Upgrade advice

[Grunldesnapp]

Old Alienware i want to upgrade. I know i need a new MB/processor and i want a new network card (wifi). Any suggestions?

Processor(s)
Processor 1
Name: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+
Manufacturer: AuthenticAMD
Caption: x86 Family 15 Model 43 Stepping 1
Version: Model 11, Stepping 1
Current Clock Speed: 2010MHz
Address Width: 32Bits
Data Width: 32Bits
Socket Designation: Socket 939

Processor 2
Name: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+
Manufacturer: AuthenticAMD
Caption: x86 Family 15 Model 43 Stepping 1
Version: Model 11, Stepping 1
Current Clock Speed: 2010MHz
Address Width: 32Bits
Data Width: 32Bits
Socket Designation: Socket 939

System Memory

Memory Module 1
Capacity: 512MB
Bank Label: DIMM #1
Mem_Type: DDR-SDRAM
Mem_Bandwidth: PC3200 (200 MHz)


Memory Module 2
Capacity: 512MB
Bank Label: DIMM #2
Mem_Type: DDR-SDRAM
Mem_Bandwidth: PC3200 (200 MHz)
Memory Module 3
Capacity: 512MB

Bank Label: DIMM #3
Mem_Type: DDR-SDRAM
Mem_Bandwidth: PC3200 (200 MHz)


Memory Module 4
Capacity: 512MB
Bank Label: DIMM #4
Mem_Type: DDR-SDRAM
Mem_Bandwidth: PC3200 (200 MHz)

BIOS Information

Manufacturer: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Name: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Version: ASUS A8N-SLI DELUXE ACPI BIOS Revision 1015
Version: Nvidia - 42302e31

Motherboard Information


Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Product: A8N-SLI DELUXE
Serial Number: 123456789000
Version: 1.XX
Verified Hardware Device against Order: MB-ASUSA8NSLIDELXER2
Power settings optimized
Motherboard power connection securely in place
Verify Correct I/O Shield for Motherboard
Verify correct motherboard

Video Adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260


Hard Drive(s)

NVIDIA STRIPE 306.77G
Model: NVIDIA STRIPE 306.77G
Size: 329GB
ND-3540A

Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional

[Diggles]

Get a 2nd gen Intel i5 w/Asus mobo. You will also not see that big a difference if you dont upgrade ram as well...granted you can do that over time and run computer on old ram for awhile (not recommended)

[Slamz]

GTX 570 would give you about double performance without TOO insane cost. You could go with something lower/cheaper than that but then it's a question of $ invest vs value of the upgrade. "Double performance" is a good mark though and the 570 is still two steps down from the maximum nVidia (which is crazy expensive).

[Grunldesnapp]

Ok, first I would be doing the upgrade in two parts.
First
i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz Turbo
Asus P8Z77-V Pro LGA 1155
Corsair Vengeance DDR3 4GB x2

Second
Plextor M3 series PX-128M3
Video upgrade still in the air.

What do you comp tech savy types think? I'll be doing all of the work myself, parting this into my Alienware case.

[Slamz]

Don't forget your power supply. You didn't list it and I dunno how to calculate what you need anyway but it's possible you'll need a bigger one, especially with a new video card (GTX 570 says it has a minimum system requirement of 550 watts, though it lists its maximum consumption at 219 watts).


I think the order you listed is basically what you'll be forced to do anyway. You might benefit more from the new video card than the new CPU but the nVidia GTX 570 wants "PCI-E 2.0" and your old motherboard doesn't have that (not sure if that means it won't work or if it will work, just not as fast as it should).

If there's any question of SSD vs video card, get the video card first. That'll be a much larger benefit to gaming, especially MMORPGs where "loading" areas are infrequent.

[Grunldesnapp]

The PS was in my sites, already looked at a bunch online. I need to crack my case to find out what i have in there, its not listed on my spec sheet. It "should" be good but that dosnt mean diddly.

[Veraphim]

You didn't specify what version of XP Pro you have. Don't overlook the fact that you can't use 8GB RAM on a 32bit OS. If you're using XP Pro 64x, then you're probably fine. Otherwise you'll need to dump that and go get Win7.

[Grunldesnapp]

Best way of checking which version i have?

[Diggles]

Best way of checking which version i have?

R.Click my computer > properties

[Grunldesnapp]

Already check that Diggles, only thing that comes up is Microsoft Windows XP, Professional, Version 2002, SP 3

[strife]

Already check that Diggles, only thing that comes up is Microsoft Windows XP, Professional, Version 2002, SP 3

if it doesn't say x64, you're running 32 bit. For whatever reason it doesn't specifically state that it's 32 bit, only if it's 64 bit.