Should I Upgrade To PCI-Express?

[LasombraB]

I've been thinking about upgrading my video card, and going to PCI-Express. The main reason is to future proof my system. Currently I have a A64 3800+ Venice, ASUS A8V Deluxe, 1GB RAM, and a GeForce 6800 GT. I was thinking about getting a ASUS A8V-E Deluxe or MSI K8N NEO4 Platinum, then a higher end video card maybe the new 7800GTX.

 

[2Xtreme21]

... No. Don't bother yet as that system owns.

 

[blckgrffn]

No reason to upgrade an AGP vid card right now, as an Nforce4 Ultra board can be had for around $100

 

[Kogan]

It's impossible to future-proof a pc, so I'd give up now

If you want faster video and don't mind waiting, see if someone produces an agp 7800 video card within the next few months (I'm betting someone will).

But if you've got money to burn and you want a faster system, go for a 939 sli system and get a 7800gtx or two. Besides just being able to run all 3d games/apps perfectly, you'll then be the coolest guy on anandtech

 

[rise]

lol, i agree with kogan. if you have the money and feel like it, go ahead. you can probably get some decent $$ back on your hardware.

as they all said, there really isn't a need but its up to you.

 

[Grimbor]

Unless you can sell your old gear for a good price, I'd hold off myself. There is a good chance SLI2 will allow 2 different generation GPUs to run together. If so, that 6800GT might become very useful running with a 7XXX in a future motherboard that may well be only a few months away.

 

[trinibwoy]

This is a funny thread. I'm running a mobile XP and a 6800GT and haven't seen any compelling reason to move to PCIe yet. The most compelling reasons right now are BF2 and the GTX but I'm going to resist and wait to see what ATi announces at the end of July.

 

[LasombraB]

I guess I'll keep what I have and just add 1GB of RAM. BF2 is driving this right now.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I would stay with what you have until you are ready for a CPU upgrade... By that time though, the new sockets will be out from AMD, and then would be the time to finally make the jump to PCI-E. At least in your case, since that is a good system.

Now me on the other hand, I am building a new system from scratch, so I made the jump to PCI-E because it is the smart thing to do at this point if you have to buy a new system now. But you don't, so I would stay with what you have and possibly just bank some of that cash you have on hand and save it up for the future upgrade of motherboard, processor and graphics card, as that can/will be pretty expensive.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Grimbor
Unless you can sell your old gear for a good price, I'd hold off myself. There is a good chance SLI2 will allow 2 different generation GPUs to run together. If so, that 6800GT might become very useful running with a 7XXX in a future motherboard that may well be only a few months away.

From my cursory knowledge of PCI-E and AGP, AGP cards will never be SLI compatible becasue SLI requires 2-way communication between the two cards, which PCI-E provides and AGP does not. At least, I believe this to be the case. If I'm wrong and someone knows better, please correct me on this.