Ok guys, I've got 2 options here...

[Scouzer]

I'm budget strapped atm, but the computer is my life and I'll be spending the whole summer on it so I want it to work right playing Anarchy Online, and WW II Online. Both games run like utter crap on my machine, unplayable, literally. Now I have 2 options for an upgrade:
My current specs:
PIIIE800 @ 920
Geforce II MX
Maxtor 30g 7200rpm Diamond Max 60+
128m PC 100 CAS 3 RAM

Those are my specs that effect FPS...

now I was thinking I have 2 upgrade options:
1) Buy a Geforce 3 and nothing else

2) Epox 8K7A Mobo
T-Bird 1ghz
Geforce 3
256m PC 2100 DDR

Obviously, the 2nd one will put my down quite a bit. B

But think of the long term... buying the simple upgrade now will only mean I have to catchup on the memory, mobo, and CPU later.

But, the Socket A process is going to be used by AMD until the end of 2002, and the Geforce 3 should last well over a year so I could buy a Palamino when its needed, and no need for a mobo... which means a longer time to upgrade, and when I do it'll be cheaper.

I'm leaning on the 2nd option...what d'ya think?

 

[splice]

Yeah #2

 

[Doctorweir]

Go for the GF3 and wait for the next developments regarding Palomino/DDR and the new P4 socket...

 

[Scouzer]

I'm not interested in the P4. Insane expensive Intel, always will be I'm not interested in another Intel purchase. But the new Palamino is compatible with the Epox, hence why I said I could upgrade to a Palamino later.

 

[Sugadaddy]

I say geforce 2 Pro now and Palomino/mobo/DDR at the end of the summer.

 

[Scouzer]

I don't have a Pro compatible AGP slot (P3V4X mobo)

 

[Anaconda]

thats just a name, geforce2 pro can use any AGP slot

 

[Scouzer]

Really...? My tech buddy told me the slot is physically a bit different...? He said its like:

------- --- ---

While non Pro slots are:

------ ---


Is he dumb?

 

[Sugadaddy]

It's true there is a difference between an AGP slot and an AGP Pro slot (gives more power, that's what the extra connections are for), but none of the Geforce 2 GTS, Geforce 2 Pro, GF2 Ultra or GF3 use it, they're all regular AGP cards.

The difference between the GF2 models is in the memory or chip speeds.
Here's what it looks like: (core/clock speeds)

GTS:200/333
Pro:200/400
Ultra:250/460

 

[Alienwho]

the Geforce2 Pro is just one step down from the Ultra and one step up from the GTS. It's not the acutal difference in hardware pins

 

[Scouzer]

Well, what would be the difference in waiting? I can still get a Palamino on this board and it already supports DDR...why not now? I really need a fast sys for the summer. I'm going to bed will check in about 5 hours.

 

[Scouzer]

Eh? really goin to bed now

 

[Alacazam]

No offense, but those games are going to be unplayable on that system? I mean, come on. God forbid you run in 8x6.

Try a format and reinstall, save 500 dollars for something meaningful in the long term, and just wait.

Sigh. Sure its not 1.7Ghz or whatever, but I bet it can run those games fine with a bit of tweaking. In a year you'll be in the exact same position.

 

[NeoHC421]

yup, don't spend cash now, your system is fine as it is.
If i were you, i'd wait till at least the athlon 4 comes out, and gf3 drops in price... if you go with option 2, its like almost buying a new rig.

 

[Scouzer]

Yeah I run in 800x600 in the games, ALL eyecandy off in both games...all options on minimum detail...and in WW II OL in battles my hard drive just spins like a madman and I quite often get less than 1fps for a long time...Its hard to even exit the game! As for AO, 640x480, everything is minimum detail, as soon as I go into the city the FPS just stop...I'm thinking its my Det 6.5's I tried to switch to the 10.80s but its not installing properly for some reason....

 

[Scouzer]

bumperz

 

[RGN]

I'd say the GeforceIII and leave the rest alone.

