| Types of RAM [message #21319] |
Mon, 19 May 2003 12:04   |
eBax
Messages: 11
Registered: May 2003
Karma:
|
Recruit |
|
|
Just looking at the motherboard...P4 Intel E-3600 and it looks like you can add another 256 of PC133. You cannot use the DDR PC2100 or above (won't fit for starters and wrong voltage).
With running Windows XP I would recommend getting at least another 256 PC133 SDRAM. This would help alot if you are serious about keep this system
If I can be frank with your system, it is a little dated but I like the 1.5gHz and with more ram you will just survive until the next game comes out. The video card is dated as well but as anyone will say you can fix anything if you want to throw some $$$ at it.
If you really want to keep it then get another video card like a GF3 or GF4 but the bottle neck will be the ram. You are stuck at 133mHz ram (where PC2100 is 266 mHz) you will notice a significant improvement in gaming with a motherboard that uses DDR ram.
For running renegade, how does it run now? You can get this system to run it with adjusting the settings down and turning off the fancy stuff but if renegade is all you are going to run then get another 256mb of SDRAM PC133 and try and find a good deal on a better video card.
On other games other than Renegade, I wouldn't upgrade this machine and save your money for a new system (unless you were going to use it as a second machine or a backup). You cannot buy accessories like ram and video cards that will all of a sudden play all the latest games. Your limiting factor is the motherboard and ram speed of PC133 - your stuck with it and is getting slower with each new game.
Another idea would be to keep the CPU (especially on a budget) and find a motherboard that takes the P4 1.5gHz. Newer boards will have faster bus speeds that can utilize the faster RAM DDR PC2100. They even make boards that will take either the older SDR PC133 or the DDR style ram - however, my board claims to do both but it seems to dislike the PC133 and I had to buy DDR PC2100 to make it happy so - it's kinda tricky. If you can find a board that does take your PC133 and has slots for the DDR ram then you can still use what you got until you have enough $$$ for new DDR ram.
Just some thoughts, don't know your financial status is so if you got the $$$ buy a new system or keep what you got and spend $30 or $40 for more ram and hope for better improvement. I think you will notice better performance but the question is will it be enough to satisfy you.
eBax
|
|
|
|
Search
Help
Members
Register
Login
Home
