Tough Choice Here

[1stFlight]

Okay I've got an Athlon 900/256PC133/Radeon 64VIVO ... now here the problem I can upgrade the CPU/RAM/<B to a
AlthonXP 1800/256DDR/Via333 platform and keep the video card, or keep the whole system and upgrade to a
GeForce4 4600VIVO when it comes out...which am I better served by?

 

[Ryukumu]

Wow, your current CPU/RAM setup is the exact same as mine!

In your situation, I'd upgrade the CPU/RAM/Motherboard. In doing that, your entire system performance will shoot up a good bit. If you do the video card, the only benefits you'll see will probably be in games. While not as much as a new video card, the CPU boost will help your gaming scores a bit too.

 

[FlamingPanther]

I would say to go with a known KT266A board right now, the KT333s are not performing any
better than the KT266As and they are more $ and harder to find right now.
I would say to go with a Abit KR7A and a Athlon XP 1800+ with 256-512 of Micron chipped DIMMS
(not necessarily Crucial)

However a GF4 would be nice.

What kinda budget do you have in mind?

 

[1stFlight]

I guess I should mention my system is primarily used for gaming Quake3/Half-Life (which runs more than perfectly)/Dues-Ex, etc...
my budget is 1,000 even (wife, what can I say). Basically I'm after something that'll let me play the new Doom (when it comes out)
decently.

 

[HannibalL]

I have the exact same setup as you except I am using a DDR motherboard.
I originally had a Thunderbird 900 with Abit KT7 and Radeon 64 DDR. Since DDR was the new thing I bought a new board (KG7) with 256mb DDR ram but left the processor alone, few months later I bought a Radeon 8500 and got huge increase in game performance. If games are your thing then you wont need anything faster than 900. I play everything at 1280x1024 and it flies.

 

[FlamingPanther]

Then in that case i would say you are shooting a bit low
hardware wise.

Lets see what Monarchcomputers.com has....
(Geogia, good prices, and it's close I don't know about the shipping though)

Abit KR7A KT266A Raid DDR (AMD) $148.00
256 MB DDR 2400 Corsair $115.00
AMD Athlon XP 1800+ 3 Year Warranty $145.00
Total thus far : $408.00

Video cards:

Radeon 8500 OEM (what I have) with driver disk/cables $185
Radeon AIW 8500 Retail $339
Asus V8200 TI 200 GeForce3 Pure 64MB AGP $188
Asus V8200 TI 200 GeForce3 Deluxe VIVO (s-video in) 64MB AGP $218


I would suggest to go with the Radeon 8500 OEM if you want speed (which I know you do )
this particular one runs at 250/250 and is easily overlcocked to 275/275
without any extra cooling.

Your use of this system sounds EXACTLY like mine, I play Q3 all the time, unless I'm playing CS at a lan party.

I get 130 FPS STEADY in Q3 at 1024x768 with all bells and whistles on and 16x AF
AND 99 (with the fps_max thing still on) in CS with AA 2x performance on, however, that smoke gets me
down to around 70 FPS |
See my sig for system specs V

BTW I got my whole system from
Http://www.monarchcomputer.com

 

[Wolfsraider]

<< my budget is 1,000 even (wife, what can I say). Basically I'm after something that'll let me play the new Doom (when it comes out) >>





<< Abit KR7A KT266A Raid DDR (AMD) $148.00 >>




<< 256 MB DDR 2400 Corsair $115.00 >>




<< AMD Athlon XP 1800+ 3 Year Warranty $145.00 >>




<< Total thus far : $408.00 >>



and doesn't this leave enough left over for a gf4 4600 at 399.00 or is it 499.00

wow the best of both worlds and a bump for a great wife lol

my upgrades are usually limited to 500.00 shhhh

 

[merlocka]

Basically I'm after something that'll let me play the new Doom (when it comes out)

Then you'd be better off waiting until it comes out.

 

[Willoughbyva]

I would also agree to hold off until the game comes out and you will have a better idea of what is going on with systems and the game.

 

[FlamingPanther]

I kinda forgot about that...
Of course I will be getting a R250 when it comes out, but I will not pay the $350+
for a GF4 TI, no matter how Fast they may be.

If they had some of the features of the Radeon 8500, I would've pre-orderd one right now.
(I have the money)
But the took out, took out, N/RT-Patches, I absolutely love this feature in SS2.
And the AF is too much of a performance killer,
So what if you can play at 1280x1024 with Quinicunx?
the textures look like smeared peanut butter in shag carpet after your dog has tried to lick it all up.
I won't even talk about the 2D, because just about everyone agrees that the Radeons have better 2D quality.

I'll Stick with my 8500 thank you!