Best CPU/mobo which uses PC3200 DDR + 8x AGP?

[iluvdeal]

I'd like to do a minor upgrade of my system where I don't have to change eveything. What's the best CPU and motherboard out there right now so I can reuse my PC3200 (DDR400) memory and 8X AGP video card?

Thanks for any help guys!

 

[lobbyone]

A 939 mobo + A64/Opteron Cpu :thumbsup:

 

[Juno]

either socket 754 or 939 will do.

 

[DaveSimmons]

What will you be using this for, what is the AGP card, and what is your current CPU?

Even a single core 3200+ - 3500+ is good enough to max out most AGP cards for gaming, so the upgrade might be pointless.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: lobbyone
A 939 mobo + A64/Opteron Cpu :thumbsup:

Simple answer ....
Agreed. This will give you the absolute best possible perfomance with AGP and DDR.
Socket 939 is better than 754 because you can use a dual core CPU.



More Complex answer ...
Dave Simmons did ask a good question though.
Perhaps it's just a waste of money to do a "minor" upgrade now, and it might be better to hold off until you have the budget to buy a new video card and get PCI Express. Or wait even a bit longer and have money for some new ram as well ....

I upgraded in the summer, and my decision was to go with an nforce 4 board, an athlon x2 4200+, and an x1800xt, and I just used my 2GB of PC3200 DDR ram.



What AGP video card do you have already that you are not ready to replace? (Perhaps it would make more sense to buy a better AGP video card and stick with the same CPU+Mobo???)
Also, what CPU do you have currently?
How much RAM do you have currently? (Perhaps it would make more sense to add more ram than it would to replace the CPU and Mobo???)

Also, it's good to know what you use the PC for.
Do you play games?
What games do you play?
What resolution do you currently game at?

etc etc etc ....

 

[Skitzer]

Look around and see if you can find a used ASRock 939Dual Sata2
Or this one Link
Will allow you to upgrade to a PCIe card later.

 

[vailr]

I'd recommend an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU.
Fry's has a combo deal with the new Intel 4300 CPU and an ECS VIA chip motherboard for $149.
Or, the ASRock Dual-VSTA board would be a better choice, if you're buying separate components.

 

[iluvdeal]

Thanks for all the ideas.

I currently have a pretty old Pentium 4 1.8Ghz, 512MB memory, and a Radeon 9700 Pro AGP video card. The latter two I'd like to carry over.

Part of the reason I was prompted to upgrade is I just got a 24" LCD, I've noticed some video files stutter occassionaly, especially when I have alot stuff going on in the background which is most of the time (ex. bittorrent). I downloaded some HD videos from Microsoft's site and they stutter really bad. I don't plan on doing alot of gaming with this system so it doesn't have to be blazing fast, just looking to squeeze some more life out of my current components.

Any thoughts on the Intel E4300 CPU and ECS P4M800Pro-M V2 motherboard? It's on sale at Fry's right now for $150. Looks like it takes DDR and has 8X AGP.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: iluvdeal
Thanks for all the ideas.

I currently have a pretty old Pentium 4 1.8Ghz, 512MB memory, and a Radeon 9700 Pro AGP video card. The latter two I'd like to carry over.

Part of the reason I was prompted to upgrade is I just got a 24" LCD, I've noticed some video files stutter occassionaly, especially when I have alot stuff going on in the background which is most of the time (ex. bittorrent). I downloaded some HD videos from Microsoft's site and they stutter really bad. I don't plan on doing alot of gaming with this system so it doesn't have to be blazing fast, just looking to squeeze some more life out of my current components.

Any thoughts on the Intel E4300 CPU and ECS P4M800Pro-M V2 motherboard? It's on sale at Fry's right now for $150. Looks like it takes DDR and has 8X AGP.

Ahh ...
I wasn't aware of that E4300 Deal (nor was I aware that there were ANY mobo's that supported E4300 that used AGP and DDR.)

After reading over Anandtech's E4300 Review, I'd say that $150 as a very good deal for the mobo+cpu. Also, if you have the cash, it would be very wise to add another 512mb of ram.

 

[vailr]

Originally posted by: iluvdeal

Any thoughts on the Intel E4300 CPU and ECS P4M800Pro-M V2 motherboard? It's on sale at Fry's right now for $150. Looks like it takes DDR and has 8X AGP.

Just be aware that Fry's made an error in offering this combo. The board supports the 4300 CPU only after a bios update. So, you may need to borrow an older model socket 775 CPU, update the bios, then install the 4300 CPU.

 

[engiNURD]

The AsRock 775Dual-VSTA would be a better choice over the ECS board. I'd still buy the E4300 from Fry's, then get the AsRock board, lol, since the retail version of the E4300 is $180 at the egg.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2810
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2813
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2814

Summary: DDR400 is fine for now, it won't slow performance. The PCI-E 4x slot only slows down high performance cards by about 10%, which isn't much.

I'd say that would be the best combo for your. If you want the cheapest combo... an AX2 3800+ and an nF 570 Ultra (or GF6150/6100) board would be your best option.