Is it worth upgrading my AGP card?

[Thoth093]

I have an Athlon 64 3200 processor and a gig of PC-3200 ram, running Windows XP. Currently, I'm using a 6800 GT.

I'm thinking that I would like to upgrade my ram to 2 gig, but I'm also considering bumping up the video card. Since I have to pick an AGP card (bought my machine JUST before socket 939 and PCI Express came out), what, if any upgrade would you suggest? I would be willing to spend up to $300, at maximum, although as far as I could tell things would top out around $250 probably.

Thanks for your help, guys.

Brian

 

[apoppin]

the best now is the x1950p 512MB

around $250

you *need* a minimum PS of 450w with 30a on the 12v rail

if you wait *awhile* the x1950xt will be out in AGP

 

[Stumps]

yep go for the X1950, it will complement your system well.

but like Apoppin said just be wary of the PSU requirements for the X1950 series...anything less than 30A on the 12v will almost certainly kill the X1950 (especially the Sapphire and Diamond models).

 

[Thoth093]

Er. Seeing as I have no idea what that means, I'm certain I don't have it. I have, I believe, a 500-watt power supply. It's been so long since I've even thought about it that I'd need to check and see what it is.

How much extra are we talking for the aforementioned uber power supply?

Forgive my ignorance.

Brian

 

[CaiNaM]

Corsair HX520W

edit: oh, and yes, it's a worthy upgrade imo; i just recently did the same to my wife's system, which is similar to yours, and was a very nice upgrade... tho i got the 256mb version - most everything i've read on the web showed the extra ram didn't make much difference in that class of gfx card - it's just not powerful enough to run at high res where the extra framebuffer would make a difference.

here's a good example. at settings where the extra ram starts making a significant difference, it's not really playable anway (unless you like playing at 20fps).

on x1950xtx's, geforce 8800's, etc. i'd always say go for the extra memory if it doesn't break your bank, but on midrange cards, the extra money really isn't put to good use. unless you can get the extra ram for little or no extra money, i wouldn't worry about it.

 

[MustangSVT]

I was going to do it but I dont even play new games anymore let along old games that much. I will wait until e4400 comes out and go with pci e

The reason was that if I upgrade now, if I get faster cpu in the future I might have to buy a new card. decisions decisions

it was really hard to not buy that 7900gs card for $110 -_-;

 

[Stumps]

Originally posted by: Thoth093
Er. Seeing as I have no idea what that means, I'm certain I don't have it. I have, I believe, a 500-watt power supply. It's been so long since I've even thought about it that I'd need to check and see what it is.

How much extra are we talking for the aforementioned uber power supply?

Forgive my ignorance.

Brian

I use a "lowly" Antec Truepower 2 550w (+12v=19A x 2, total 36A max), it's pretty cheap, but it's decent enougth to keep my Sapphire X1950Pro 512mb alive.

Have a look on the sticker on the side of your PSU you, it should have all the power ratings and outputs on it, just look for the +12v, that needs to be above 30A, or if you have two +12v then they need to be at least 15A each, for a combined output of 30A...the higher the output, the better.

 

[Thoth093]

All I see is 20A, so I guess that means a new power supply.

Hmm. That makes the upgrade a bit more substantial.

 

[Stumps]

Originally posted by: Thoth093
All I see is 20A, so I guess that means a new power supply.

Hmm. That makes the upgrade a bit more substantial.

In that case, just go for a 7800GS and overclock the sh!t out of it...it'll get close enought to the X1950Pro to be worth while and you can still use your old PSU.

The BFG 7800GS OC is a nice card, very overclockable.

I went from a 6800GT to a 7800GS OC on my OC'd A64 3000+ and despite what some idiots on this forum said about it not being worth while...it was a decent upgrade, especially once I overclocked the 7800GS.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Stumps

Originally posted by: Thoth093
All I see is 20A, so I guess that means a new power supply.

Hmm. That makes the upgrade a bit more substantial.

In that case, just go for a 7800GS and overclock the sh!t out of it...it'll get close enought to the X1950Pro to be worth while and you can still use your old PSU.

The BFG 7800GS OC is a nice card, very overclockable.

I went from a 6800GT to a 7800GS OC on my OC'd A64 3000+ and despite what some idiots on this forum said about it not being worth while...it was a decent upgrade, especially once I overclocked the 7800GS.

that's what i did ... x850xt > 7800GS OC

--except i made the *mistake* of buying a Sapphire x1950p/512 and believing their "minimum" spec ... it burned out after 30 days ... and i got a brand new one back from RMA today

you can buy my 'brand new, returned-from-RMA' x1950p ... it is going in FS/T tomorrow

i am running a 7800GS OC {o/c'd} since it is not "PS picky" and find it very satisfactory even though it is not quite as powerful as the x1950p