Final AGP upgrade advice.....

[Bric]

I have what I will call a 'community' computer at my house that visitors(nieces, nephews, grandkids, etc) use when they come over. MY other 2 rigs nobody touches but me.

Community computer consists of a P4 3gig Northwood, 1gb ram, Abit IS-7, and a 6600gt. Plays most games well enough but not the newer ones. Was wondering what I could go with as a final AGP upgrade that will get me another 1-2 years before it goes to the recycler?? I could put some more ram in it easy/cheap enough if I had to also, but was really wondering about the video card.

Anybody have any suggestions... x1950, hd3850 ????

Thanks for looking!

Bri

 

[Schadenfroh]

What kind of PSU does it have in it?

 

[TaylorTech]

Best AGP card out, and probably the final one, is the ATI 3850 in AGP. Kinda pricey, but plays newer games solid.

 

[Bric]

PSU is a Sky Hawk 570W Power Supply...about 3 yrs old or so

 

[RussianSensation]

Although you'll be severely CPU limited in the majority of games, I'd still say out of the AGP cards I'd go for the $120 3850

You'll be able to have Free AA/AF in just about every game though

But....You realize you can get a cheap mobo for $40$50, $70 2.0ghz E2180 Allendale and $80 8800GS and $20 2GB of DDR2 800 CL4

Since the mobo supports 1333 FSB, you can take this processor all the way to 3.33ghz (at multiplier of 10) without overclocking the ram or the motherboard

2160 @ 3.0ghz keeps up with the big boys

So for $90 more you get a far more balanced system for next 2 years.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Although you'll be severely CPU limited in the majority of games, I'd still say out of the AGP cards I'd go for the $120 3850

You'll be able to have Free AA/AF in just about every game though

But....You realize you can get a cheap mobo for $40$50, $70 2.0ghz E2180 Allendale and $80 8800GS and $20 2GB of DDR2 800 CL4

Since the mobo supports 1333 FSB, you can take this processor all the way to 3.33ghz (at multiplier of 10) without overclocking the ram or the motherboard

2160 @ 3.0ghz keeps up with the big boys

So for $90 more you get a far more balanced system for next 2 years.

+1

This is the budget build for everyone at this time.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

So for $90 more you get a far more balanced system for next 2 years.

Do not forget new operating system cost (most likely has an OEM license for the existing machine) and the trouble of assembling a new PC rather than just dropping a video card in and installing drivers.

 

[Bric]

Thanks for the suggestions guys!! Now I gotta make a decision..... Wonder why all these newer budget boards are all micro ATX form factor??

One thing that is gonna hold me out from the budget build is only 1 IDE/PATA port. I don't have SATA anything except in MY rigs and probably won't spend the money to re-outfit. Looks like it may just be the 3850 GPU for now. Gonna have to kick this around a little.

Thanks again for the help, you guys are always on top of things!!

Bri