2800+ to 4000-5000+ X2, worth it?

[KrillBee]

Here is my current system:

cpu: Athlon 64 2800+
motherboard: nforce3
memory: 1 gb ddr1
video: ATI 9800 Pro AGP

I want to play Crysis, which my PC meets the minimum requirements (just barely), but I want it to play better.

I'm looking to spend $300-350 on a new motherboard, cpu, memory, and video card.

I have this picked out already:

video: 8600gt 256mb ddr3 $109
memory: 2 gb $45

for the cpu I'm thinking about buying a cheap AM2 board for $55, and then finding a good X2 cpu to match.
First off, is AMD the best choice? I'm on a budget, but I'm not sure right now how AMD and Intel match up, I just have always done AMD in the past, because in the past it was cheaper $ per performance.

Then.. what would be a good cpu choice? a 4000+ brisbane is only $65 on newegg, but a 4800+ brisbane is $99, and there are speeds in between.
Then there are the Windsor cores too, how do those compare? I know they take more watts, but that doesnt concern me unless my PC would run a lot more silent with the Brisbane.

Usually I upgrade my gear about every 3 years, so whatever I get I want to be smart in the long run. I'm a light gamer. I play Guildwars, will be playing Crysis, and will probably do Starcraft 2 when that comes out. But I don't need it to be blazing fast, just not horribly slow.

 

[Build it Myself]

AMD vs. Intel, right now Intel is wiping the floor with AMD regarding their lineup...my advice? Go with the Abit IP35-E (like $60 or so) 2 gigs of ram like you mentioned, and an Intel 2160 or 2180, then overclock it to make up for the bad cache. Use whatever you have left to pick up a new graphics card. I think that 8600 got the crap kicked out of it even by AMD's new line...I mean ATI, same thing. that 3870 or whatever they have is running like $180 or so, that might be a little close to your budget (read: OVER) but it's better than buying yesterday's technology.

My system can play Crysis on Very High until you get done with the jungle, then it's Medium'ish, and my system would dominate yours with the 8800GT i've got and 4gigs. My point being that you'd be playing this game on Medium at best and you're pockets would be empty...not fun then with that abit board you can always upgrade to a better processor when dual core becomes old news (probably late 1Q 2008 by the look of things) for pretty cheap.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: KrillBee
I play Guildwars, will be playing Crysis, and will probably do Starcraft 2 when that comes out. But I don't need it to be blazing fast, just not horribly slow.

If you're wanting to play those games, spend more on your video card. Get at least an X1950 Pro, and preferably that $149 HD2900 Pro that newegg is selling. You do realize that you're also most likely going to have to buy a new power supply, don't you?

 

[cubeless]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: KrillBee
I play Guildwars, will be playing Crysis, and will probably do Starcraft 2 when that comes out. But I don't need it to be blazing fast, just not horribly slow.

If you're wanting to play those games, spend more on your video card. Get at least an X1950 Pro, and preferably that $149 HD2900 Pro that newegg is selling. You do realize that you're also most likely going to have to buy a new power supply, don't you?

to play crysis you'll be buying a whole new pc... i'm in the same boat with some agp pc's right now... just don't seem worth upgrading the vid on them, they will still be weak... seems that the buy in to just go ip35/21xx/pcie ends up worth it at this point.

 

[Skott]

I'd have to agree with BIM and say get that IP35-E with a cheap Intel chip and OC it. AMD is cheap but Intel has a better upgrade path currently. You can get a cheap Intel cpu now and overclock it and then later you can swap in a better dual core or even get a quadcore and not have to worry so much about upgrading RAM or mobo. As Myocardia said you may need a better psu too but thats depending on what you have now. If your psu is 400w or better you may not need one now. I dont think the 8600 card isnt going to cut it. Bare minimum I'd say is a 1950Pro until you can afford the nVidia 8800 series or the ATI 3800 series.

 

[j0j081]

depends what resolution hes playing at. according to this site the 8600gt can play UT3 fine at 1280x1024 with a fast enough cpu.

