Need advice in regards to my next upgrade

[tazdrummer]

Option # 1

$87.00 mushkin 184-Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200, Model 991366 - Retail

$139.99 One Day Sale, Ends 3/1/2005 5:30 PM PST
DFI "LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D" NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL

$155.00 AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache, Socket 939 64-bit Processor - Retail

$99.00 SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON X600 PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR


Option # 2

$148 Athlon 64 3000

$143 MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum

$69 Crucial 512MB PC3200

$0 Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro (reason it is $0, I already have it)

Ok, this is my thinking. The X600 would do the job on some games for a while, it may not be not top performer but it would get the PCI-e video card to get the system up and going.

Also, I take it that motherboard (the DFI) can still be modified to make it a SLI ?

Worse case scenario, I end up selling the Radeon 9800 pro since I am not sure how much the son will be gaming (he is 12 and he still thinks in the "Gamecube/PS2" frame of mind where he needs a control pad and can't grasp the idea of using a keyboard mouse combo.)

I am leaning towards option # 1 due to the PCI-e having room to grow. The AGP is more or less topped out by the 9800 Pro.

RAM - as long as I can get some decent RAM that will work, I will worry about getting better RAM a little further down the road.

 

[tazdrummer]

Anyone? Anyone?

 

[gate1975mlm]

Option # 1 because of PCI Express!

 

[powerMarkymark]

#2

Just got this board and I am very pleased with it.

 

[tazdrummer]

So now I got one vote for each.

 

[powerMarkymark]

Sorry tazdrummer, but the board I just got is the MSI K8N Neo Platinum and not the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum.

I was advised here and at store I bought from that if I go with AGP that the best mobo/CPU combo was
the socket 754.

Was told that these boards do a superior job handling AGP. I have a fairly new ATI Radeon 9800 pro that I wanted to use.

As for upgradability, I tend to upgrade both mobo and CPU at same time so when I am ready for an upgrade I will go with PCIe board in future.

HTH

Marc

 

[biostud]

stay with your current system until you can afford atleast a GT6600 for PCIe, otherwise your performance will be lower than youre current setup.

 

[xaeniac]

option #2 if you must buy; i would also hold out until you have more money saved.

 

[nick1985]

2


and Value RAM is 99% as fast as "fast" RAM, dont waste your money

 

[ribbon13]

Get socket 754 + agp OR 939 + pcie.

cheap and effective vs full blown future-resistance. 939 + AGP is pointless.

 

[Arcanedeath]

In this case option 2 definitly, X600 is just a pciexpress 9600 and performs way worse than a 9800pro

 

[tazdrummer]

Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
In this case option 2 definitly, X600 is just a pciexpress 9600 and performs way worse than a 9800pro

Yes, this I know.

The reason I initially pick the X600 is $$. Upon picking the motherboard and processor it will be quicker for me to get $100 compared to getting $200 for a video card.

This is all pretty much a draft and nothing is set into stone. I want to keep the 9800 Pro so I can take the current board I use and set it up as my sons computer. That way he will have a card worthy of gaming. It ain't like the X600/9600 will be the biggest pile of crap when it comes to games, it just won't pack the punch of the X700 or the X800. It will still get the job done but a bit cheaper.

 

[MrControversial]

#1 so you don't have to upgrade much too soon.

#2 if you upgrade every 6 months or so.

 

[tazdrummer]

Originally posted by: MrControversial
#1 so you don't have to upgrade much too soon.

#2 if you upgrade every 6 months or so.

If I go with #1, with the money I have (or will have) the closest I will be upgrading is the video card.

I tend to upgrade in steps due to the impatience of being able to save enough money to get it all in one big shot.

See, in general, my upgrade fund is my change cup. :laugh: