Please help me optimize my system/budget

[BeyondGomer]

I currently have an old AMD1800XT and a 6600GT and it is dying with my 20" widescreen Dell and WOW (yes, I am a WOW junkie LOL).

I am not looking for a screaming machine and would just like to maximize my dollar and get a pretty good upgrade (I do not ever plan on overclocking).

I currently have a case (need to upgrade PSD), 2gb PC3200 (400) ram, and SATA HD.

I am thinking of getting the following.
Please suggest an alternative if it would maximize my price/performace

Thanks!
(www.mwave.com)
CPU: AMD ATHLON 64 3500+ Venice $187
Vid: EVGA 256-P2-N564 GeForce7900GT KO 256MB PCI-E $275
MB: ASUS A8N5X $75
PSU: ANTEC SP500 SMART POWER 2.0 ATX 12V VERSION 2.0 500W $68

Total: $605.

 

[Ika]

your CPU is nice, but if you want to keep your computer for a while, I would recommend you upgrade to a dual-core, especially if you don't plan on overclocking. It's about $100 more for a 3800+ X2, but a dual-core will maximize your productivity with multitasking and multimedia things. Just a thought.

Also, AM2 is currently out. You might want to consider getting one of those. I dont know much about it as of now, however.

 

[silverpig]

That will do really well for you. I say go for it.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: silverpig
That will do really well for you. I say go for it.

I concur. Should last you a while. Skip AM2. Even tho my mobo has an AM2 upgrade path I dont ever plan on using it. My system should last me for a long time and by the time I upgrade again the AM2 will be history and something much better will be out.

 

[Skeeedunt]

Yeah, don't worry about AM2 (especially considering you already have DDR400 RAM). You can get an X1800XT for for $219 AR here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102698 . Better performance in Oblivion than a 7900GT, might want to check some other benchmarks.

Basically that's a pretty good system though, you'd be fine to go with it.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

thats a good build for WOW on the dell 20.1 WS. wow doesn't use AA/AF so i wouldn't say get the x1800xt or an x1900xt

 

[Lasthitlarry]

Either go 3200+ or X2 3800+ or X2 4000+ everything else is not worth it.

Am I seeing things, did you say you have an AMD1800XT, what is that?

 

[Skeeedunt]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
thats a good build for WOW on the dell 20.1 WS. wow doesn't use AA/AF so i wouldn't say get the x1800xt or an x1900xt

Since when does WoW not use AA/AF? Last time I checked I was at 6xAA/8xAF.

 

[BeyondGomer]

thanks for the replies. I meant amd 1800XP not XT :-D

 

[Jiggz]

Let me try something out of the group. I am a die hard AMD mainly because of pricing and oc'ing. But lately, I would like to try the dual core cpu's. And since I am tight on budget I'm seriously contemplating on trying the Pentium D805. For $130.00 the cpu can be ran at 200 FSB yielding a 4.1 Ghz dual core cpu. The only catch is you will need new DDR2 rams and also a mobo that is priced a little bit high. If you decide to go this way at least get a 975X chipset mobo which cost about $250.00. Of course, this is just my opinion.