Need upgrade advice

[Zarick]

I realized I have asked so many questions.. but here is where I am torn:

Currently have 1.2ghz thunderbird, a7v133, 512kpc133, audigy2

I am looking at :
Barton 2500
Shuttle an35n
512DDR
saphire 9800pro
Roughly $450

or

AMD64
Aopen 754 socket board
512DDR
Roughly $420

I really am torn on what to do here. My geforce3 is a nice card, but if I go with the amd64 system I wont be able to upgrade the video for a year. However, I feel as if the barton system is way behind already. So I don't know if its worth keeping my card to get the faster system or get the whole package.

This system really needs to last me about 2 or so years(about how often I upgrade).

 

[Zarick]

 

[CJP]

I'd go with the Barton system. With the 9800pro you could enjoy great graphics now and wouldn't have to wait a year. The 2500+ isn't cutting edge but it's not slow either. I've got a P4 1.8ghz and a Radeon 9800np and it'll play all the current games decently (although not will everything set to the max in something like Far Cry or Halo).

 

[high]

Yeah grab a 2500+ rig, nice board, grab some nice 3200/3500 and your 9800 pro...then q1 2005 upgrade mobo/chip, and maybe q2/q3 2005 upgrade gfx and ram to ddr2 (providing it's mainstream then ofcourse)

 

[sd]

get the Barton 2500+ with the 9800Pro. That chip will do at least an o/c of 2.1GHz

 

[Zarick]

So you guys think it will last me a couple of years.. I mean will I be able to play hl2 with max settings at 1024x768?