Opinion on which way I should upgrade

[jtusa]

I need a new video card for BF2, and I've been wanting to put together another system for various uses. I was going to build just a cheap sempron system for a $100 or so(would only need board and processor, have plenty of spare parts sitting around).

My current "gaming" system is pretty beefy, 3Ghz P4, gig of dual channel, and AGP. Now my question is this. If you were me, would you go ahead and pony up the couple hundred extra bucks and build a A64/939 system with a PCIE video card and use the 3Ghz for the second box OR just get an AGP card and build the cheaper computer for the second one.

I could get more video card for the P4 if I just went with an AGP card instead of spending extra on the system, but I'm thinking instead of sticking myself with AGP again I should go ahead and future proof myself(PCIE video card and 939 socket).

I hate decisions....

Edit: Another option, should I wait a few more months and see if chip prices drop(will they?) with dual core coming out and make my decision then?

 

[Bucks]

From what I can understand from your post, your current PC is still pretty decent. It all depends on what this second rig is for. If it is for gaming, then yes get the A64, but if it just a spare pc that will not get used too much, then I don't see why you need the expensive stuff.

 

[Gatecrusher]

I dunno I dont think that there is so far much diference between AGP graphic and PCI-e. AGP8x is fast enugh. But I would suport your choice about the new 939 socet. 64bit procesors definitely have a bright future... so I would upgrade if only for the new procesor.. But U know u can get a motherboard that has both AGP and PCI-e slots (some Gigabyte board i think), so u culd get that and upgrade a new PCI-e graphic card later.
well have fun.

 

[theMan]

wait a few months untill the prices of X2's come down, or something. your current rig is perfectly fine for gaming. you could even hold out until 2006, and get the new M2 platform.

 

[Boa Constrictor]

I would get a new video card. Your system is fine in my opinion. Just get a really good card

 

[MobiusPizza]

Read this article

If you want maximum image quality, you'd need the level of around GeForce 6800
But if you don't care much about quality, 6600 would do fine at medium settings.

You havn't post your current AGP card. If it's GeForce 5 it might handle the low quality setting fine.