[TRON]

I play a lot of PC games, but I have finally reached the limit of my computer.
I have a 2002 XP Emachines computer with a PCI motherboard.

I updated the graphics card to a Radeon X1300 series sometime in 2004 I think. I still only have 512 ram.

I plan to play good games in the future, I wanna play COD4 but I dont have the minimum requirements. I plan on playing Crysis, but I don't think my computer could handle a Crysis loading screen.

From what I have read on lots of forums, I think I am going to get a PCI Express computer. I hear thats where everything is going.
How much would it cost me to get a regular PCI Express computer, then update the RAM (I'm thinking 2.5 GB) , update the video card (Nvidia 7800, Radeon 1900, or better)
and then a hardrive that can last a while thats not overly priced.

Basically I want a computer that can last me a while. I just want a computer that I can keep updating to keep up with technology and not have to start from scratch every few years. But I dont know that much and it would simplify it a lot if I only had to update the RAM, the video card, and maybe extra hardrive stuff. Any feedback will be better than nothing plz.

[Macmac508]

How much do you want to spend? That will play a big part in what kind of system you get. Its likely that it will be easier to buy a whole new system rather than upgrading every componant!

What kind of budget do you have and we can work from there.

[TRON]

I dont mean to replace every component. I just mean I want a type of computer that I can upgrade along so I dont have to get a new everything every few years.

I don't have the money now, but I expect about an 800-900 dollar budget. Maybe a few hundred more if I wait longer

[Macmac508]

Ok right, look at Carbon's reccomended parts guide here. You could struggle getting something completely 'future-proof' on that budget. You really want an 8800GT for graphics if you want to play the higher spec-ed games you mentioned at playable settings.

Problem is thats $250 down already. Are you able to build this computer yourself, or looking for a custom-made, ready-built PC. You then want a Core2 Duo - maybe the Q6600. I won't go into everything as Carbon's guide covers a lot of it.

I'll have a look on PC Specialist now but browze around the web and you'll find some good sites.

[TRON]

O wow. Looking at that Carbon guy's list you gave me rly helps. I have no problem making the computer myself. I was just never good at finding good parts.

It looks like for a 1000 I can easily get good gameplay on games.