Need advice on next upgrade

[Reckoner]

Current Rig:

NEC AccuSync 90 19" CRT Monitor
Creative Labs Eclipse 4.1 Speakers
SoundBlaster Live 5.1 Sound Card
AMD 64 3000+ OC'd to 2.2GHZ
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200 400 MHZ
60 Gig Western Digital HD w/2mb Cache
GeForce 4 Ti4600
MSI K8N Neo Platinum MB
NEC 8x DVD-R


Looking to spend between 300-400 in upgrades currently, and looking for the best bang for the buck. I'm thinking Video Card (specifically 6800 GT), but with PCI-E on the horizon I want a video card that will last me for a long long time. Suggestions/advice is appreciated!

Thanks guys!

 

[amdskip]

60 Gig Western Digital HD w/2mb Cache

That is holding your system back right there. Upgrade to something with better performance than that drive. I would also purchase a lcd before I got a new video card but that is just personal preference.

 

[Reckoner]

Yeah I agree about the Hard Drive. I browsed around NewEgg today and ordered an OEM Seagate Barracuda 120 Gig 7200 RPM HD 7200.7. I've heard good reviews about it, and at $90 bucks, I thought it was a pretty good deal. Some people say they're loud, and others say they can't hear them at all, can anyone tell me their experience with this HD?

 

[amdskip]

Seagates = quiet, if it's loud, there is something wrong with it

 

[caivoma]

you can find some hard drive on the hot deal section for less that. i think they have the 200gb seagate for 60 after rebate. Unless you dont want to deal with rebate,then it is a different story

 

[nageov3t]

you could also pick up a nice NEC DVD-Burner for under $100.

 

[darkrisen2003]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Current Rig:

NEC AccuSync 90 19" CRT Monitor
Creative Labs Eclipse 4.1 Speakers
SoundBlaster Live 5.1 Sound Card
AMD 64 3000+ OC'd to 2.2GHZ
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200 400 MHZ
60 Gig Western Digital HD w/2mb Cache
GeForce 4 Ti4600
MSI K8N Neo Platinum MB
NEC 8x DVD-R


Looking to spend between 300-400 in upgrades currently, and looking for the best bang for the buck. I'm thinking Video Card (specifically 6800 GT), but with PCI-E on the horizon I want a video card that will last me for a long long time. Suggestions/advice is appreciated!

Thanks guys!

my only suggestion would be the video card honestly and depending on what u have mebbe a powersupply. thats all i see from my end though.

 

[darXoul]

Originally posted by: amdskip
Seagates = quiet, if it's loud, there is something wrong with it

Well, my 200 GB SATA Seagate is clearly louder than its 160 GB PATA brother, that's for sure. Not really LOUD but definitely not inaudible like my older HDD.

 

[Corporate Thug]

HDD + 6800

 

[Reckoner]

Is there any real difference between the Seagate Barracuda SATA 7200.7 HD (7200 rpm) and a regular Seagate SATA 7200 HD if the seek time is listed at 8.5ms for both?

 

[pirred908]

oops

 

[Reckoner]

Do you guys think I should wait a month or two to wait for any future promotions/deals on the 6800 GT, or are the odds of any special promo that is worth my while slim in that timeframe? I just want to make sure that if I spend $379 on a video card, I get my money's worth

 

[SleepWalkerX]

i think 6800gt is definantly worth 379. but who knows, prices may drop. imo if i had the money i would buy myself one right now.