Should I upgrade from a V3 3000 PCI to a V5 5500 PCI?

[Sukhoi]

I have a chance to get a real good deal on the V5...I can get it for $110, and then one of my friends will buy the V3, so the total upgrade price is $60.

Currently I have a Celeron 433, i440LX mobo, 192 MB 66 MHz CAS2 SDRAM, V3 3000 PCI, SB Live! MP3+, Western Digital 30 GB 7200 RPM HDD, 15" Trinitron monitor.

Do you guys think the upgrade is worth it? Looking through Anand's benchmarks, it seems that I won't actually get any FPS increase by going to the V5. But, it looks like I'll be able to run at 800x600 32-bit with maybe 2x FSAA on, for about the same FPS I'm getting now at 640x480 (or 800x600 depending on the game). Thanks!

 

[HappyGamer2]

it's worth it if you got a power supply 200 watts or higher and room for the card (it's long)
it really depends on the games you play also, i would also look into get a 17 or 19 monitor.

 

[Deeko]

I'd say it's worth it.

 

[snow patrol]

Definitely, if you're only loosing $60, I'd say it's most certainly worth it.

 

[Sukhoi]

Yeah, I was thinking it'd be worth it.

I have an Inwin S500 case with a 235 watt power supply, so I think I'm fine on the power part. I really don't have money to get a new monitor now, but I'll be getting a good quality 17" in about a year and a half.

I kinda am worried about the card fitting in my case though (I posted another thread about this). When I get home I have to measure and see how long my PCI slots are...I can't remember if the IDE connectors are on the same part of the board as the PCI slots.

 

[acroig]

It sure is worth the money, but the card will languish waiting on that slow Celery. Maybe it's time for a CPU upgrade?

 

[Sukhoi]

Yeah, I know it'll be CPU limited. I figure I should be able to turn up the graphs a ways before I'm video card limited though.

I can't get a new CPU. This is the highest the mobo support, and I don't fell like getting a new mobo. Oh well

 

[Sukhoi]

Oh, I thought of another question.

I was reading through 3dfx's V5 5500 FAQ, and it mentions that the mobo's BIOS must support the V5 5500, or it won't work.

Since I can run the V3 3000 PCI just fine, can I assume there's a very small chance I won't be able to run the V5 5500 PCI since it's so similar to the V3? I have an i440LX based mobo.

 

[BFG10K]

For $60 that's an excellent deal, even if the card only lasts you ~6 months. Go for it.

I was reading through 3dfx's V5 5500 FAQ, and it mentions that the mobo's BIOS must support the V5 5500, or it won't work.

Well the V5 has a different kind of architecture but if you can run a Voodoo3 I see no reason why it shouldn't work. Update your BIOS to the latest version and see if you can find any more information on the issue.

Above all, try to get in the situation where you can return the V5 and still keep your V3 if the worst does happen.

 

[Sukhoi]

Yeah, I think there's a really tiny chance that it won't work, especially considering it's a PCI card. I'm running the V3 3000 PCI, SB Live! MP3+, and a Linksys EtherFast 10/100 NIC currently, all without problems. The latest BIOS update for my mobo is from 12/18/1998 if I remember the date right, and I already have it.

If it doesn't work, and I can't return the board for some reason or another, I can probably sell it on Eb@y or somewhere else for close to the price I paid.

 

[MGallik]

Perhaps to me!

 

[BFG10K]

Sukhoi:

If it doesn't work, and I can't return the board for some reason or another, I can probably sell it on Eb@y or somewhere else for close to the price I paid.

Well more importantly, don't sell your V3 until you're sure the V5 works.

 

[Sukhoi]

Yep, I already thought of that. My friend that's buying the V3 is only going to use it to replace his i810 integrated graphics, so he's not in any real hurry.