Need geeky help, please

OK, so I'm thinking of giving up my 1.4 Ghz AMD Sempron thingy, and buying a new motherboard. There are a few reasons; one of them is that, although I'm on the new client, it looks like I'm using the old client, because my graphics card (an old Nvidia) just can't keep up with SL unless I've got the shader turned off. So, no Windlighty stuff for me. I want to change that, but it doesn't seem like there's much more I can do with my current hardware - newer cards just probably wouldn't work on it - not well, anyway.

I am a cheap brat, but I have found on a certain website a selection of motherboard/CPU bundles that fit within the amount I'm willing to spend. These motherboards, by and large, use AMD Athlon 64 dual-core thingies, usually running around 2 Ghz or more. I will also be buying a new graphics card, but it will perhaps be a month, likely even longer, before I buy one (I'm buying the motherboard in like a week or so). Therein lies the problem.

I've looked at the long list of video cards that have been recommended by LL. I want to buy one of those, but it seems as if MOST of them are PCI-express cards, rather than AGP cards (as my current card is). Sure, there are some AGP cards, but you can buy the same graphics set for cheaper if it's a PCI-express card.

Some of the available motherboards have PCI-express slots, some of them have AGP. Yes, I know PCI-Express is faster. Considering that my current card is an AGP card, though, and that it does play SL (even if at a reduced level), should I buy a motherboard with AGP, simply so that I can use my current card until whenever-it-is I'll finally buy a new card (which, of course, will have to be AGP also)? Or, should I buy a nice shiny PCI-express compatible motherboard, and let it moulder on a shelf for however many months it takes for me to buy a decent PCI-express video card?

As another option, one of the candidate PCI-express motherboards CLAIMS to have integrated Nvidia GeForce 6100 graphics. But LL's system requirements lists the recommended Nvidia cards as starting at 6600 the lowest. Would SL work on the integrated 6100 thingy while I'm waiting to buy a proper graphics card? Is it worth buying that one? What do you people suggest?

Hi Dakota. I would recommend going with a MOBO that has a PCI-e interface. That preserves the upgrade path for later on. And just as a side note, steer clear of any integrated video. A discrete video card will always be a better answer. YMMV.

Dakota, if nothing else, forget integrated graphics. As i understand it they simply steal from yr main memory resource. I would also not be retro by buying a new board just to suit yr existing graphics card - look forward as much as you can.

I just upgraded my old desktop w/memory and a Nvidia 7600 w/a AGP connection it runs fabulous if that helps. It was not to expensive at Best Buy 180 w/tax. Good luck!

#1- Avoid AGP. Its dead & dying. Good AGP cards are hard to come by. Go with PCI-E, as its the "new kid on the block" and will be around for sometime.

#2- Nvidia Video Card. I've never had a problem with one, while I see others having problems with ATI.

#3- Integrated Graphics = BAD. Ok, not that bad. Most if not all have an option in the BIOS to turn off the onboard graphics.

#4- Decent PCI-E Graphics Card? Depends what you're looking to spend. An 8600 GT will run around $80 (for the 512 MB version). Higher is better (usually). 8800 GTS - $150 or more.

Check out: www.newegg.com and see if they have anything in your price range. They're prices are decent & shipping times are excellent.

Figure in a 2 Ghz AMD Dual Core CPU, 2 Gig RAM, Motherboard & a PCI-E video card.

#5- Power Supply. You may need a new one if your system is AGP. A PCI-E video card will require a bit more power AND its own power line. Plus the new motherboards are now 24 pin, instead of 20 (the main power plug to the motherboard).

I just priced the parts for a computer like you mentioned.....

On Newegg, I came up with a price of: $345.95

Thats not counting a case.

** EDIT: I saved the parts in a 'wish list' so I can always copy & paste the list for anyone to see

keep in mind that Intel is pricing lower for the same performance,
That might be your best bet.

I got a decent case, that anything will fit in. I'm not sure who made it, but I've had it ever since around 1996-ish, when it housed an AMD K2. I used that K2 and Windows 98 all the way up until 2003 (and you'd be surprised how many things I could get to work on that thing) until I finally gave in and bought the Sempron/motherboard combo and put it in. Now, the time for change has once again come. But as it started out as an AMD, it just wouldn't feel right to me to put an Intel in it, however irrational that sentiment may be.

I like the case because it's absolutely huge (it has four removeable-media drive bays, not counting the floppy drive, and more expansion slots than any motherboard ever made would facilitate). It's like a big dinosaur sitting on my desk and taking up all this space, and looking cool.

I still have the old K2 and its motherboard in a box. Perhaps a museum or something would be interested in it; it is in full working order.

Like this???

/me seethes with jealousy
// wants...

OK guys, I've got the video card; the motherboard and processor, et al, arrive tomorrow. Since I've already bought it, perhaps it doesn't matter, but I'd like your input on the goodies I bought.

Abit AX78 Motherboard with PCIe 2.0

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ dual-core, 2.30 Ghz, 1Mb cache

nVidia GeForce 8500, 1GB

Plus various sundry thingies necessary to be able to properly install and use the above stuff.

You are getting new, more powerful power supply too, yes?

Yeah, my 250W of PURE ATX POOOWWWWEEEEERRRRRRR just won't work with the new stuff. I bought a 400W thing (all the pieces-parts I bought require 300W). I made sure it's PCIe compatible, too - even though I'm not sure exactly what that entails. Do PCIe cards get a dedicated bus or something?

PCIe is a new format that makes for faster data going to and from cards. When it comes time to look for a video card... Definitely go PCIe... but you may need a bigger power supply again. Video processing power is getting tough for regular systems to support these days. (^_^)y

OK, it's all here. The time has come.

New CPU - check!

PCIe-compatible motherboard - check!

Stick of DIMM, 1GB - check!

400W power source - check!

Nvidia 8500 GT video card - check!

Biggest CPU heatsink/fan I've ever seen - check!

Little syringe with something suspicious-looking in it - check!

Hard-to-read installation booklet - check!

Nobody around who actually knows crucial things about building computers - double-check!

This is it, guys - I'M GOING IN. Just know that I always liked some of you.

Seperate rails.

Basically, the power supply is actualy several power supplies all bundeled up in one box.