PC133 VS PC3200

[ipitythefool]

Hi,

At the moment I have a Epox KT133A chipset motherboard running an athlon XP 2400+ with 512Mb PC133 RAM and a Radeon 8500 graphics card.

Would I see much of a performance improvement, particularly with games, if I changed the motherboard for an nforce2 with 512Mb PC3200 RAM but still used the same CPU and graphics card?

I hope somebody can help

Jamie

 

[BentValve]

The difference would be huge, do it.

 

[RussianSensation]

I personally think you are better off getting a new A64 setup + PCIe videocard like 6600GT or X800xl.

But if you are really short on money and dont see yourself saving up for a new setup, then get Nforce 2 by Chaintech off newegg for 7NJ1 i think for $40 and a stick of 512mb for $45 (value ram).

I have P4 2.6@3.2ghz and that same videocard and it's still slow in all new games, so even though on paper this upgrade should be good (esp if you overclock the AXP2400+, the card will still hold you back).

Another option would be to get a used 9700Pro or 9700np because that'll give you 100% performance improvement over 8500. I doubt the new cpu setup will do that for $100.

 

[Sunbird]

I know you system would feel much snappier all round, and a nForce 2 motherboard has other speed atvantages. Even if your ram will only be running at PC2100 speeds, to run in sync with your processors FSB.

It all depends on what you will be spending on the nForce 2, so how much will you be spending?

 

[ipitythefool]

i only have $100 so would a 9700 pro still be worth getting with my old crappy ram?

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Another option would be to get a used 9700Pro or 9700np because that'll give you 100% performance improvement over 8500. I doubt the new cpu setup will do that for $100.

 

[imported_fatal]

I just built a system using one of these, very good MB
CHAINTECH "7NJL6" nForce2 Ultra 400 -- $51.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-152-045&depa=0

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: ipitythefool
i only have $100 so would a 9700 pro still be worth getting with my old crappy ram?

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Another option would be to get a used 9700Pro or 9700np because that'll give you 100% performance improvement over 8500. I doubt the new cpu setup will do that for $100.

A quick check => The Mother of All CPU Charts Part 2 ,I compared AXP2100+ DDR266 and AXP2100+ SDR-133

Quake 3 = +21%
Wolfenstein - Enemy Territory = +23%
Doom 3 =+22%
Unreal tournament 2004= +40%
Far Cry = +21%

you can follow the review to compare other tasks you might use. You should also keep in mind that their system used 6800GT. With a slower card, the stress on graphics is even more reducing the importance of a CPU.

The performance difference is certainly there. However, if you just want to boost gaming performance a $100 9700np/pro is a better single upgrade because it'll give 80-100% increase. This setup was run with P4 2.53.

9700Pro vs. 8500

*See if a friend of yours is willing to buy $8500 for $30 or so then you could reduce the upgrade cost of the videocard.

 

[RaiderJ]

If you're doing a new motherboard... might as well go with a new A64 + RAM + Video card. Otherwise a new video card would be best. Preferably one that will transition to a new mobo down the road.

 

[imported_Hi]

This Ram

This video card

would make a huge diffrence

 

[Googer]

I would go ahead and get the memory DDR400 will have a nice and very noticeable effect on your pc. Newegg has 1gb for $97 on sale today.
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=20-145-440&DEPA=0

To the rest of you, this is not a bad buy considering he can easily cary this over to a new system he may build. Consider this the first incremental step.

 

[CalvinHobbs]

i thought he'd only $100 to spend

 

[Silversierra]

I have a computer with pc 133 and a computer with pc3200. In Everest the pc 133 memory has a latency of 207ns. The pc 3200 has a latency of 56ns. The pc 133 is paired with a p4 1.8ghz and the pc3200 is with a winnie 3000+.