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Upgrade Kit

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($400 AMD, Gamer)
(reverted to previous version)
 
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Essentially all of these upgrade kits are going to be fairly basic, in the budget of $200-250.
 +
The first two machines are for people who want a basic cheap upgrade, the third is intended for someone who has DDR1 and an AGP video card lying around they'd wish to retain, although with DDR2 at current prices, it could be argued it's not worthwhile.
 
==== Basic AMD ====
 
==== Basic AMD ====
 
{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left; border: 1px solid #999; background-color:#FFFFFF"
 
{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left; border: 1px solid #999; background-color:#FFFFFF"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
!Part
 
!Part
!Model  
+
!Model
 
!Price
 
!Price
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! CPU
 
! CPU
| [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_11599,00.html AMD Sempron 3000+ AM2] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Sempron+AM2+3000 29]
+
| [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_11599,00.html AMD Sempron LE-1100] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Sempron+LE-1100 34]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Motherboard
 
! Motherboard
| [http://www.asus.com.au/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=101&l3=345&l4=0&model=1647&modelmenu=1 Asus M2N-MX SE] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?sourceid=Mozilla-search&q=M2N-MX 55]
+
| [http://www2.abit.com.tw/page/en/motherboard/motherboard_detail.php?fMTYPE=Socket%20AM2&pMODEL_NAME=NF-M2SV Abit NF-M2SV] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?sourceid=Mozilla-search&q=NF-M2SV 51]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! RAM
 
! RAM
| 1GB Corsair DDR2-667 kit || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=1GB+Corsair+667+kit 42]
+
| 1GB Brand-name DDR2-667 || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=1GB+DDR2 20]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Hard Drive
 
! Hard Drive
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|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Power Supply
 
! Power Supply
| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=extreme+430 49]
+
| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=extreme+430 50]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Cooling
 
! Cooling
Line 40: Line 42:
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
! Total Cost
 
! Total Cost
| - || 175 + Postage
+
| - || 155 + Postage
 
|}
 
|}
 
+
I'm assuming that the buyer will carry over their hard drive and optical drive. If you wish to purchase new drives as well, you may be better off with the complete systems on the [[Workstation]] page.
Some people are really short on cash and need to get a boost in performance (it really sucks to be on something like a Celeron 600 nowadays). These are probably the cheapest bits you can get from Staticice, I'm assuming that the buyer will carry over their hard drive and optical drive. If you wish to purchase new drives as well, you may be better off with the complete systems on the [[Workstation]] page.
+
Remember that freight charges from different stores will add up - this defeats the purpose of finding the cheapest price from several stores, rather than just one.
 
+
Remember that freight charges from different stores will add up - this defeats the purpose of finding the cheapest price from several stores, rather than just one.  
+
 
+
 
The board features onboard video and onboard everything else which removes the need for a graphics card (which is expensive and unnecessary). If you require AGP graphics support, you could purchase the [http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=1104&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=171 MSI K9MM-V] for [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=K9MM-V similar].
 
The board features onboard video and onboard everything else which removes the need for a graphics card (which is expensive and unnecessary). If you require AGP graphics support, you could purchase the [http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=1104&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=171 MSI K9MM-V] for [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=K9MM-V similar].
 
If you plan to run Windows Vista, 1GB of RAM is recommended, although if you're not using Vista and don't ever plan to, 512MB may be enough. Of course, RAM is so cheap, it's silly to skimp.
 
 
 
The new power supply is recommended because of the fact that most current day motherboards are 24pin, whilst most older power supplies are 20pin. Whilst adapters are available, it's wise to play it safe and get a brand new quality power supply anyway.
 
The new power supply is recommended because of the fact that most current day motherboards are 24pin, whilst most older power supplies are 20pin. Whilst adapters are available, it's wise to play it safe and get a brand new quality power supply anyway.
 
 
If the machine you're upgrading still uses a BabyAT power supply, chances are it's past being upgradable (the rest of the system would be ancient), and you'll be looking at a completely new machine.
 
If the machine you're upgrading still uses a BabyAT power supply, chances are it's past being upgradable (the rest of the system would be ancient), and you'll be looking at a completely new machine.
 
 
==== Basic Intel ====
 
==== Basic Intel ====
 
{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left; border: 1px solid #999; background-color:#FFFFFF"
 
{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left; border: 1px solid #999; background-color:#FFFFFF"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
!Part
 
!Part
!Model  
+
!Model
 
!Price
 
!Price
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! CPU
 
! CPU
| [http://www.intel.com/products/processor/celeron/index.htm Intel Celeron 420] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Celeron+420 48]
+
| [http://www.intel.com/products/processor/celeron/index.htm Intel Celeron 420] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=Celeron+420 39]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Motherboard
 
! Motherboard
| [http://au.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=502&l4=0&model=1682&modelmenu=1 Asus P5S-MX-SE] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=P5S-MX 58]
+
| [http://au.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=502&l4=0&model=1682&modelmenu=1 Asus P5S-MX-SE] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=P5S-MX 55]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! RAM
 
! RAM
| 1GB Corsair DDR2-667 kit || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=1GB+Corsair+667+kit 42]
+
| 1GB Brand-name DDR2-667 || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=1GB+DDR2 21]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Hard Drive
 
! Hard Drive
Line 87: Line 81:
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Power Supply
 
! Power Supply
| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=extreme+430 49]
+
| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=extreme+430 50]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Cooling
 
! Cooling
Line 96: Line 90:
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
! Total Cost
 
! Total Cost
| - || 199 + Postage
+
| - || 165 + Postage
 
|}
 
|}
 
 
Here is an Intel version of the upgrade rig, for those who prefer Intel's products. If you want to use some spare DDR1 RAM you have lying around, the Abit IP-95 is about $10 more expensive.
 
