LGA775 DDR2 and PCI Express opinions

[imported_BOHICA]

I'm looking for opinions on whether or not to upgrade my current system to an ASUS P5AD2 with Intel's 530, a 512MB stick of Ballistix DDR2, and a 6800GT PCI express card.

Given the fact that PCI express is fairly new and it'll be a while before software comes along to take full advantage of it, would I be better off upgrading to a faster socket 478 with faster memory and an AGP card? My budget is right around $1000, so let's hear what you have to say. For the record, I'm not dead set against AMD, but I've always used Intel; therefore I know what to expect out of them.

Current setup:

ASUS P4B266 with 256 MB Crucial PC2100 DDR
Intel 1.6 OC'd to 2.2 (AVC Sunflower cooler)
GeForce 3 256 MB Vid Card


Thanks in advance,

Woody

 

[MDE]

I wouldn't go for a DDR2\PCIe platform right now. DDR2 is too expensive and doesn't offer better performance, and that also holds true for PCIe for the time being. Judging from what you have right now, you don't upgrade frequently so any upgradability given to you by PCIe graphics is a moot point. I'd go for an Athlon 64\nForce3 250Gb based system. For almost everything out there, AMD is as fast or faster than Intel and at the same price or cheaper.

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Depends on if you are in a hurry to get a machine built now or can wait a bit.. If you can wait a bit, AMD boards with PCI-E are going to start trickling out pretty soon. DDR2 seems to be a waste at this time, But going with a PCI-E vidcard seems to be a good idea. At least that is what I am counting on. I need a new vidcard myself and am patiently waiting for Nforce/ATI chipsetted boards supporting PCI-E to come out.

 

[Sonic587]

What do you plan to use this PC for?

 

[imported_BOHICA]

Thanks for the replies so far, guys.

My setup is used mainly for web surfing/email/frequent gaming/excel. About the only thing I NEED to upgrade at this point is the vid card. Based on your replies so far and what research I've done, I'm leaning more toward upgrading the vid card, adding some memory, and waiting on the PCI Express technology to develop a bit more. The PCI express seems to be a big improvement over AGP, and I personally think it will be the "next big thing". But as with all new formats, there is always the belly flop possibility .

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

At this point, Upgrading your vid card alone should be the best performance/dollar improvement you can make.