This years upgrade options...

[Fistandantilis]

OK so once again it is tax time and once again I have gotton permission from the wife to do some upgrading on my computer, here are my thoughts:

New processor
OR
New Video Card

For a processor, I have been thinking about the Athlon FX-57 for a video card I am weighing out either some sort of R600 or the nVidia 8800GTX.

I am leaning on the processor, thinking that it would complement my 1900XT very nicely, am I correct on this?
I would like to get a new DX10 video card though, would my Athlon 3500+ bottleneck that option?
I am really not in much of a rush on this upgrade so what do you guys think would be a good option?

Thanks

 

[happy medium]

I'm thinking a duel core cpu or overclock your current cpu and don't bother with fx57.

Do you really need a 8800gtx why not a GTS. Anything below 1900x1050 don't bother with a gtx.

 

[DeathReborn]

Opteron 165 is $155 at Newegg & should overclock to FX57 speeds or better easily.

As for Graphics, the 8800GTS is the best option and the cheaper 320MB version is going to be out soon.

 

[swtethan]

fx-57 is $320 or so on newegg, so if youre willing to spend that, why not upgrade to core 2 duo? e4300 (170) tforce p965pt (100) and if you buy the 8800gts, you will save $100 to put into 2Gb of ddr2 667 (supertalent $120 deal) the monster will oc to 3ghz (333fsb) on stock heatsink and easily beat a opteron 165 and fx-57, you will still have $30 left over by going for the 8800GTS.

you will seriously need a powerful CPU to keep up with a 8800, just look at anandtech's review... http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2903

 

[Fistandantilis]

I was thinking about the new core 2 duo but that would leave me with the need to spend alot more money for a new mobo and stuff like that, I have decided not to go with a new video card, I am going to get a new processor. Why the change of heart you may ask, well I went out and bought a nice brand new acoustic guitar this afternoon and that took a chunk out of the wallet, but hey it has been such a long time since I last played and I can plug it right into my soundcard along with sony's acid pro, I have myself a nice little studio. well thanks for the tips fellas, I will look into the opterons, what is the best opteron that is out on the market and why are they being considered better than the FX chip? I would think that the FX series would be their top notch processors.

 

[happy medium]

Looks like his monitor is native 1680x1050 which should go great with the 640mb version of the GTS.

 

[swtethan]

socket 939 is basically dead now and AMD has nothing to beat core 2 duo at the moment so here are links to a tasty system:

cpu: e4300 $180 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115013

MB: biostar tforce p965pt $105 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138037

RAM:2GB supertalent ddr2 667 $120 http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=T6UB1G...8bc52703e710ab70dee27dc9943e416237d954

video card: 8800gts $380 (before $35 rebate) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127225


overclock to 2.8 - 3ghz on stock cooling



edit: well theres always next year right? lol

 

[Munky]

Your cpu is fine. Get a faster video card if you need it.

 

[SickBeast]

I read somewhere that the X64 3700+X2 will overclock to FX60 speeds.

 

[Skott]

Originally posted by: Fistandantilis
OK so once again it is tax time and once again I have gotton permission from the wife to do some upgrading on my computer, here are my thoughts:

New processor
OR
New Video Card

For a processor, I have been thinking about the Athlon FX-57 for a video card I am weighing out either some sort of R600 or the nVidia 8800GTX.

I am leaning on the processor, thinking that it would complement my 1900XT very nicely, am I correct on this?
I would like to get a new DX10 video card though, would my Athlon 3500+ bottleneck that option?
I am really not in much of a rush on this upgrade so what do you guys think would be a good option?

Thanks

What would Skott do in this situation? Well, not knowing the actual budget I'd probably go with a new cpu first. Reason being is because new cards are coming out February and March, and unless you are running VISTA now DirectX10 doesnt mean squat. Right now buy the DirextX10 cards because they are faster and more powerful than the DirectX9 cards. Not because they are or have DirectX10 features. Then later I'd get the video card once the new G80 and R600 cards come out. You'll have more choices and lateral that way. Thats probably what Skott would do.

Edit: Conroe has a better upgrade path right now with alot of the new Conroe mobos able to run quadcore as well as dual core. AMD's upgrade path is going to require more retooling in the long run IMO. So maybe a cheap Conroe cpu and mid range mobo that offers good overclocking and also takes a quadcore cpu for that extra future proofing later on down the road.

 

[Fistandantilis]

well thanks for all the input fellas, is Intel makeing better processors than AMD? wow! I did not know that.
I will poke around and check out what I can find, right now my budget is rather open, but I would like to keep it down.

Thanks for the input.