Here is an Intel version of the upgrade rig, for those who prefer Intel's products. If you want to use some spare DDR1 RAM you have lying around, the Abit IP-95 is about $10 more expensive.
 
==== Upgrader Intel, AGP/DDR1 ====
 
{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left; border: 1px solid #999; background-color:#FFFFFF"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
!Part
 
!Model
 
!Price
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! CPU
 
| [http://www.intel.com/products/processor/pentium_dual-core/index.htm Intel Pentium Dual Core E2140] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=E2140 79]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Motherboard
 
| [http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=4CoreDual-VSTA&s=775 ASRock 4CoreDual-VSTA] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=4CoreDual-VSTA 76]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! RAM
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Hard Drive
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Optical Drive
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Graphics Card
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Case
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Power Supply
 
| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=extreme+430 49]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Cooling
 
| - || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Additional
 
| - || -
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
! Total Cost
 
| - || 204 + Postage
 
|}
 
 
The big advantage of this board is that it can run AGP and PCIe video cards, and DDR1/DDR2 RAM, it's the ultimate upgrader board, can even support the latest quad-core CPUs. :)
 
 
==== Gamer Intel ====
 
{| class="wikitable" border="0" style="text-align:left; border: 1px solid #999; background-color:#FFFFFF"
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
!Part
 
!Model
 
!Price
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! CPU
 
| [http://www.intel.com/products/processor/pentium_dual-core/index.htm Intel Pentium Dual Core E2140] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=E2140 79]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Motherboard
 
| [http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2616 Gigabyte P31-S3L] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=P31-S3L 99]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! RAM
 
| 2GB Kingston DDR2-667 || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=2GB+DDR2+Kingston+667 60]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Hard Drive
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Optical Drive
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Graphics Card
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Case
 
| Carry over from previous machine || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Power Supply
 
| [http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-430-PCAR/P&other_title=+RS-430-PCAR%2FP+eXtreme%20Power%20430W 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power] || [http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=extreme+430 49]
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Cooling
 
| - || -
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! Additional
 
| - || -
 
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 
! Total Cost
 
| - || 287 + Postage
 
|}
 

Latest revision as of 13:11, 12 February 2009

Essentially all of these upgrade kits are going to be fairly basic, in the budget of $200-250. The first two machines are for people who want a basic cheap upgrade, the third is intended for someone who has DDR1 and an AGP video card lying around they'd wish to retain, although with DDR2 at current prices, it could be argued it's not worthwhile.

[edit] Basic AMD

Part Model Price
CPU AMD Sempron LE-1100 34
Motherboard Abit NF-M2SV 51
RAM 1GB Brand-name DDR2-667 20
Hard Drive Carry over from previous machine -
Optical Drive Carry over from previous machine -
Graphics Card Onboard from motherboard -
Sound Card Onboard from motherboard -
Case Carry over from previous machine -
Power Supply 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power 50
Cooling - -
Additional - -
Total Cost - 155 + Postage

I'm assuming that the buyer will carry over their hard drive and optical drive. If you wish to purchase new drives as well, you may be better off with the complete systems on the Workstation page. Remember that freight charges from different stores will add up - this defeats the purpose of finding the cheapest price from several stores, rather than just one. The board features onboard video and onboard everything else which removes the need for a graphics card (which is expensive and unnecessary). If you require AGP graphics support, you could purchase the MSI K9MM-V for similar. The new power supply is recommended because of the fact that most current day motherboards are 24pin, whilst most older power supplies are 20pin. Whilst adapters are available, it's wise to play it safe and get a brand new quality power supply anyway. If the machine you're upgrading still uses a BabyAT power supply, chances are it's past being upgradable (the rest of the system would be ancient), and you'll be looking at a completely new machine.

[edit] Basic Intel

Part Model Price
CPU Intel Celeron 420 39
Motherboard Asus P5S-MX-SE 55
RAM 1GB Brand-name DDR2-667 21
Hard Drive Carry over from previous machine -
Optical Drive Carry over from previous machine -
Graphics Card Onboard from motherboard -
Sound Card Onboard from motherboard -
Case Carry over from previous machine -
Power Supply 430W Coolermaster Extreme Power 50
Cooling - -
Additional - -
Total Cost - 165 + Postage

Here is an Intel version of the upgrade rig, for those who prefer Intel's products. If you want to use some spare DDR1 RAM you have lying around, the Abit IP-95 is about $10 more expensive.