Upgrading my pc - Where do I start?

DazedAndConfuzed

Hi, my mistake, it's got 2 x Intel Xeon 3.2GHZ Processors and 2GB of RAM that can be upgraded to 16GB (but something tells me it wont be as simple as buying some and plugging it in?). I can't post a link but it's 330394525915 on e-bay.

It's got XP installed, although I'll go onto Vista or Windows 7 at some point.

The main thing is it looks like I can get a better motherboard, etc at a later date and upgrade as I go? I guess it'll have to be Dell compliant but at that price it looks ok

DazedAndConfuzed

Lil306 wrote: »

Just as a note, you can get a good gaming system capable of running nearly all games for around 300-400.

For the latest games out (Call of Duty etc) you can expect to pay upwards of £800 if you want blistering performance

Thanks, I know I'm not going to get a machine that can out perform my x-box 360 for £300, just one that will manage some lowe spec games (Total War, etc) without having steam comoing out the back :eek:

ddoris

Those xeons are ancient - it's a mongrol -it's on ebay!
You can't upgrade old dells just like that, either

DazedAndConfuzed

I know it's not the most amazing processor in the world but for all I need I can't see why it wont do the job?

What do you mean about upgrading Dells? Been looking round and it seems to be fairly straight forward, but there's a hell of a lot of sites out there contradicting each other!

BillScarab

well it's not really designed for home use. For instance it takes ECC memory so to put another 2GB in will cost more than regular DDR2/3 memory (£74 at crucial as an example).

I've no idea how those Xeon processors compared to a core 2 duo/quad for gaming either. You can't really go on clock speeds when comparing different architectures.

turbobob

They are going to be similar to Pentium 4's of an equal speed. Basically two of them will be outperformed by a current Celeron E3200 which would cost about £35.

BillScarab

turbobob wrote: »

They are going to be similar to Pentium 4's of an equal speed. Basically two of them will be outperformed by a current Celeron E3200 which would cost about £35.

Cheers for that.

So basically the OP would be better getting this bundle from Novatech and using some of the bits from his current PC then getting a graphics card to go with it.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?MBB-634G

ddoris

You didn't say what your original system is so I can't help with upgrade suggestions.
A new celeron e3200 -£30- is nearly 3x faster than old xeon. M/b £30, 2GB MEM £35, psu £20
MUST TYPE FASTER!!! Turbo beat me to it.

JasX

BillScarab wrote: »

Cheers for that.

So basically the OP would be better getting this bundle from Novatech and using some of the bits from his current PC then getting a graphics card to go with it.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?MBB-634G

I agree with Bill

turbobob

Yeah the Novatech bundle has a faster more modern processor, four times the memory and will use a hell of a lot less power than the Xeon workstation. Add a decent gfx card and I can't see it having a problem with games or high definition films.