I'm trying to figure out what to do to get a faster computer, 1) Upgrade my cpu to 1.1 GHZ (MAX), 2) Buy A New Motherboard, and Maybe Make My Own Computer, or 3) Buy A Barebone system, around 200 dollars (I've found some 2.6 GHZ Celeron computers, and motherboards that are decent. If you were on a low budget, but had a need for speed, what would you do?

I'd buy the barbones and build as my budget allowed.

Build your own. I am in the process of this now same thing for me champagne tastes and beer money. So far it's great I can build a monster comp a little at a time still gonna cost in the end but you'll have what you want. This is good if your not in a serious hurry. Most in here have suggested and I have found myself that an off the shelf comp doesn't leave you all that much for upgradability later. This is just my opinion though it all really depends on your needs. Can you afford a little at a time? Do you have time? Just seems to me the way to go. Helps to do some research to.

Well, as usual, I'm not the best person to answer this, but I'll try and tide you over until someone who is more knowledgeable chimes in. What I have found is that when upgrading a cpu, in a brand name system, is that the max processor speed allowed will usually not be that faster than the original processor. And, I don't think most people can really notice the difference between a few tenths of ghz. The speed that your system operates on will depend on many of the different components. CPU, RAM, hard drive, graphics and audio devices, media drives, chipset (mobo), etc. I would think that, within reason, the most speed improving upgrade would be the cpu in conjunction with ram. But, the motherboard governs the use of those, and your system can only access info as fast as your hard drive can deliver it, and so on... I'm on a 1.2g athlon right now, and if I was in your position, I would either buy a new comp or build one, rather than just upgrade the cpu. Barebones systems are deals, but you have to first decide what you want. I find it more cost effective to decide which aspects of a system I want to spend the most money on, and which I care less about. That way, I save money by not spending it on features that are less useful, for me. I would just start reading a lot. There is a really decent magazine called Maximum PC that always has tips on building, reviews, and product tests. Researching will give you knowledge of your own and if you F up, at least you learn from your own mistakes, and not from the bad reccomendations of others. Over all, considering you are on a budget, I would set my budget to an exact dollar amount, and start shopping. see what you come up with. Then adjust either your budget or your appetite for speed accordingly. Check out newegg.com for starters. They have decent prices and each product description has a place for purchaser reviews, which helped me a lot. Good luck, Red.

No insults intended, while I was typing that long-winded thing a couple people answered you. So, I didn't need to tide you over after all. Red.

I think I'm gonna build a new computer, but where should I start? Should I buy the case first, or should I get the motherboard, then the case? I'm lookin at stuff on pricewatch.com, and they have motherboard combos that are fairly cheap.

I've been upgrading my computer ever since I've had it, but nowadays the upgrades aren't that fascanating. I want more RAM, CPU speed, and better features than my HP Pavilion XE749, which limited me to 512 MB of RAM, and 766(up to 1.1 GHz) CPU, only has 3 PCI, NO AGP, 2 USB, CD-RW, and 4MB Integrated Video (Which I Upgraded To 64MB, GeForce4 MX420). But yea, I guess building a computer for myself sounds fun. Might take a while though, but my system now can stand strong for a bit.