How would you upgrade this agp system?

[warpigeon]

specs:

msi neo2 plat
3200+ with xp-90 stock
2x512 ocz el plat rev 2
6800 gt stock
ocz modstream 450w

Let's say a budget of $500. Important note: I run my games at 1280x1024 on an 18" monitor and have no plans on getting a new monitor, I'm happy with 1280x1024. I'm planning on playing games like stalker, crysis, hl2, bioshock etc. I'm sure the current hardware will run these games as it is but I'm looking for high frame rates with aa and af on.

 

[Ultralight]

1. 2 Gigs of RAM.

2. The highest AGP card you can get.

3. A CPU that will not bottleneck said card.

Some will probably disagree with my recommendations but those games will be very demanding of hardware. I have a socket 939 with an X800 GTO PCI-e video card at 256 megs and DDR3 memory and an Athlon 64 3200+ cpu and several people have advised me that if I want to upgrade to a highend video card I will need a more powerful cpu.

 

[Snakexor]

x1950pro
2gigs of ram
x2 of any variety

 

[myocardia]

Why in the world would you buy all of that highly overclockable hardware, then run it all at stock speeds? I say just grab an X1950 Pro and 2 x 1 GB's of RAM now, and start running your 3200 @ 2.5-2.7 Ghz.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Ultralight
1. 2 Gigs of RAM.

2. The highest AGP card you can get.

3. A CPU that will not bottleneck said card.

Some will probably disagree with my recommendations but those games will be very demanding of hardware. I have a socket 939 with an X800 GTO PCI-e video card at 256 megs and DDR3 memory and an Athlon 64 3200+ cpu and several people have advised me that if I want to upgrade to a highend video card I will need a more powerful cpu.

i have seen people run 939 3000venices/opty144s w/ 8800gtxs and yes, the 8800gtx is probably limited a bit, but theyare still running stuff at 1920x1200......

 

[zodder]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Why in the world would you buy all of that highly overclockable hardware, then run it all at stock speeds? I say just grab an X1950 Pro and 2 x 1 GB's of RAM now, and start running your 3200 @ 2.5-2.7 Ghz.

yup

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: warpigeon
specs:

msi neo2 plat
3200+ with xp-90 stock
2x512 ocz el plat rev 2
6800 gt stock
ocz modstream 450w

Let's say a budget of $500. Important note: I run my games at 1280x1024 on an 18" monitor and have no plans on getting a new monitor, I'm happy with 1280x1024. I'm planning on playing games like stalker, crysis, hl2, bioshock etc. I'm sure the current hardware will run these games as it is but I'm looking for high frame rates with aa and af on.

I'm in a very similar boat (754 3200+, a gig of OCZ, and an agp x850XT PE) - but I took a different route than the people here are suggesting. I've got a new motherboard (cheapie ECS but I don't OC - and it'll do everything else, including RAID) and processor on the way; keeping my video card. I too play at 1280x1024, have no desire to go widescreen or really much/any bigger. I'm spending about $210, with additional little upgrades coming over the next several months.

When I'm ready to upgrade my video, I'll get a pci-e motherboard at the same time.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: Snakexor
x1950pro
2gigs of ram
x2 of any variety[/q]

For new games:thumbsup:

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: zodder

Originally posted by: myocardia
Why in the world would you buy all of that highly overclockable hardware, then run it all at stock speeds? I say just grab an X1950 Pro and 2 x 1 GB's of RAM now, and start running your 3200 @ 2.5-2.7 Ghz.

yup

I also concur.