About to upgrade, but need some input

[Capitalist]

So I am about to upgrade and am looking at spending $500 pre-tax. This is just the mobo, cpu, video card. I game and do a little video editing, so the P4 2.40B with the ECS mobo is just not cutting it anymore. The video card needs to be able to run games @ 1600X1200, I could care less about the eye candy.

A64 3200+ Winnie - $190
A8N-SLI - $160
6600GT Refurb (haven't picked the brand)- $150ish

Rationale = I will probably run stock cooling for a month, then overclock a bit. 1-2 months out I can add another 6600GT. If I am remebering reviews of 2X6600GT vs 6800GT, FPS @1600X1200 w/ no eye candy was roughly the same.

Anyway, let me know, I want to make the purchase by 5/4/05, so I can piece this together on friday.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Seems pretty good.
Overall it's pretty solid.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Welcome to AT.

You'll have to get a pretty serious powersupply to run SLI if you don't have one already. You should take that into consideration when figuring the price of an SLI system.

I think if you could stretch your budget to fit an X800XL instead of the 6600gt you'd have a nicer system for now, it would cost less in the end than your SLI system, and you'd get close to the 6600gt SLI performance.

 

[Capitalist]

I realize that power supply will be an issue. I will be using a Powmax 420. I know it is very budget, but I am just going to wait for Fry's to have the Antec True Power for $50AR again.

So are you suggesting that I perhaps not get the SLI version of the board and go with the X800XL?

Got to love the typo in the title "This is what I was thing..."

 

[Warlock3]

You'll also need some ram with that mobo unless your alreqady running PC3200.I have the A8N SLI deluxe and love it so far.If your on a $500 budget,I'd stay clear of the SLI.Most of the N4 boards will run the same as the other one.I'm a big ATI fan myself,but went with the nvidia 6800 GT for this system.Good luck which ever road you take bro.....

 

[Capitalist]

I have all the other parts for this system (ram, hdd, etc.) I don't think I can pull the 6800GT off ($), that's why I was aiming for the ability to upgrade with SLI. More input please.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I think the PCI-e X800XL is a great deal at well under $300.

benchmarks

SLI benchmarks

 

[Capitalist]

So here would be the new line-up

A64 3200+ Winnie - $190

ATI X800XL - $299

ASUS A8N-E - $132

Total $620...

Is there anywhere else I can trim some $?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Capitalist
So here would be the new line-up

A64 3200+ Winnie - $190

ATI X800XL - $299

ASUS A8N-E - $132

Total $620...

Is there anywhere else I can trim some $?

You can get a cheaper NF4 (chaintech)

Also, you could get a cheaper x800xl

 

[Capitalist]

Revised Lineup:

So here would be the new line-up

A64 3200+ Winnie - $190

ATI X800XL - $269

Chaintech VNF4/Ultra - $84

Total - $543

Looks better, I am trying to see the difference between the the Chaintech and the Asus, all I can see at first glance is the lack of firewire and cooling on the north/southbridge. How does this board overclock? And the Rosewill card, it looks like the ATI reference design, how does it overclock?

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: Capitalist
Revised Lineup:

So here would be the new line-up

A64 3200+ Winnie - $190

ATI X800XL - $269

Chaintech VNF4/Ultra - $84

Total - $543

Looks better, I am trying to see the difference between the the Chaintech and the Asus, all I can see at first glance is the lack of firewire and cooling on the north/southbridge. How does this board overclock? And the Rosewill card, it looks like the ATI reference design, how does it overclock?

Lack of active cooling on the chipset will affect your ability to OC. Nevertheless, that's a very nice ~500 upgrade you've got there.

 

[cpush]

That picture is old, the new chaintech's ship with active cooling on the chipset

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: cpush
That picture is old, the new chaintech's ship with active cooling on the chipset

This may be true, but make sure before you buy if OCing is important to you.

Edit: Or you could always add a fan yourself.

 

[Capitalist]

So one thing I am seeing concerns me with the chaintech mobo. It supports 266/333/400 ram. I am skeptical about the boards that offer all theses options. I am thinking a board that just offers DDR 400 dual channel...

Edit: Nevermind, I somehow linked to the old version of the board.

 

[Regs]

A chipset fan is an after thought compred to the pricy ram, case, psu, and the brand quality for it to make any difference if any at all.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: Capitalist
So one thing I am seeing concerns me with the chaintech mobo. It supports 266/333/400 ram. I am skeptical about the boards that offer all theses options. I am thinking a board that just offers DDR 400 dual channel...

That's just the way it's marketed. Makes no difference.