Dell Dimension 8200 upgrade or buy new limited budget

amen

Right I have Dell Dimension 8200 its about 6 years old standard machine just extra memory (2GBs)

Recently I can't play games such as Team Fortress 2, DOD:Source due to my graphics card and its really struggling processor wise with Civ4.

So should I but a new graphics card or bu a new machine.
I suppose I have €600-€800 to play around with.

If it was the new machine route what would anyone suggest since its mainly a gaming machine ?

Blazer

Definitely a new PC. Even buying a top of the range video will do you no good with that cpu.
For €600-800 you'll pick up a nice quad-core system with a good graphics card.
See below on dabs for a sample pick.
I'm not endorsing any of these products just simply giving you an example of what you can get...the spec below would do you for some time.

Corsair Memory 550W VX PSU

Corsair Memory 550W VX PSU
quicklinx:4Q0TWS | Mfr#:CMPSU-550VXUK
In stock now
€73.90 €73.90
Antec Nine Hundred/Ultimate Gamer Case no PSU

Antec Nine Hundred/Ultimate Gamer Case no PSU
quicklinx:49XSWS | Mfr#:NINE HUNDRED EU
In stock now
€83.64 €83.64
Corsair Memory 4GBKIT (2X2GB) 800MHZ NON ECC CL5

Corsair Memory 4GBKIT (2X2GB) 800MHZ NON ECC CL5
quicklinx:4PDNWS | Mfr#:T2X4GB-6400C5DX
In stock now
€81.46 €81.46
Seagate Barracuda 7200.1 500GB 7200RPM S300 32MB

Seagate Barracuda 7200.1 500GB 7200RPM S300 32MB
quicklinx:4QXHWS | Mfr#:ST3500320AS
In stock now
€54.26 €54.26
Gigabyte S775 Intel P43 DDR2 ATX Audio Lan 6SATA11

Gigabyte S775 Intel P43 DDR2 ATX Audio Lan 6SATA11
quicklinx:54HWWS | Mfr#:GA-EP43-DS3
In stock now
€90.27 €90.27
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz S775

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz S775
quicklinx:4DWFWS | Mfr#:BX80562Q6600
In stock now
€155.61 €155.61
Sapphire Technology Radeon HD 4870 512MB PCIE DUAL DVI DDR5

Sapphire Technology Radeon HD 4870 512MB PCIE DUAL DVI DDR5
quicklinx:55PFWS | Mfr#:11133-00-20R
In stock now
€238.79 €238.79
delivery
(17.863kg) €20.38
total (inc VAT) €798.31

amen

self assembly?

The only thing I see missing is a DVD drive?
did I miss anything else ?

thanks for the recommendation

Blazer

Yeah..forgot the dvd driver...apart from heatsink+ maybe more fans you're sorted. And the OS..forgot about that...I'm sure you know somewhere where you can pick up one cheap
So all you've left to decide is do you want SLI or X-Fire..tbh both are over-rated and next gen card will nearly always beat previous sli/x-fire models.

samhail

I was actually in the exact same boat as you mate, even down to the Dell Dimension 8200

Turned out i had a little more money to play with (with working weekends for 2months and getting paid for all of it at the end of Sept).

the brother just got the machine im on now from adverts.ie. very nice machine. graphics card might need an upgrade for intense gaming.
this machine i got for €300 and the 17in LCD i got for €60.
pick out that Sapphire Tech graphics card for 250 above. and get your self a good machine for about 600/700. If you keep your eye out.

and if u are throwing a pc together scrounge from your old one if you can !

amen

what are the specs on your new machine?

samhail

The brothers one i just got is http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=75947&cat=8

the new machine im getting for myself is one of the dell XPS machines, 3.2ghz dual core, 4gb ram, spent the extra arm and got myself a 24in widescreen.
not too happy with dell about my order right now though, since they told me delivery would be 07/10 and im still waiting !

Blazer

Ring them back up and ask what's the delay.