Choices - Choices! Need Opinions!

[HuddaDudda]

OK Here is my problem, I cant make a decision to save my life. I am trying to figure out if I should go AGP - which possibly will be outdated by the middle of next year or PCIe - although it costs more and has no performace gains just to not be outdated. I have a computer now with monitor and everything so I will just be upgrading CPU, Memory, Motherboard and Video Card.

Here are my questions:

Should I go all out then if I am spending $699 on a ATI PCIe Video card and spend the money on a FX-55?

Is the FX-55 just overkill and should I just save my money and buy a 4000+ or even something smaller?

What results can I expect when overclocking on a 4000+ and FX-55?

Intel or AMD? The top Intel 3.6 is MUCH cheaper then the top AMDs and performace wise just a tad under. I mean come on we're talking seconds and a few frame rates! I can get an Intel with a PCIe and save too!

For video cards ATI PCIe X800xt was what I was going to go with regardless of AMD or Intel. But if I go AGP then of course the AGP not PCIe. Also I figure memory is close to the same in HighEnd with PQI for the DDR400 3200 (unless there is something better?)

Any help/suggestions would be helpful! I am getting so confused what I should get. I use this machine for gaming, business and videos. Its my main "bad boy" - right now I am running a 3.2 P4 - with a Radeon 9700 Pro, 4 400GB Hitachi HDD and 1GB XMS Memory on an Asus PC8400E Motherboard.

 

[LordPhoenix]

No. Do not spend $699 on an ATI PCI-e card.
FX-55 is overkill.
Not much difference. Just get the cheaper A64 like 3500+. You will BARELY see the difference.
6800GT!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rcomo]

Go with AMD. It is (at least clear to me) that you are looking for a gaming rig and right now AMD is just slapping intel around. Get a 3500+, that is the best price/performance combo right now.

As far as PCI-E, I say stay away; AGP is at the top of its game, and whatever you buy RIGHT NOW, you will have to upgrade in a year and a half (depending on what kind of performance you can tolerate). This includes PCI-E as well, so why would you spend more to have a little less performance when it will last you the same amount of time?

I am sure someone here will have a different opinion, but this is mine. If I were buying a system right now (which in fact, I am and did, this is what I would get:

Coolermaster CM Stacker Case $141
MSI Neo2 Plat 939 $149
AMD Winchester 939 3500+ $298

I have a BFG 6800 Ultra Vid Card, this upgrade will put me at the top of benchies for at least 6 mo and will last me at least (depending on whether or not the Source engine last quite awhile) about 2 years. IMHO.

 

[SrGuapo]

I think that any of the super high end CPUs (FX-55, P4 3.4 EE, etc.) are probbly overkill. On newegg, the FX-55 codts $850 and the P4 3.4 EE is just under $1000! I would go with a CPU like a A64 3500+ ($250 to $300 depending on core). It is anout a thrd the price and still comparable in performance. The 3500+ supposedly is a great overclocker as well.

Also, I would go with the absolute top-of-the-line Graphics card either. I would go with PCI-e for future upgrades, but buy a geForce 6800 GT or less for now. By the time games are going to be needing a 6800 Ultra or an X800 XT Platinum, they will only cost a couple hundred dollars, and you may come out ahead i the long run anyway...

BTW - Your system is prety good ATM (hell of alot better than mine). The only thing I might change is the graphics, but that is still pretty decent.

Edit: I knew I typed too slow...

 

[rcomo]

Originally posted by: SrGuapo


Edit: I knew I typed too slow...

lol

 

[HuddaDudda]

Thanks for the input - keep em coming everyone. Seems like the concenus is AMD 3500+ and a NVidia - But the tests I have seen all say the ATI X800XT with 256 is the bomb ATM. If I am going to save on the CPU should I spluge on the Video Card? What iAMD 3500+ core should I be getting and what can I expect to OC it to?

- My current setup will be tossed into a HTPC Thats why the upgrade.

 

[rcomo]

Get the Winchester (It is about $300) and it is one of the best overclockers on the market. get the MSI Neo2 Plat 939 board with that ($149) and for the vid card get a BFG 6800 GT ($399) (Its overclocked out of the box and comes with a lifetime warranty).

