need soem upgrade advice

[JSt0rm]

I want to upgrade for stalker clear sky but I don't want to spend a ton. I think I can squeeze a little more life out of my current gaming rig and I have blown my computer budget this year on work related computers (mac pro and a macbook).
I game at 1680x1050
So here it is

x2 4200 939pin (no oc)
2gb ddr (2x1gb)
8800gts 640mb
windows xp

Now i know this will play the game but I like candy So I'm thinking about doing this:

vista upgrade (home premium) for dx10
2gb of cheap ddr
and a 4870

Do you guys think my cpu can keep up with me cranking the effects to the max? I'd like to not o/c because of heat/power and i leave the system running 24/7.

 

[nonameo]

I don't think it would keep up unless you get a CPU that pretty much maxes out the architecture(2.8ghz - 3.0ghz).

There are some old 939 opterons that go that high though, I think. You'd be better off with a new motherboard and processor at that point, though.

edit: opteron 185 goes to 2.6ghz with 2x 1mb cache. That's as high as they go.

edit2: they sell for over 200 on ebay.

 

[JSt0rm]

Yeah I guess thats really the point. I don't want to toss money into this thing (ie the cpu) but I guess I was thinking that the 4870 would then go into a new build in 6 months or so. I guess the only "waisted" money would be on 2gb of ram.

 

[octopus41092]

Well, in 6 months or so there will be something completely new and faster than the HD4870, why not just get the CPU and Motherboard now and get the new video card in 6 months or so.

 

[MarcVenice]

Try Clear sky on your current rig, see how you like it ... Then, when it's out, in like 2-3 weeks, decide, prices might drop, perhaps youll grow some cojones and OC the shit out of that s939 cpu, and youll be happy. At 2.8ghz I doubt youll really be CPU limited that much if you throw in a HD4870. A little perhaps, but I think stalker is really a pita for the GPU.