the answer :) - Great input.

I guess you're right about the drive, I've never really needed more than 190 GB with all my stuff already on the disk.

Yea the graphics card hahaha, it's PCI-e

I was thinking the same thing about the quad core line of processors but I wasn't sure at all. Thanks for the update :)

And for the RAM what do you advise? Another stick of 2GB?

I've only got 2 slots but I could replace the stick of 1 GB with a stick of 2 GB and then I'd have 4GB of DDR2 babies hungry for gaming milk haha.


-Xm8

Well, unless you have 64bit OS (Like vista64 or XP 64) you won't benefit from 4GB since 32bit OS can only use 3GB or ram.

I would really just upgrade the GFX card. Your ram is fine

Hmm.. I see. Well thanks for the information, interesting indeed.

So, what graphics card would you recommend for gaming these days? (Something not too expensive, I hope lol).

-Xm8

well here.. check this out

Newegg.com - XFX PVT96OZDFU GeForce 9600 GSO 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150340)

$110 1GB ram PCI-e 2.0 16x
and you get COD4 & COD5 free!

there are tons of choices... all depends on how much you want to spend

here is $100 - $200 nVidia based PCI-E 2.0 16x cards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%201305520548%201069633099%204017&bop=And&Order=PRICE

Wow! That GeForce 9600 is amazing, the price and the card itself. Plus the games that come with it haha.

Does newegg.com ship worlwide? Cus I'm stuck in Vienna at the moment so if it's only US it's a bit of a problem hehe.

-Xm8