 

[taltamir]

only 3 video cards worth buying right now:
AMD 3850
AMD 3870
nVidia 8800GT

Anything else is either less then half the performance. Or about the same performance for twice the price... (or about 10% faster for 3 times the price for an 8800ultra...)

The intel suggestion is pretty sound. intel is currently whopping amd. Don't even worry about OCing an intel board... its way faster then anything AMD has to offer even without OC, and cooler, and takes less electricity. They are saying OC it because current AMD offers can't OC for shit. While intels OC like crazy (meaning intel has more headroom)...

That being said. I just upgraded to another AMD Chip cause I already own a good AMD board so it makes sense for me to keep my current board and get AMD cpu. otherwise go intel.

 

[j0j081]

so only 3 cards are buying even if you don't have enough money? love it when people say that.

 

[taltamir]

It is simply the reality of the market. Those three cards made everything else obsolete.

If you don't have enough money buy a USED top end card from last year on ebay... Or don't upgrade at all. Buying an 8600GT for 150 when the 3850 is available for 180$ and at least twice the performance is simply a bad decision.

A 7900GS is goes for about 90$ on ebay. (although a new one can still be found for 170+$ on newegg... same as 3850 which more then doubles performance)

 

[j0j081]

maybe but then some people need new power supplies to which adds to the overall cost by quite a bit for a decent one.

 

[taltamir]

those new cards have the lowest power requirement in a long long time...

 

[j0j081]

Originally posted by: taltamir
those new cards have the lowest power requirement in a long long time...

hmm so do you think my friend's hp pc with a 300 watt power supply could run one? I was going to recommend they get an 8800gt but had to say a 8600gt. they aren't experienced enough to put in a new psu themselves and live too far away for me to do it.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: j0j081

Originally posted by: taltamir
those new cards have the lowest power requirement in a long long time...

hmm so do you think my friend's hp pc with a 300 watt power supply could run one? I was going to recommend they get an 8800gt but had to say a 8600gt. they aren't experienced enough to put in a new psu themselves and live too far away for me to do it.

Might be able to use the Radeon 3850, you would have to find out how many amps the 12V rail is rated for and decide from that info.

Regarding the OP:
GA-P35-DS3L + e2180 + 2GB DDR2 + Radeon HD3850 for $395 shipped from Mwave

This will give you a huge boost in performance over your current rig and will make Crysis at least playable, unlike the 8600GT you are considering. Should be able to hit >3GHz easily so you will have enough cpu power for several years.

 

[Skott]

Not 100% sure but isnt nVidia reccommending 400w psu for their GTs? Now thats total system power including the card and they typically reccommend more than actually is needed. 300w? I dunno. If it were me I'd definately want to upgrade that to be safe.

Ideally you want to at least get one of the three cards Taltamir mentioned especially if you want to play Crysis but if they are out of a person's financial reach then you need to get the next best thing. That would be a 1950Pro or a 2900 but you'll game at low quality on some newer games till you can afford better.

 

[taltamir]

the wattage actually is just numbers they are throwing, it is completely meaningless...

Every power supply has the following outputs: 12v, -12v, 5v, -5v, 3.3v, -3.3v

Each one has its own maximum amp rating... You need to add up the amp requirement of all the components on a specific output and see if it is enough...
So for example if you have a DVD rom requiring 2amps of 3.3v, a HDD requiring 4amps of 3.3v, and a video card that requires 6amps of 3.3v then you need a total of 2+4+6 = 12 amps on the 3.3v.

Those numbers are entirely fictitious btw... Rather then start looking up required power on each component and adding up I just buy a 500watt PSU from a good maker and say "good enough". Especially because I can never be sure that they are not short changing me by a bit (which might just bet he amount that will cause failure).

 

[Tempered81]

i have a 4300 oc'd to 3.2ghz on a 60 dollar mobo and i paid 108 for the 4300
like 7 months ago!