Should I upgrade now, or wait?

[Aisengard]

Been lurking for a while, but the numbers for the new 8800GT have me so impressed it got me thinking a video card upgrade.

I built my current computer in May 2005 and haven't upgraded one bit of it since:

A64 3200+ (overclocked to about 2.4 GHz)
2 x 512 GB DDR
Antec TruePower 2.0 550W (I think)
eVGA Geforce 6800GT (overclocked just a bit over stock levels)

I'm planning a completely new system sometime in the middle of 2008, quad-core processor, new DirectX 10.1 capable video card, the works.

Currently, however, I've not been playing such games as CoD or Hellgate: London or Bioshock because I just got a new 22" Widescreen, with a native resolution of 1920 x 1050, and my poor 6800 can't handle those games very well at that resolution. Bioshock, even at moderate levels, becomes nigh on unplayable.

So what I'm wondering is, around this year's Black Friday, if I find a deal for like a $200 Geforce 8800GT, would the upgrade be worth it, seeing as how I want to play those games right now, and then I can sell the thing when I want to upgrade to a Geforce 9 (or AMD equivalent)? Or does my lack of RAM and old processor bottleneck it enough that just the new video card won't be enough?

Thanks to all who respond with their opinions.

 

[apoppin]

wait
--something you should know:

http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=639
i missed this at the very end:

Cevat Yerli: Very, very well. Stay tuned for more on this. In mid November you will see the new NVidia cards. They are a blast for Crysis and really, really very good deals.

:Q


Also, within 2 weeks we should also see the new AMD card ...
then you will have a choice and also the GT is expected to drop to ~$200
--of course if you *can't wait* ... don't ... the GT is a great value at even $280

Black Friday may well be perfect timing for you!

 

[Aisengard]

So will those 8800GT cards become worthless come mid-2008? Because if I can get one for $200 in November, and then sell it for $100 in May '08, that would be worth it, I think, for me.

 

[apoppin]

So will those 8800GT cards become worthless come mid-2008? Because if I can get one for $200 in November, and then sell it for $100 in May '08, that would be worth it, I think, for me.

no .. not if you get it now ... my 2900xt held it's value since i bought i late May ... till right about now

otoh, if you just bought a GTS640 for $380 you are probably thinking of restocking it

 

[Oyeve]

I would get an 8800GT if I didnt just buy a 2900Pro a few weeks ago. The 8800GT probably spanks my 2900Pro, but I dont care as it plays everything just fine on my rig, plus it was a little bit cheaper than the gouging thats going on right now. I do wish I waited tho as the 8800GT cards are single slot and use less juice than the 2900Pro. But, If we all waited for the next best deal we would all be waiting forever. Its the hobby of PCs that keep us busy, broke, but happy.

 

[bozack]

I am not building a new rig, just upgrading thus this will be worthy of my system (the 8800gt that is)...but if you are building from scratch I would just hold off.

 

[jonks]

Originally posted by: apoppin
wait
--something you should know:

http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=639
i missed this at the very end:

Cevat Yerli: Very, very well. Stay tuned for more on this. In mid November you will see the new NVidia cards. They are a blast for Crysis and really, really very good deals.

:Q


Also, within 2 weeks we should also see the new AMD card ...
then you will have a choice and also the GT is expected to drop to ~$200
--of course if you *can't wait* ... don't ... the GT is a great value at even $280

Black Friday may well be perfect timing for you!

I don't think ATI has earned the benefit of the doubt on release dates

 

[nycdude]

I would hold off if t was me.

 

[Aisengard]

Originally posted by: bozack
I am not building a new rig, just upgrading thus this will be worthy of my system (the 8800gt that is)...but if you are building from scratch I would just hold off.

Well, I am going to be building from scratch in the middle of next year, which is 6 or more months from now.

 

[Modular]

An 8800gt is overkill for that system, but it's also the very best option. Show me a card that costs as little and has anywhere near it's performance... Yes, the rest of the PC will hold it back, but I can say for sure that there is nothing else out there at this moment that you should even be considering.

 

[s44]

Now -- or in about a month when the competition and price shake out.

Price/performance seems to peak at certain big releases, and it may very well be a year until the next one. Someone who bought a GTS or GTX last year has been happy, since this is the first real price drop since.

 

[AzN]

6800gt? I think your system is running on fumes right now. Not to mention you don't have dual core.

Now a days games are muti-threaded. It wasn't so 2 years ago but it's becoming a reality.

