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Advice for gaming

Go for the 400W fortorn, it's enough power and you're strapped for cash so why not.

I'd go with option 1, but see if you can't find some secondhand RAM to save a few $ for a better graphics card, the ATI range might give you more power in that price range too.
 
Well I would definately suggest adding more memory to your system. I agree with Bobthelost, see if you can save a little cash on the mem or PSU and then put that towards your GPU purchase. You are going to see a pretty good performance increase with pretty much any video card from the last 2 generations over your 9200
 
All I want is to be able to run DoD:s and HL2 with AA and AF. Settings im not sure about, since I have never experienced anywhere close to high end gaming.
 
You should be able to play HL2 fine but most likey not at the highest settings with choice number 1.
 
I have another suggestion

Sapphire ATI X850XT OEM ($190)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102483

Fortron 400W ($40)
well, too lazy to get the link for this one...

G.Skill 1GB (2*512 mb) DDR400 Kit ($68)-if you haven't heard of the brand before, it's a good and reliable brand-I think Anandtech reviewed their RAM before
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231027

These 3 items will give you all the gaming power you need...if you don't feel like springing so much on a graphics card, you can get an ATI x800GTO^2 and OC it to X850XT levels. However, this config as it is will let you play all the latest games very high fps (except maybe FEAR). The X850XT is MUCH MUCH more powerful than a 6600GT.
 
Originally posted by: 996GT2
I have another suggestion

Sapphire ATI X850XT OEM ($190)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102483

Fortron 400W ($40)
well, too lazy to get the link for this one...

G.Skill 1GB (2*512 mb) DDR400 Kit ($68)-if you haven't heard of the brand before, it's a good and reliable brand-I think Anandtech reviewed their RAM before
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231027

These 3 items will give you all the gaming power you need...if you don't feel like springing so much on a graphics card, you can get an ATI x800GTO^2 and OC it to X850XT levels. However, this config as it is will let you play all the latest games very high fps (except maybe FEAR). The X850XT is MUCH MUCH more powerful than a 6600GT.
Click to expand...


He's AGP
 
Ideally, you'd want to find some extra $$$ so you can upgrade both the memory and video. Combine 1GB DDR and a 6800GS with your current hardware and you'll have a decent gaming machine on your hands. Unfortunately, you will want to upgrade the PSU... which is your additional cost. 🙁
 
While upgrading the memory is very important, the performance gained going to the 6800GS vs. a 6600GT is just to high to ignore, specailly if he unlocks the pipes on it and clocks it to GT or Ultra Levels. I say Get the 6800GS and the memory and then see how well it works with your PSU.
 
Leave the psu and just buy the memory (most important these days) and the 6800GS (or equivelent ati card). Sure there's a chance it won't work with your weaker psu but for all those people claiming you need at least a top end 450W psu to do anything theres another two running high end graphics just fine with a cheap and nasty 300W one.
 
Since your staying AGP, I would spend the monies on the GPU, and then memory if I had any left. I think your PSU will be fine in the real world, but this would not be known for sure until your fire the beast up.

I noticed no difference in gaming going from 1GB to 2Gb other then my games seem to load a little quicker. FPS didn't change any.
 
Well guys I went with these componants :

Sapphire X1600PRO $125

OCZ 512MB DDR333 (2x256) $42

Fortron Source 400w $40

I came in way under budget which is good 😛 Decided to go with a more rounded aproach then to have my system lopsided. Figure it would be better all around with these choices. I chose the X1600PRO because of it's 12 pipes and it's price. It should equal the performance of a 6600GT if not better because of more ram (altho RAM a tad slower). RAM was a definate need, not just gaming wise (load times) but also in other applications. Just look at my PSU's 12v rail and nothing more needs to be said about it. Anyways, I did have a bad experience with Sapphire card before (an X700) but I think that was because of my PSU (also had a tv tuner and X-FI card in). I hope everything is on the up and up now. Thanks to everyone's input. Any comments are welcomed 🙂
 
OMG hallelujah, you finally bought a card! :laugh: After twenty zillion threads on that topic, you've done it! 😛

Seriously though, looks like some good choices, though those four 256 MB dimms are going to be very hard to sell for anything decent later on...
I woulda went with a single 1 GB dimm, & sold the 2x 256 MB, so you can add another 1 GB dimm later on.
Yeah i know you'd lose dual channel till you got the second dimm, but that's not the end of the world...
 
Originally posted by: n7
OMG hallelujah, you finally bought a card! :laugh: After twenty zillion threads on that topic, you've done it! 😛

Seriously though, looks like some good choices, though those four 256 MB dimms are going to be very hard to sell for anything decent later on...
I woulda went with a single 1 GB dimm, & sold the 2x 256 MB, so you can add another 1 GB dimm later on.
Yeah i know you'd lose dual channel till you got the second dimm, but that's not the end of the world...
Click to expand...


LOL LMFAO! Yes yes, it's true.....I finally made the leap. Altho cash has been my downfall. As soon as it was available, I took it. As for those 4 dimms being populated, I'm not going to do anymore upgrades to this system, if I can't sell it for what I want I'll just keep it as a backup. I'll be looking at M2 or whatever Intel has to offer next. I do want to say thanks for all the support this forum has been. Aside from the occasianal flame, it's been great reading threads from many smart people. Learned so much I have in just a few months. Well now that the Video forum has had my fiasco over VC's I guess General Hardware is in for some love too 😛
 
Get 6800GS and 2x512mb ram.

512mb of ram is $30 ==> 512 Mushkin PC3200 2-3-3

If the power supply starts acting up you can always get Sparkle 350 for $29.99 or this Thermaltake 430W for 29.99 LINK

Also if you need to save a bit more, you can get 1 gig of PC3200 for $50. But it means 10% loss in performance for P4 without dual channel and $90 in MIR => LINK Although 2 gigs for $100 sounds nice 🙂
 
Originally posted by: LW07
He already got a video card. Thermaltake PSUs are crappy, BTW.
Click to expand...

Oh well didnt read his post above. Yes I know thermaltake isnt the best but it's better than Rosewill. I dont like that X1600Pro though.
 
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