I need advice on what hardware i need to turn my pc into a super gaming machine.

[Excal]

My computer currently has an Asus p4p800 SE motherboard with an intel pentium 4 prescott 3.2 gig CPU, 1024 mb RAM and a
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3802110A 80GB 7200 RPM HD. with the posibility of GTA 4 on the horizon for PC i would like to upgrade my pc to a point where i can get grafix as good as or as close to a PS3 or XBOX360 as i can, (note: my motherboard does not have PCI-E as an option only AGP or PCI) , and i am somewhat of a noob when it comes to pc hardware, can someone tell me what i would need to buy and/or replace whats on my current pc to achive this? any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you very much.

:confused:

[DBS]

look to pick up the ati x1950 pro card for agp. It has 512 megs of ram is is one powerful solution for anyone still using agp.

[Mochan]

To match XBox or 360 grpahics, all you need is a last gen video card like a 7800GTX or an X1950. You don't even need to get them in Sli or Crossfire.

A multicore CPU though is recommended to get a smoother overall game so get an Athlon X2 or a Pentium D.

Then get 2GB of memory and you're set.


To exceed the capabilities of the next gen consoles get a more modern processor and videocard like the Core 2 Duo and an 8800GTX.

Franlkly your current Prescott is still strong enough to keep up with the next gen consoles at the moment. What's your videocard like? Like DBS said just get an X1950 Pro, then double up your RAM and you're good.

[Excal]

My current video card is an old and weak ATI 9250 128mb lol, and my motherboard cant support PCI-E so at some point i will have to get a whole new computer, and the one i got is only 2 years old. i dont know how much i would get trade in value for my CPU and current motherboard, but im sure whatever i could get would be useless anyhow. guess ill probably have to rob a bank or something lol (joking of course) thanks for the suggestions guys.

[Mochan]

My current PC is about 2 years old, when I upgrade I will be getting a new PC altogether as well. This PC doesn't have any more legs in it either -- well it does but I need to find an old X2 processor fitting into Socket 939. Instead of that I might opt to get a new PC altogether.

[DBS]

Dude !
The x1950 pro is AGP in flavor now to support our older gaming machines ! Look for it...from Sapphire. Comes in a 512 meg model for agp. It will give you all the bang for the buck for a good while. More memory is never a bad thing as well..have 1-2 gigs of system memory and a powerful video card and you can best the xbox 360 easily. It doesn't have the system memory or graphic memory to use large textures and load large lands as fast or easily as a pc.

Or...buy an xbox 360 or ps3 and leave pc gaming till you can get what you want in a pc later....

[DBS]

Hell..that is a very weak video card...entry level ...budget 9250. Time to improve that puppy !