Mobo/CPU Upgrade concerns

[ValJP]

4 year old computer purchased from a local shop before I studied information systems and got my A+ cert. Info listed in signature so won't redo it all here. Has been a great computer but is starting to show slowness in some games. I mostly play Id guess youd call it second tier games, mostly processor driven, not heavy on the graphics too much.

Main one is a Online RPG that shows severe slowness when 30+ people are on the screen... yet friends in newer rigs have no lag. Ok, story part over.

Upgrading to a Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939 ATX, with Corsair matched pair 512mb x2 PC3200 DDR, and a Athlon 64 3200.
Future upgrade plans may include a 6600GT or higher AGP card if still available at that time(second upgrade in 4 months), a SATA HD of 160gb-250gb size, and a new PS if needed.

The NIC and eVGA GeforceFX5500 256mb LE are less than 2 years old.
The system came stock with 512mb PC2100 and a Geforce3 Ti200 64mb.
The NIC failed after 2years or so, a SMC brand NIC, now a 3com.
Plextor PX-708A was added around 2 years ago as well.
Rest of system is 4 years old.
I would also be replacing both case fans.
There is a USB game controller(cheap Playstation design) and a Headset/Microphone also plugged into the computer as well as a simply keyboard and optical mouse.

Also, any recommendations on the 6600 or 6800 or opposing ATI models.
I'm aware PCI-E is the wave of the future.... but I'm also aware that I dont need that sort of power, at least to my knowledge. That I also don't really want to wait 4 months to be able to do it all in one shot, and want my 64bit now


My question is, should the Antec 400W have the power to push the new motherboard/processor ram. Will it have the power to also push a SATA HD instead of a IDE later, as well as a more powerful 6600GT or higher AGP card when i upgrade the 5500.

And if someone can convince me to pool the 370$ i have now and wait for the extra 400$ ill get in a few months.. I might consider PCI-E... but Ive been told AGP is still fine if not doing state of the art gaming.

 

[forumposter32]

400 watts should be OK.

google "psu calculator extreme outervision"

 

[stevty2889]

Your online RPG is most likely lagging from the video card rather than the rest of the system. 1 gig of ram should be plenty, and while your CPU is a good bit dated, I still think it's your video card thats giving you lag. What game is it specificly? The FX 5500 is a pretty weak card. My suggestion would be to get the Asrock Dual motherboard, it has both AGP and PCIe so you could upgrade to a PCIe video card later, and use your FX5500 until then. And as for wanting 64 bit now..what exactly are you gonna be running that can even use it?? XP-64 still is lacking in driver support, and there is still barely any software that is 64 bit ready, I think you'de be better off upgrading the video card first personaly..

 

[ValJP]

Everquest

Alright then....
Geforce 6600GT 128mb 128bit 8 pixel pipelines
Geforce 6800GT 256mb 256bit 16pixel pipelines
9800PRO 256mb 256bit 8 pixel pipelines
X850 256mb 256bit 16pixel pipelines?

Will a new vid card like this work on the MSI KT3 Ultra ARU 333(333 ram, 266 processor), only 4X AGP i believe.

Well I assumed with the extra bits on the 64bit... and the 3200 processor... things would run a little faster. Didn't think applications had to be spefically written to go faster.. though to take full advantage of it, yes I know I would need XP 64bit and 64bit apps.

 

[stevty2889]

Yeah, Everquest is likely lagging because of your video card, it's more demanding than you think. Actualy having 2gig of ram would help as well. X850 > 6800GT > 6600GT > 9800pro. All of those cards are backwards compatible with 4x AGP. Everquest ran great with my 6800GT(until I got bored with it) and a gig of ram.

The extra bits on the A64 won't make a differance at all unless you have a 64bit OS and run 64 bit applications. The A64 will still be significatly faster than your current CPU, but because of the faster more efficiant architecture and onboard mem controller, not because of the 64bits.

 

[ValJP]

So which do you recommend first?
I have a limit of $400~ now... and $400 more~ in march.
I can wait.. but *raids* ie... 30+ people on the screen are causing me to be very disgusted at times.

I can plop $250~ on a 6800GT 256mb or 400 on a X850.
Any major heating concerns with those?

The power source is a bit dusty and could use a good blowing out which i will do soon.
The 80gb is clicking a good bit but I think will be ok.. it will be replaced by a SATA someday.

I can throw a 6800GT in there, but just worried it wont help much after my friend gave me the 5500 and it didnt help at all almost over the Ti200. He had bought a 6600, but he had a 2600 processor.

Think jumping from 1800 to 3200 would be better or from 5500 to 6800GT.

Or wait and hope I dont spend the $400 and have $800 in march and do something more major then.

*edit*
Windows 2000 SP4 also... cant believe I didnt mention that.
Soon to be upgraded to XP Pro, as my friend is letting me have his since he is going to XP 64.

 

[stevty2889]

In reality I think you're gonna need both the CPU and the video card upgrade to make things smooth, but unless you are playing at 640x480 or 800x600, the video card will should make the bigger differance now. The 6800GT made a big differance over my 5900ultra for EQ, so it should make an even bigger differance for you.

 

[ValJP]

Alright
Hmm, perhaps I should wait and pool the money then.

*edit*
PS is PP-412X after checking.

Voltage 115/230V
+3.3 = 28A
+5 = 40A
+12 = 18A

Current 10A/5A
-12 = 1A
-5 = 1A
+5SB = 3A

+5V and +3.3V combined output 245W
+5V & +3.3V and +12V combined output 380W

That should support a 6800GT?

 

[ValJP]

Seems the PS will need to be upgraded before anything else mostly.
Antec make a good PS, but that 18A on the 12V is........

 

[abs0lut3]

Go with X800GTO especially the Connect3D version. Cheaper than 6800GT with 12 pixel pipeline but with a proper technique you can unlock it to 16.

The PSU above would barely support 6800GT. I would rather buy another PSU with the video card.

 

[ValJP]

Thanks for all the responses so far.

Going to get a 430 or 480W new dual 12V Antec PS 2 12V with 16-17A each.
Thats pretty much all I can find, so I hope dual 12V is something that will be ok(yeah... you're saying he's A+ certified, but I havent been in the market for 2years and been doing mostly software stuff...)

Going to go with a 6600GT or a 6800GT as the X850 is just a tad pricey, and don't wanna mess with the X800.

6600GT to my understanding is more stable and half the price, but 6800GT has the raw power... thought I see 50% of the reviews on 6800GT mention HUGE cooling issues.

Wondering if you had any ideas on cooling the card or if it really needed it?
Slot Fan or non standard HS & Fan for the card itself?

I've ended up deciding to replace the PS, case fans, and generally give it a good cleaning for now. Then grab the 6600GT or 6800GT.

In march ill buy the mobo/proc/ram.

6600GT seems to have less heating issues, but only has 128mb ram usually, and 128bit memory interface, and 8 pixel pipes... half of everything on the 6800GT.

 

[ValJP]

Any Compatibility issues with the 6800GT AGP 4x/8x if the MSI KT3 Ultra ARU will only support 4x AGP 2.0 and the 266/333mhz bus on the board.

The power source is being taken care of with a new 430W Antec Truepower(for the A on the +12V)

 

[abs0lut3]

nope...not that I know off but again you will be only running half of the speed that it was supposed to. There are plenty of 8x agp board that you can pick up while waiting for a major upgrade. You should look around pricewatch and stuff.