 

[Mookow]

Get an extra 128 or 256 of RAM (PC133, CL2, to have some resale value in a few months), preferably Crucial due to the prices. That should end the problems that you have been having with HD swapping. If that doesnt give you enough FPS, you can then upgrade to a GF3. Upgrade your mobo and CPU when nForce and Paliminos are out. You should be able to sell that stick of 128 for at least $15 if you got 128, and $30 if you got 256 (I'm taking low guesses, most likely you will be able to get more). That way the upgrade will have only cost you $20-30 for much, much better FPS. You'll easily save that cash in how much the GF3 and Palimino/DDR/DDR mobos drop in price between now and then.

 

[MichaelD]

Here's my opinion. You already have a nice system. There are many things you can do to improve performance. Here are a few things to cover.

First - the basics

1. How are your temps? Is your case getting adequate ventilation and when was the last time you cleaned inside? I.E. vacuumed? Might sound funny, but a cruddy computer will run like crud.

2. You say your HD spins like mad. Do you do system maintenance regularly? I.E. Delete temp files and AV Scan and DEFRAG? This is very important. A madly searching HD is indicative that it is badly fragmented. Delete all the old crap you don't use anymore (or burn it onto a CD if you need/want to keep it) and free up some HD space. DEFRAG! It works wonders.

Second - moving along
1. With RAM so cheap, I'd get another 128mb stick. You will notice a huge difference in every aspect of performance. Check Here for great memory at awesome prices and free shipping.

2. Install the latest drivers for your vidcard. Makes a big diff. That's a decent vidcard and installing the latest drivers will only help.


The system you outline is very nice. Would be an AWESOME gaming rig. But you say you're strapped for cash ATM (who isn't? )

If I were you, I'd try to tweak out my system to it's utmost and save my $$$ for a better rig. Putting a GF3 in your current system would surely improve your gaming, but not as much as you may think. You do have a 920MHz CPU, which is plenty fast enough, but with a 100MHz front side bus, things are going to be very speedy. You could get the memory and the GF3 for about $400 total, but that's a lot of bread.

Try all the stuff I outlined first, before spending any money. You might very well be quite surprised at the improved performance. If it winds up a little better, well then for about $40, you can get the additional stick of mem.

Good luck to you.

 

[MrWhiteUK]

If you can't play those games with an adequate framrate then either you need a bit of tweaking or those games are just, well, sucky coding.

 

[Mookow]

MichaelD, start practicing safe pasting when you make a link! or, click here

 

[virtuamike]

I say ditch your PC100 and get 256MB PC133 CL2. You're runnning a 115 bus so you're already pushing your PC100. Also look into either a Geforce2 Pro or an Ultra. The Geforce 3 will come down in price, plus Nvidia is supposed to go with a smaller core later this summer, should help as far as heat and overclocking goes. If you wait around until more is in stock, get the MSI GeForce2 Pro 64MB from newegg.com, they want $142 shipped for it. Best price around.

What you might also want to look at is how AGP is affected by running at 115. Might be that AGP 4X (if your board supports it) is disabled due to the bus speed. Try to find a utility that'll tell you what you're running AGP at. Improper AGP settings takes a huge performance hit.

 

[MichaelD]

Oops. My bad. Typing too fast. Fixed the link in original post. Good catch, Mookow.

 

[wyvrn]

<< No offense, but those games are going to be unplayable on that system? I mean, come on. God forbid you run in 8x6.

Try a format and reinstall, save 500 dollars for something meaningful in the long term, and just wait. >>



I agree with that. The only glaring problem in your system is ram. Follow that suggestion on a 256 module of PC133. You can get them almost anywhere for around 50 bucks. Other than that, format and reinstall is probably going to be only thing that fixes it. You have plenty of power in that machine.

I know a person that runs almost that exact setup (except for hard drive) and doesn't have any problems in Anarchy Online, other than the server side problems.

 

[FordLorider]

www.tweakfiles.com, getting SDRAM is pretty pointless now, get the GeForce III and save up some money for your motherboard, cpu, RAM update in the future.