Currently I have a relatively new Win7 64-bit laptop which I use for work and gaming, and a pretty old WinXP desktop that I barely ever use nowadays. What I want to do is upgrade the desktop and move my gaming to that so I can devote the laptop to work.
For work I use AutoCAD 2012 and Microstation which basically require a Win7 64-bit setup with (at least) dual cores, and they work just fine on my laptop.
Gaming-wise I want to be able to use my newer Steam games and still use those old games that only ran on WinXP, so I considered doing a dual-boot setup. However, if it?s going to be affordable, I would like to get two small cases; have one for split work/gaming with Win7 64-bit and the other for WinXP. Regardless, I would rather have a smaller case than the monster Antec that I have now.
My problem is, I also want to be able to run console emulators on the WinXP comp, namely Project64 , but I don?t think the old CPU/Mobo/RAM I have can do that.
Current Desktop
CPU ? AMD Athlon 64 3000+
Mobo ? ASUS K8N
Vid Card ? Radeon 9600XT
RAM ? 1 GB DDR
Case ? Antec
I know for the desktop I?m going to have to replace EVERYTHING(except the disk-drives, etc.) but I don?t want a state-of-the-art machine. I would like to have at least a quad-core setup and a nice mobo for easy upgrade potential. I think my budget will have to be up to $700 based on what I can afford.
1) Do you guys have any ideas of what I can get for an upgrade within that budget? I?ve been seriously considering an AMD Phenom II 965, but I?m not sure.
2) Is there a way I can tweak my old Athlon 64 into making a second, ?retro gaming? kind of computer to fit inside the same budget? Or should I just stick with the dual-boot idea on one machine?
Sorry for the long post guys, and thanks!
For work I use AutoCAD 2012 and Microstation which basically require a Win7 64-bit setup with (at least) dual cores, and they work just fine on my laptop.
Gaming-wise I want to be able to use my newer Steam games and still use those old games that only ran on WinXP, so I considered doing a dual-boot setup. However, if it?s going to be affordable, I would like to get two small cases; have one for split work/gaming with Win7 64-bit and the other for WinXP. Regardless, I would rather have a smaller case than the monster Antec that I have now.
My problem is, I also want to be able to run console emulators on the WinXP comp, namely Project64 , but I don?t think the old CPU/Mobo/RAM I have can do that.
Current Desktop
CPU ? AMD Athlon 64 3000+
Mobo ? ASUS K8N
Vid Card ? Radeon 9600XT
RAM ? 1 GB DDR
Case ? Antec
I know for the desktop I?m going to have to replace EVERYTHING(except the disk-drives, etc.) but I don?t want a state-of-the-art machine. I would like to have at least a quad-core setup and a nice mobo for easy upgrade potential. I think my budget will have to be up to $700 based on what I can afford.
1) Do you guys have any ideas of what I can get for an upgrade within that budget? I?ve been seriously considering an AMD Phenom II 965, but I?m not sure.
2) Is there a way I can tweak my old Athlon 64 into making a second, ?retro gaming? kind of computer to fit inside the same budget? Or should I just stick with the dual-boot idea on one machine?
Sorry for the long post guys, and thanks!