ok, i have spent up some cash and i'm confused on what to get. I'm still a student and can't buy that much hardware for my pc.
What should I get?
>19" AOC Widescreen flat LCD
>A new Hard Drive (80gigs)
>Additional RAM (1gig stick to make it 1.5gigs)
>A new video card (thinking of the NVIDIA GeForce 7300GS AGP)

Or you could advice me on what to buy,... my pc specs are given...
I appreciate it if anyone would like to help me. thanks!!!!

Ummm.. you alread have a gig of RAM-- another gig would be great though. and that would max your system-- so you'd never have to buy it again... for this PC anyway

You could add a second Harddrive-- maybe move your primary install to the larger new one-- use the old one for backups/music storage

The Video card...I would keep the one you have-- the reason being that Motherboard only supports up to AGP 4X-- (The higher standard is 8X) so spending a lot on a video card won't gain much-- it's the interface built into the board. Even 8X is considered obsolete.
PCI express is the new format. Requires a motherboard/chip/ram/videocard upgrade

The Monitor-- I would suggest checking your video card specs to see if it can handle a wide-screen monitor-- they use odd resolutions-- which may not be supported by the card

Save your money and change out the Motherboard /Processor/Ram/Video card later on-- upgrade to PCI express. This will require backup of all your personal stuff and reinstallation of Operating Systems (why I suggested the second harddrive)
You will also be able to buy them as a "combo" package-- saving some cash-- and a bit of time for installation .Out of box-into computer-- hook up the "main" drive + Power Supply Unit-- start installing Windows. Then hook up your backup drive-- and you still have all your stuff.

Thanks a lot. I was thinking of that too. Getting a new Hard Drive and adding more Ram would beef up my system much more than it is now.

I think the 9550 series can handle resolutions of widescreen lcds. Well, I was thinking of doing a complete reinstall when i get a new hard drive cause my old HDD does not operate at 7200rpm.

I'm gonna get a new HDD and add more ram.

If you have more suggestions pls. post them. I really appreciate your help. thanks again ih8bills.

I Just be aware when you buy the card-- that it won't be a huge performance increase-- just be able to handle the resolutions you need for that wide screen.
The Video interface on that Motherboard is just too slow-- there are ways to tweak settings to get the most you can out of it-- but it will never be a gaming console.
It 'll be fine for websurfing etc.

Thanks. Is there anything else you would like to recommend me on what to buy?

I can't think of anything at this time...save the rest of your money to get started towards that upgrade at a later date --is what I'd do.


It makes sense to keep what you have for now... and get a bit more RAM /harddrive/Video card (if you wish)-- and save to make the leap from AGP 4X -- to PCI express a little later on.
AGP was first introduced in 1997-- so it is 11 years old now-- PCI express (2004) blows it away for performance.


Accelerated Graphics Port - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

PCI Express - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia




That way you won't be killing yourself financially-- trying to hang on to obsolete gear. You will be stretching the older stuff's usabilty now ...to save more later on.

That's actually what I'm doing I have an AGP 8X Motherboard-- but a decent one-- and a "fair" video card--so I'm waiting just a little bit. It meets my needs for now.


By that time a lot of the great PCI express cards out now will have "matured"-- and gotten cheaper-- say a year or 2?

You could even get a whole new tower assembly-- including the case-- unless you really like your current one (we did not discuss cases).
Because in order to upgrade Motherboard/RAM/Processor/Video card-- you will be essentially gutting your PC --and starting over anyway.

Thanks. ^^