New Processor vs. Faster Video Card?

[Condor Beedee]

I am currently running a Celeron 400 oc to 486 mhz, and have a TNT2 graphics card. I want faster frame rates from Unreal Tournament, and am not sure the best purchase for the money. Should I invest in an Nvidia GeForce2 MX, or a PIII 700? Which would you suggest?

Thanks,
Condor Beedee

 

[thxturtle]

I would go with the p3 700. It'll make EVERYTHING go faster while the MX would probably make only your 3d games faster.

 

[kwisatz]

If it's a REAL TNT2 (not TNT2 M64) i recomend the PIII for the best overall performance boost.

 

[ET]

Agreed. UT is very CPU intensive. A faster graphics card will allow you to run it at higher resolutions at the same speed, but is unlikely to give you a real FPS increase.

 

[RussianSpy]

if you run at very high res then I'd recommend a new graphics card but otherwise you can't go wrong with a PIII.

 

[rigor]

Get a celeron 533 or 566, run it at 800/850, overclock the hell out of the tnt2.

Celeron 533/566 packages $130
Geforce 2mx ~$120

A P3-700 + the old tnt2 might give you what you need.
a Celeron 486(?) will probably not push the geforce 2mx enough.

 

[Fingers]

if framerates is what you looking for thenthere is no other choice than a new CPU in your case.

 

[AMB]

I would say that the processor would be more benefcial

 

[atomicbomberman]

You have to decide, mainly when you're in this sitution you're looking for which part of your computer is the bottleneck, and you upgrade that. w/ only 486mhz I'll say your processor is DEFNINITLY your bottle neck rite now. A real TNT2 doesn't get max out until you probably hit 750Mhz or so. Also, as you already know.. UT is very processor dependent, w/ very high fill rate, your FPU is more important than your graphics processor. If that's the only game you play, then get a wickey fast processor, like 850-900 or so, and a Voodoo3, then overclock that $hitter to hell! =) Voodoo line of video card have the best UT results. Just to let u know. But if you're only gonna go for one, Processor is totally what u need rite now.

 

[Quickfingerz]

I don't see any reason that you shouldn't go for both a processor upgrade and a video card upgrade.

If the only thing you do is play games, then the way to go is a new graphics card. I have a friend with a celeron 300a at 450 using a Geforce card.

 

[Linh]

I'd say it depends largely on your monitor size, which would then contribute to the resolution at which you run.

 

[BttrThnU]

go for the new cpu dude

 

[Bignate603]

Go get yourself a new processor. Your motherboard may not even take AGP 4x and couldn't take advantage of it. I've even seen some reports where the CPU (a celeron) was the limiting factor. While any new card would do better than the one you have now, go for a little bit longer term benefit. Grab a new processor.

 

[Viperoni]

Processor
Higher FSB the better

 

[Zipperhead]

cpu



http://people.ne.mediaone.net/rickneipp/images/

 

[classy]

CPU, enough said.

 

[Tulkas]

Condor

I think because of your specs your gonna get pretty much the same increase if yu update the CPU or the Video Card.

But what is really a better upgrade?

IMHO a CPU upgrade will improve alot more things than a video card will... especially since yu already have a decent one that will still handle almost every game.

But of course the choice is Yours!

 

[Condor Beedee]

Well, I think my mind is made up. I'm going to go with the processor upgrade. Sounds like it is more what I need. Question then is: should i buy a PIII 500E or 700? The 500 can get to 830 mhz easily, whereas people say the 700 can reach 900 easily. I'm not interested in water cooling or any of that jazz. Just a standard fan or maybe a dual fan (something with no maintenence). Now, the 500 is running $115, and the 700 about $190. Seems like the best money is spent with the 500E, what do you think?

Thanks,
Condor Beedee