Should I wait

[monk3yboy]

Ok so the financial aid money is burning a hole in my pocket but I don't know what exactly I'm going to do with it. Right now I'm leaning towards buying a mid range video card (x800 pro agp probably) and another HD (new WD caviar SE 250) and then finally building the projector (lumenlab one) I've been dying to build. However, I don't know if I should just rebuild my current comp first (2500 barton, gig of hyperx 2700, 9500np unlocked to 9700 pro) to something a bit more current (thinking A64, 2gig ram, x800xl or one of ATi's new x1800). Considering my projector will be run off the computer solely I would love to be able to use ffdshow and make the image look just stunning. Obviously my current computer would run the DVDs and all but I don't know how well its gonna run ffdshow (gotta have some post processing). What do you guys think, just upgrade the card and build the projector, or do I need to get a solid HTPC first? Much less should I just wait a bit till the new line of ATi cards come out and then decide? (not an ATi fanboy, just think for my price range 225-250 they have the best option right now, at least for an AGP slot)

 

[compgeek89]

I'd suggest a whole system update, that athlon XP is dated.

 

[monk3yboy]

Oh yeah and regardless I want to be able to play quake 4 in all its glory when it hits the shelves. That and BF2 could use some improving... and damn just read that the new x1800 cards will support HD DVD decoding, now that may very well be the reason i need to wait to upgrade

 

[xtknight]

You'll want an ATI X1600 PRO for the graphics adapter (may be out in a couple of weeks). They sound like awesome, economical HTPC cards. Low-profile, HDCP, H.264 acceleration, and even HDMI support. Plus the gaming should be acceptable. Let's hope they come out in AGP. But you may want a PCIe system anyway. If you do upgrade, make sure you get a PCIe-supported motherboard. I recommend getting an A64 3000+ 90nm S939 for CPU and an nForce4 Standard (or Ultra if you need one of the features). The performance difference between them is nil. Do wait for the new ATI line-up, they sound like they may fit your situation quite well. BTW I just got a WD Caviar SE 250 SATA 3G, and I love it. Blazing fast.