Time for an upgrade. What to get?

[anthrax]

It looks like with games like COD 2, F.E.A.R. & HL2 and even BF2 my PC isn't cutting it anymore. Any suggestions what to upgrade next? Buget is $600? any suggestsions?

Here is my current config.

AMD 64 3500 S939
1 gig DDR 400
NF3 AGP Mobo
6800GT-AGP
200GB & 80GB 7200rpm PATA HDD
X-Fi Sound Card
Dell 2005FPW LCD.

 

[cKGunslinger]

I find it hard to believe that your PC isn't "cutting" it anymore, especially since that's about the configuration I'm about to upgrade to.

If you really want to drop some cash, I'd recommend something like:

Double up your RAM to 2GB for ~$100.
Get a PCIe Mobo for ~$100.
Then get a 7800GT for $300.

That doesn't seem worth $500 to me, but I'm not really a high-end gaming machine guy, myself.

 

[Lasthitlarry]

cK beat me to it by a second

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yeah, I think it would be hard to argue with what's been said.

Switch to PCI-e, get 2 gigs of ram going, and get a 7800gt.

If you can sell the 6800gt and motherboard to get more money to work with, put that into the videocard budget.

 

[anthrax]

6800GT on a 20" LCD isn't fast enough at 1680 x 1050 res..... like F.E.A.R. .... just read the firingsquad review... http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_radeon_x1900_xt_preview/page13.asp The new x1900 is about as offers 100% improvement at 1600 x 1200..

Thinking more about it , its kinda amazing that the performance difference between 2 generations is over 100%....in 18 months.

 

[Malladine]

What's your ram configuration? If you're on 2x512 consider selling it for $50-60 (due to 4x512 losing dual channel), selling the 6800gt (likely for at least $180-200, more if the buyer wants it because it's rarer now), giving you at least $230.

With that you can buy 2gb of value ram (faster timed ram is unnecessary unless you want to seriously overclock everything) and most of a 939 motherboard.

Let's say you went with that:

$600+$230=$830 budget.

There are many options here!

#1:
Asus SLI mb - $120
X1900XT - $520
2gb ram - $165
total: $805

#2:
7800gt/mb combo: $359
2gb ram: $165
X2 3800+: $313
total: $837

#3:
msi neo4-f: $85
7800gtx256: $450
2gb ram: $165
total:$700

#4:
msi neo4-f: $85
X1900XTX: $620
2gb ram: $165
total: $870 (only $40 more so it counts right? heh heh)

shall I continue?

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: anthrax
6800GT on a 20" LCD isn't fast enough at 1680 x 1050 res..... like F.E.A.R. .... just read the firingsquad review... http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_radeon_x1900_xt_preview/page13.asp The new x1900 is about as offers 100% improvement at 1600 x 1200..

Then you'll have to go PCIe.

 

[Lasthitlarry]

I would honestly wait it out for a few months, at least until M2 comes out, I think mobo prices should come down, but if you really want to upgrade, cK and Malladine have some good ideas.

I just... don't understand this need for high end equipment all the time.

I still run on a 9600XT and have been pleased with it, of course I tend to run games at 1280x1024 or 1024x768 and turn off AA/AF.

I would suggest at least turning off AA/AF...