I really need some advice before I do something stupid

[jfuze]

I've got a dilemma. To upgrade current system or build a whole new PC?

Ideally, i'd like to squeeze whatever I can out of this Socket 939 system I built 3 years ago. But is it worth it? If I dropped $300 on upgrades, would it last another year and a half?

My current system is an AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 1gb PC3200 RAM, and a 6600GT. S939 and PCE-e x16.

The only problem here is the socket 939 for the CPU.

Which s939 processor can I get at a decent price that will run current games well if I get a nice video card and add another 1gb of memory?

Is a single core AMD 4000+ severely outdated? They run $60 brand new on NewEgg.

Or spend $150 on an Opteron 175 dual core?

I'm just worried these processors will not hold up to todays games... or will they? I need someone to let me know because i honestly have no idea.

In my budget this is what I can do to upgrade my current system...

AMD Athlon 4000+
2GB pc3200 RAM
Radeon HD3850
...for $285

Bad idea?

The reason im thinking about just putting $300 on this system is because I build a nice Core 2 Duo system and once I get everything I want its going to run $1600 at the least. Maybe I can get a year or 2 out of this system and use that extra $1300 on something else?

any suggestions or help would be great. Sorry if this is long, I just really need advice and do not know where to go for it!

 

[nerp]

I was in a similar boat. I found a great deal on an Opty 180.

For you, I suggest doing the same or trying to find a nice fast X2 chip to throw in there. If you bump up to dual core and maybe get a few extra Ghz out of it, throwing in a nice new video card will make the machine more than usable for a bit longer. I'm rocking games, Vista is running circles and everything is zipping along nicely for me. I don't see myself upgrading until late 2009 or early 2010 at this point. There is nothing deal breaking right now that is forcing me out of this socket.

I wouldn't be ashamed of finding a used CPU to save money. Then you can spend more on a video card which will almost certianly be able to follow you to your next build.

 

[MarcVenice]

Hmmm, I upgraded from a 3000+ venice @ 2.4ghz and a 7600gs 512mb and 1gb of ddr 400mhz, to a x2 3800+ @ 2.6ghz, 8800gts 320mb and 2gb of ddr 400mhz ram about 6-7 months ago. Not long after I had serious doubts about wether I did the right thing or not. Right now I'm still playing most games at pretty good settings though, 1680*1050. Personaly right now, were I in the same boat, I'd probably go the C2D route.

You can buy a bit ip35-e for 60$, 2gb for 40$ or 4gb for 80$ish, and a 80$ e2180, for a grand total of 180-220$, overclock it to 2.6-3.0ghz, and it will blow any s939 setup away. Your old mobo/ram/cpu could be sold or handed down into the family. If you go with 2gb of ram, you have 105$ left for a new videocard. Well, throw in another 50$ and you could buy a 8800gs or a HD3850 512mb, and you'll have a very nice upgrade over your old cpu/gpu, with actually somekind of upgrade path too.

 

[PascalT]

In the same boat as well. I am waiting on the 45nm Intels to come out and then I will see. No use in sticking with AMD if Intel is much faster these days.

If you want a cheap upgrade now I would look at a 4400 or 4600x2 AMD. They OC very easily and run for about 110.00 online.

 

[Rottie]

what is wrong with AMD A64 4800+ X2 Toledo core cpu?

 

[Puffnstuff]

You should really consider going c2d and getting a new mb and ram since it's dirt cheap right now. 939 has been a eol platform for some time and when my last one dies my son will get a c2d replacement. So far two of my 939's have gone to intel and so will the last one. We tried an am2 system for a short time but in the end c2d on a x38 mb replaced it and performs much better than the 5600+ am2 my oldest son was using.

 

[JackMDS]

ABIT IP35-E, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...7031&Tpk=ABIT%2bIP35-E $90

Intel Pentium E2180, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116052 $83

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231098 $45

The components above cost $218, in almost all cases they easly overclock as is (by just raising the FSB) to 2.8GHz - 3.2GHz

When OC they beat any upgraded old AMD platform.