Go to these sites to order:

www.zipzoomfly.com (because newegg is out of stock on the winchester and MSI)
www.chumbo.com (direct seller for BFG)

 

[rcomo]

Originally posted by: HuddaDudda
But the tests I have seen all say the ATI X800XT with 256 is the bomb ATM.

Well, the x800 xt beats the Ultra but not by a huge amount; the thing is, nVidia has sm3.0 support into the card and when developers support that, it will definately have a huge advantage over ATIs line out right now.

 

[HuddaDudda]

BFG Technologies GeForce 6800 Ultra OC 256MB AGP Graphics Card ????

I also have had A TON OF ISSUES WITH MSI BOARDS! I really dont like them or Soyo. My ASUS ATM is great and solid. Should I really go MSI? Its like biting off your own arm, Im not kidding I had a ton of issues with MSI.

What kind of Overclock you getting on your 3500+?

 

[rcomo]

Originally posted by: HuddaDudda
BFG Technologies GeForce 6800 Ultra OC 256MB AGP Graphics Card ????

That is the top of the line. I would get hte BFG 6800 GT if I were you, save yourself $100 (there's not alot of FPS difference right now between the two cards in benchies).

 

[rammstein junkie]

is you dont like msi get the asus a8v rev 2

 

[HuddaDudda]

bunp

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

IF you are going ATI go with AGP as the only reason to go PCI-E right now is SLI which ATI does not have. I would get the 6800GT over the Ultra too as there is little difference between the GT and Ultra. Most GT's can be OCed to Ultra speeds anyways.

 

[HuddaDudda]

So go AMD - 6800GT and that will be an improvement over what I have? (radeon 9700 pro and 3.2Ghz P4 w XMS Memory and Asus Mobo) - I was thinking TOP END stuff. Seems like its a waste of money though from what everyone has said.

 

[rcomo]

That is top end stuff. What are you looking for? I mean, your current equip is not obsolete, youe not going to bu anything that would make it seem like that.TextText

 

[SchrodingersDog]

Just get the 6800GT and your 3.2P4 and 1G RAM will be fine for quite some time. You really don't need to make a move on any other part of the system for another year or so. Take the money you save not getting a new cpu and treat yourself to a nights worth of your drug of choice and a redheaded hooker.

 

[PVD]

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
Just get the 6800GT and your 3.2P4 and 1G RAM will be fine for quite some time. You really don't need to make a move on any other part of the system for another year or so. Take the money you save not getting a new cpu and treat yourself to a nights worth of your drug of choice and a redheaded hooker.

 

[ts3433]

Just get a 6800 GT AGP right now. You'll be set for quite a while. Hell, that would even last you a CPU upgrade if you went to NF3 S939 or S754 (3400+ or 3700+) on the cheap later on.

 

[stevty2889]

Already having a 3.2ghz P4, you would be better off to just get the 6800GT, otherwise you would be spending a whole lot of money, for only a slight improvement buy putting together a whole new PC. And go to 1 gig of ram, if you don't have that much already. Anything more than that, is pretty much a waste.

 

[HuddaDudda]

PVD - Were you going to say something?

Thanks for everyones advise and help confusing me even more. Now what I am hearing is not to upgrade at all. Maybe the videocard. I am only upgrading since I am going to toss this hardware in a HTPC - so that was the reason w the changes. So maybe the AMD 3500+ and GT Video card? Yeah or Nay? Or ballz out?

 

[loafbred]

I think you would be very pleased with only the video upgrade, and only a little happier with the rest. If you really have the itch to upgrade everything, and can afford it without making sacrifices, there is the advantage that your current parts will still sell for a decent price. I would be inclined to buy a 6800 GT, sell your 9700 PRO, then maybe sell the complete PC and get a PCI-E (maybe with SLI) setup in the near future.

 

[loafbred]

Originally posted by: HuddaDudda
I am only upgrading since I am going to toss this hardware in a HTPC - so that was the reason w the changes. So maybe the AMD 3500+ and GT Video card? Yeah or Nay? Or ballz out?

Now that I see you're keeping your P4 stuff, I'll just say that I like to upgrade fairly often, and I seldom pay more than $300 for a cpu or a video card. I think that usually works best, but certainly not always.

The main reason I would want to buy a PCI-E video card now, is so that I could get another of the same for SLI later.