You are better off selling the whole system and just buy new. Keep the case and power supply, dvd-r, and hard drive.

 

[Pocatello]

Originally posted by: Aisengard
Been lurking for a while, but the numbers for the new 8800GT have me so impressed it got me thinking a video card upgrade.

I built my current computer in May 2005 and haven't upgraded one bit of it since:

A64 3200+ (overclocked to about 2.4 GHz)
2 x 512 GB DDR
Antec TruePower 2.0 550W (I think)
eVGA Geforce 6800GT (overclocked just a bit over stock levels)

I'm planning a completely new system sometime in the middle of 2008, quad-core processor, new DirectX 10.1 capable video card, the works.

Currently, however, I've not been playing such games as CoD or Hellgate: London or Bioshock because I just got a new 22" Widescreen, with a native resolution of 1920 x 1050, and my poor 6800 can't handle those games very well at that resolution. Bioshock, even at moderate levels, becomes nigh on unplayable.

So what I'm wondering is, around this year's Black Friday, if I find a deal for like a $200 Geforce 8800GT, would the upgrade be worth it, seeing as how I want to play those games right now, and then I can sell the thing when I want to upgrade to a Geforce 9 (or AMD equivalent)? Or does my lack of RAM and old processor bottleneck it enough that just the new video card won't be enough?

Thanks to all who respond with their opinions.

My system is similar, I have the 7800GT, A64 3500+, 1GB DDR RAM. I think I might need a new pc to go along with the 8800GT.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I'm thinking of picking one up.... This is the perfect card for my HTPC box, however it is also an upgrade for my main game rig. So I will probably put it in the game rig now, and get the faster cards in a few weeks, and move this to the HTPC once get them... I need a single slot solution and lower power for the HTPC, since it's power supply isn't all that beefy.

 

[dajeepster]

Originally posted by: Aisengard
Or does my lack of RAM and old processor bottleneck it enough that just the new video card won't be enough?
Thanks to all who respond with their opinions.

I was running an A64 3000+ (socket 939) in BF2142... along with two 6800gt. I started to get fps losses after thier 2nd update (in think that's when it was)... I swapped out my A64 3000+ with an Opteron 175 and things have been great since...

I've just parted out the 6800gt video cards to family and friends (for thier computers) and replacing it one 8800gt for now

You might be better off and replacing the single core processor for now with a dual core proc.... but the new 8800gt doesn't hurt either

 

[Aisengard]

Well, I figured if I do get this card, which is looking like a strong possibility, that I could just slot it into my next system when I do build it, keeping an eye out for 'the next big thing'.

My only concern right now is whether or not I'll be able to play Bioshock/CoD with my current setup and that card. If I can, then perfect. If I can't, then I have some thinking to do.

And wouldn't I have to upgrade my nForce4 motherboard to be able to get a dual core?

 

[SolMiester]

Same boat here too, though my 66GT died and I ended up with a 9250. I have an AGP system though, so cant go anywhere until I can afford a new system.......<sniff>.

All these games coming out.......<sniff>

 

[cmdrdredd]

I'd try to hold out until there is good DX10 performance out of a card. If I was in that situation I'd save up to buy whatever card gives 30fps mins in DX10 games maxed out at your preferred resolution.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: sirjonk

Originally posted by: apoppin
wait
--something you should know:

http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=639
i missed this at the very end:

Cevat Yerli: Very, very well. Stay tuned for more on this. In mid November you will see the new NVidia cards. They are a blast for Crysis and really, really very good deals.

:Q


Also, within 2 weeks we should also see the new AMD card ...
then you will have a choice and also the GT is expected to drop to ~$200
--of course if you *can't wait* ... don't ... the GT is a great value at even $280

Black Friday may well be perfect timing for you!

I don't think ATI has earned the benefit of the doubt on release dates

i added AMD as an *afterthought* ... an "also"
[you 'bolded' it]
-it is something to possibly affect pricing downward as GT is expected to drop in price anyway.

Don't miss my point! -Yerli was talking about the new nvidia cards - not the GT - coming out in 2 weeks as being a "blast for Crysis"

 

[taltamir]

wait one to three weeks for the price gouging to end (And for AMD to possibly release a compeditor) ... then buy a GT.

In a month nvidia is gonna release an updated GTS... but that is gonna probably cost around 400$. while the GT is supposed to cost 200$ for the 512mb version according to nvidia.

The new GTS is probably gonna outperform this by a little, but so far this is the best bang for the buck in a long long long time.