Thinking about an upgrade

[CrimsonCrusader]

Hi everyone.
I've been thinking about upgrading my computer, to be exact, my cpu.
This is my current system:

AMD 3200+ 64 bit (socket 939)
ASUS A8N-SLI
2GB pc3200 RAM
ATi Radeon X850XT

I think that's the most important part. I don't really have the money for a full upgrade, so I'm trying to focus on the bottleneck, and I *think* the bottleneck here is the processor. So I've been thinking, what if I upgrade to an AMD 3800+ 64 bit processor? Would that be a good decision?
I use my computer for about everything. I make music on it, I edit pictures and draw stuff, I edit video, audio, programming and I play games. I want to boost the performance in my games a bit, I'm quite satisfied with the rest.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: CrimsonCrusader
Hi everyone.
I've been thinking about upgrading my computer, to be exact, my cpu.
This is my current system:

AMD 3200+ 64 bit (socket 939)
ASUS A8N-SLI
2GB pc3200 RAM
ATi Radeon X850XT

I think that's the most important part. I don't really have the money for a full upgrade, so I'm trying to focus on the bottleneck, and I *think* the bottleneck here is the processor. So I've been thinking, what if I upgrade to an AMD 3800+ 64 bit processor? Would that be a good decision?
I use my computer for about everything. I make music on it, I edit pictures and draw stuff, I edit video, audio, programming and I play games. I want to boost the performance in my games a bit, I'm quite satisfied with the rest.

I'd buy a DVD burner if I were you. That way you can archive all that music and video.

 

[PurdueRy]

That proc is not the bottleneck in most games...especially new ones. Gfx card is really your only option if you want to increase game speed.

 

[CrimsonCrusader]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: CrimsonCrusader
Hi everyone.
I've been thinking about upgrading my computer, to be exact, my cpu.
This is my current system:

AMD 3200+ 64 bit (socket 939)
ASUS A8N-SLI
2GB pc3200 RAM
ATi Radeon X850XT

I think that's the most important part. I don't really have the money for a full upgrade, so I'm trying to focus on the bottleneck, and I *think* the bottleneck here is the processor. So I've been thinking, what if I upgrade to an AMD 3800+ 64 bit processor? Would that be a good decision?
I use my computer for about everything. I make music on it, I edit pictures and draw stuff, I edit video, audio, programming and I play games. I want to boost the performance in my games a bit, I'm quite satisfied with the rest.

I'd buy a DVD burner if I were you. That way you can archive all that music and video.

lol XD
I didn't name all the specs. Of course I also have a DVD burner, a CD burner (why actually? It's broken anyway) etc. I just named the parts that were most important for gaming, actually.

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
That proc is not the bottleneck in most games...especially new ones. Gfx card is really your only option if you want to increase game speed.

Hmmm, darn. That means I'll have to spend more money. Ahh well, gaming is expensive. What videocard do you recommend?

 

[MTDEW]

Going dual core wont help your games much unless you overclock the dual core faster than your current processor, even then it wont really gain you a whole lot of fps in games.

Simple fact is, most games out now, dont take adavantage of dual cores.

Now video encoding and other stuff, thats a different story.

Dual core cut my converting avi,mpeg etc..etc.. to dvd format times in half!

And you can "multitask" better with your dual core.

So, its up to you if those things are woth the $$$

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: CrimsonCrusader

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: CrimsonCrusader
Hi everyone.
I've been thinking about upgrading my computer, to be exact, my cpu.
This is my current system:

AMD 3200+ 64 bit (socket 939)
ASUS A8N-SLI
2GB pc3200 RAM
ATi Radeon X850XT

I think that's the most important part. I don't really have the money for a full upgrade, so I'm trying to focus on the bottleneck, and I *think* the bottleneck here is the processor. So I've been thinking, what if I upgrade to an AMD 3800+ 64 bit processor? Would that be a good decision?
I use my computer for about everything. I make music on it, I edit pictures and draw stuff, I edit video, audio, programming and I play games. I want to boost the performance in my games a bit, I'm quite satisfied with the rest.

I'd buy a DVD burner if I were you. That way you can archive all that music and video.

lol XD
I didn't name all the specs. Of course I also have a DVD burner, a CD burner (why actually? It's broken anyway) etc. I just named the parts that were most important for gaming, actually.

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
That proc is not the bottleneck in most games...especially new ones. Gfx card is really your only option if you want to increase game speed.

Hmmm, darn. That means I'll have to spend more money. Ahh well, gaming is expensive. What videocard do you recommend?

I would probably look into a ATI 1800XT or 1900XT

 

[Blain]

CrimsonCrusader,
This type question has been asked here 8,346 times in the last 6 months. You joined 08/16/2006 with your first post being this question.

You would be well served to go back and read through the tons of threads addressing this subject. That would save the usual suspects from posting the exact same answers they have for the other 8,345 threads.
The answers will stay the same I assure you. The only thing that will have changed are component prices.

 

[CrimsonCrusader]

Originally posted by: MTDEW
Going dual core wont help your games much unless you overclock the dual core faster than your current processor, even then it wont really gain you a whole lot of fps in games.

Simple fact is, most games out now, dont take adavantage of dual cores.

Now video encoding and other stuff, thats a different story.

Dual core cut my converting avi,mpeg etc..etc.. to dvd format times in half!

And you can "multitask" better with your dual core.

So, its up to you if those things are woth the $$$

True, that's the main reason why I don't go dual core, until the games fully support it.
I do a lot with media, but it's more of a hobby and I can wait. It's not like it's my work and I need top notch performance for that.
However, I would like it if games were somewhat faster. Of course, if I want skyhigh framerates I'll have to get those high-end parts and spend lots of $$$, or in my case, ???. I'm satisfied with an average gaming experience, but I think 8-19fps is just too low (Dark Messiah of Might and Magic in some areas, Oblivion).