Best Upgrade options

[EightySix Four]

I currently have:

Athlon64 3400+ (1mb cache)
MSI K8T NEO
1gb Corsair Ram
Radeon 9700 pro
Assorted HD's

I have someone willing to buy CPU/MOBO/RAM for $500 and I already have $500 locked away for upgrades.

This computer is used mostly for work, with a little bit of play here and there, mainly the Battlefield series and Half-Life 2. If battlefield 2 gets me addicted as Desert Combat did alot of that. Work wise, 3DS Max 7, photoshop, lots of web/graphics design etc.

So with $1000 what upgrades would you recommend, my current 2 ideas are:

(work)
Dual Opteron 242's
Tyan mobo
1gb ram
no other upgrades

or
(play)
3500+
PCI-E mobo
6800gt/Radeon X800 XL
1gb ram

I really want to find something to give me a boost in work or play, but it seems like I'm going to have to make a choice, if anyone has any other suggestions, please post.


BTW: I'm an AMD fanboy, no intel reccomendations

 

[BOLt]

Your play computer looks better, IMO.

 

[imported_asfd]

congrats, being rich is really good.

 

[ComatoseDelirium]

I think your first choice would do well for work, and ok for games, and I think your second choice will do well for work and great for games I don't think the dual opterons will cause a noticable gain in processing speed, AMD 3500, 1 gig Ram, the PCI mobo and the 6800 GT, or Ultra would be a great set up.

 

[EightySix Four]

lol, I worked hard for the cash... I'm only 15. I did about 8 websites for local buisnesses. Saved part of the money from each and found someone who wants to buy those parts.


I was just thinkin that alot of the programs I use can actually take advantage of the dual processing, and when they can't it help me multitask, but whatever wins on the votes is what I'll end up purchasing.

 

[imported_asfd]

aha, a talented dude. I vote for work, wish you become another dell or gates.

 

[imported_brad]

i vote for your play setup.

 

[bluewall21]

The play setup will probably suit you well for both, as ComatoseDelirium said.

 

[EightySix Four]

well since I can already call it based off the general trend, what components do you guys reccomend, I am an ATI person, but if it comes down to it I will purchase nvidia.

 

[EightySix Four]

*bump*

 

[TheGreenGoblin]

Seems like you're going through a lot of trouble for little benefit. More so for the 2nd option. You wouldn't be getting more ram and your cpu would barely be faster. I'd simply use the 500$ you have to upgrade the 9700Pro to a 6800GT and sell the 9700. You wouldn't have to spend anything even close to the 500 , expecially if you factor in the $ you can get back from the 9700 Pro.

Option 1 would give you a boost in your work apps though but might actually be slower in games than what you have now.

I know how the hardware fever upgrade can be , but seems like your current system is not underpowered at all and your proposed upgrades are a lot of work with little return.

I'd simply add some more ram and upgrade the video card on your current pc. The extra ram should help your work apps and the video card upgrade would give you some extra eye candy.

You might want to list your other specs as well. Buying good high end peripherals is always a better value then doing miniscule cpu-ram-mobo upgrades. How's your printer ? or monitor ? or speakers?

 

[ts3433]

I'd go for just upgrading the video card to a 6800 or 6800GT AGP, maybe also 2x1GB RAM if you need it. The 3500+ is usually beaten by the Newcastle 3400+, and I think your Clawhammer would hold up well too, so no point in upgrading that.

 

[EightySix Four]

I'm actually trying to get away from Socket 754, my board won't give me more than 1gb ram without going schizo. I have the money to do some upgrades, and that's a rare thing here , I'm figuring I'll go with a 6800 gt, the 3500 (90nm) as I like to OC and can't with the current one, and the SLI board, for upgrade later options.

I'm pushing towards the play computer also, cuz later this year we will see the dual core's and it gives me a great upgrade path, second GT, and a dual core processor.

 

[Xponential]

I would definitely stay away from the dual CPU upgrade path. The extra $$$ you'll end up spending will not justify any extra performance you'll get, and it doesn't sound like you use that many multi-threaded applications anyway.

 

[EightySix Four]

Alright, my plans are for one of the new Nforce 4 DFI Lanparty boards, a 3500+, a 6800gt, and some ram, someone want to reccomend the ram and 6800gt maker to me?

DFI's press realease on the lanparty's say they're available through their retailers, anyone seen them?