CPU or GPU???

[dily]

Here's the setup:

Athlon XP 2100+
2 X 256MB pc2100
MSI K7N2-ILSR
Asus 128MB Ti4200 8X
60 gig Maxtor

I've got $250 (give or take) and need to know what the best route would be... a new CPU and mem (3000+ & 512 pc3200) or a new graphics card (9800 pro?)?

Any suggestions would be helpful to make this box last another good year. Far Cry is playable now but I'm concerned about all the cool titles coming out soon (e.g. Half-life).

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

I would go with the cpu and memory because your 9800pro will probably be hamstrung anyway by the lower cpu speeds. I think your Ti should survive awhile longer

 

[Mik3y]

which 3000+ do you plan on getting? the xp or athlon 64?

 

[dily]

XP... about $145 retail

 

[SickBeast]

Overclock the CPU and buy a 9800PRO.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Originally posted by: dily
XP... about $145 retail

With a nforce 2 board don't get a 3000 get a barton 2500 and overclock to 3200 speeds. I believe the nforce 2 has agp/pci locks. It only costs around 85 bucks!

 

[mechBgon]

If that motherboard allows CPU multiplier adjustment, then maybe another good route would be a mobile 2400+. It uses the 266MHz FSB, so you could add the 512MB of RAM to the 512MB that you have, for 1GB total (yes, it will work fine with 256+256+512). Since mobile AXP's are unlocked, you could leave the memory at its stock clockspeed and bump the multiplier a little (if the board allows it), giving you more CPU MHz without sidelining your existing 512MB of RAM just on the grounds that it's PC2100.

Bigger picture: if you're entertaining a new video card as an option, remember to consider whether your PSU can tow the boat. Some of the new GPUs draw a fairly large amount of power. Since you're new here I'll also recommend getting a quality brand and not a generic or cheapie brand. Enermax, Fortron, Antec, and PC Power & Cooling are brands that are earning good reputations.