Upgrade advice

[Johnbear007]

So,

My situation:

Asrock dual SATA
939Dual-SATA2

1. Socket 939 for AMD Athlon? 64FX / 64X2 / 64 processors
2. ULi® 1695 chipset (ULi® M1695/ ULi® M1567)

* For Socket 939 AMD Athlon? 64X2, Athlon 64FX and Athlon 64 processors
* Future CPU Port: Supports CPU upgrade from AMD K8 939-Pin CPU to AM2 940-Pin CPU through AM2 CPU Board (Optional)
* FSB 1000 MHz (2.0GT/s), Dual Channel, DDR400
* Hyper-Transport Technology, AMD Cool'n'Quiet Technology
* Hybrid Booster - ASRock Safe Overclocking Technology
* PCI Express x16 slot
* PCI Express x1 slot
* AGP slot
* PCI E SATA2 controller on board, optimizing the support for SATA2 HDD
* Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s, RAID 0,1,JBOD
* 7.1channel Superior Quality Audio, 10/100 Ethernet LAN
* ASRock 8CH I/O: 4 ready-to-use USB2.0 ports, 7.1channel audio jack


I currently am running an AGP Vanilla 6800 and 2 GB of DDR 1 and a SATA 75 gb Raptor


I am using a 19 inch LCD with a native res of 1280x1024.

I do not plan on replacing this in the near future. No sooner than 1 year, probably 2 years or more.

Supreme Commander is chugging a bit and I'd like to upgrade. I don't think I want to go core 2 duo because I really cannot afford the new cpu/mobo/new ddr 2 memory.

I was considering an 8800 because I would prefer a DX 10 part, and was leaning towards the GTS, not sure wether 320mb 0r 640mb.

Would I benefit more from the 8800 or from a Dual core athlon 64? or perhaps both?

Remember my target is gaming at 1280x1024 with everything enabled.

I'm posting this because all of the benchmarks I see are at high wide screen resolutions which mean nothing to me.


Thanks!

 

[Captante]

A video card upgrade will give you far more in terms of game performance with even a slow cpu like a 3000+ A64 then any cpu upgrade will do with your 6800, but if 1280x1024 is the maximum you'll be running you won't need to spring for an 8800GTX.

I'd suggest an 8800GTS 320mb as the best bet for your situation... you could also consider stepping up to the 640mb version if you want to be more future-resistant.

 

[PingSpike]

How long do you plan to stick with your monitor? At that resolution, the 8800gts 320mb would probably be a good match. If you got a screen with a larger res later on though, you might regret not getting a card with more memory. Captante has some good advice, for all of the C2D excitement (it is a great chip) PC games are still all about the video card for the most part.

 

[Johnbear007]

Thanks for the advice guys. I don't plan on upgrading the monitor anytime soon. I have a huge tv with a 360 that I use for big screen HD gaming and I am honestly happy with my 19inch for pc gaming. I doubt ill upgrade it for about 2 years, and by that time it will be time for a new video card.


I am leaning towards the GTS 320MB for this reason.


Would it make sense to upgrade my 2.4 ghz A64 to a dual core socket 939 as well? Or would this not help much along with the 8800?

 

[AVP]

Someone threw out some benchies of the 320mb version not scaling between a x2 3800+ and e6600 or at least a processor of around that speed in some situations. Not sure how it performs below that level, but just be aware that you probably don't have to, or at least it wont be that necessary for games to get a top of the line proc for it. Maybe a 4400-4600 or something would be good.

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: Captante
I'd suggest an 8800GTS 320mb as the best bet for your situation... you could also consider stepping up to the 640mb version if you want to be more future-resistant.

no dude, 320 MB cannot run Splinter Cell maxed at 1280. However 640 MB version can.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
So,

My situation:

Asrock dual SATA
939Dual-SATA2

1. Socket 939 for AMD Athlon? 64FX / 64X2 / 64 processors
2. ULi® 1695 chipset (ULi® M1695/ ULi® M1567)

* For Socket 939 AMD Athlon? 64X2, Athlon 64FX and Athlon 64 processors
* Future CPU Port: Supports CPU upgrade from AMD K8 939-Pin CPU to AM2 940-Pin CPU through AM2 CPU Board (Optional)
* FSB 1000 MHz (2.0GT/s), Dual Channel, DDR400
* Hyper-Transport Technology, AMD Cool'n'Quiet Technology
* Hybrid Booster - ASRock Safe Overclocking Technology
* PCI Express x16 slot
* PCI Express x1 slot
* AGP slot
* PCI E SATA2 controller on board, optimizing the support for SATA2 HDD
* Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s, RAID 0,1,JBOD
* 7.1channel Superior Quality Audio, 10/100 Ethernet LAN
* ASRock 8CH I/O: 4 ready-to-use USB2.0 ports, 7.1channel audio jack


I currently am running an AGP Vanilla 6800 and 2 GB of DDR 1 and a SATA 75 gb Raptor


I am using a 19 inch LCD with a native res of 1280x1024.

I do not plan on replacing this in the near future. No sooner than 1 year, probably 2 years or more.

Supreme Commander is chugging a bit and I'd like to upgrade. I don't think I want to go core 2 duo because I really cannot afford the new cpu/mobo/new ddr 2 memory.

I was considering an 8800 because I would prefer a DX 10 part, and was leaning towards the GTS, not sure wether 320mb 0r 640mb.

Would I benefit more from the 8800 or from a Dual core athlon 64? or perhaps both?

Remember my target is gaming at 1280x1024 with everything enabled.

I'm posting this because all of the benchmarks I see are at high wide screen resolutions which mean nothing to me.


Thanks!

The 8800gts 640mb is what you need.

OH yea, a duel core cpu too. You'll be set for a while. Grab a x2 4400 and overclock it.

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: Aberforth

Originally posted by: Captante
I'd suggest an 8800GTS 320mb as the best bet for your situation... you could also consider stepping up to the 640mb version if you want to be more future-resistant.

no dude, 320 MB cannot run Splinter Cell maxed at 1280. However 640 MB version can.

? what are you talking about? sc:ct @1280 hq with hdr+aa+af performance between the 320 and 640mb versions of the GTS is nearly identical (within 1%), and stays pretty close

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/video/g80-7.html

in fact, even @ 1920 the stock oc'd 320mb cards are actually faster than a stock 640mb

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=7840&page=7

frankly i can't think of a single game @1280 where the performance is much different from a 640mb version.

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: CaiNaM

Originally posted by: Aberforth

Originally posted by: Captante
I'd suggest an 8800GTS 320mb as the best bet for your situation... you could also consider stepping up to the 640mb version if you want to be more future-resistant.

no dude, 320 MB cannot run Splinter Cell maxed at 1280. However 640 MB version can.

? what are you talking about? sc:ct @1280 hq with hdr+aa+af performance between the 320 and 640mb versions of the GTS is nearly identical (within 1%), and stays pretty close

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/video/g80-7.html

in fact, even @ 1920 the stock oc'd 320mb cards are actually faster than a stock 640mb

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=7840&page=7

frankly i can't think of a single game @1280 where the performance is much different from a 640mb version.

i'm 99% sure you cannot run some games @ max settings with 320 MB version, my friend has this card and she cannot run Splinter Cell Double Agent ( an extremely heavy 3D game) .

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: Aberforth

Originally posted by: CaiNaM

Originally posted by: Aberforth

Originally posted by: Captante
I'd suggest an 8800GTS 320mb as the best bet for your situation... you could also consider stepping up to the 640mb version if you want to be more future-resistant.

no dude, 320 MB cannot run Splinter Cell maxed at 1280. However 640 MB version can.

? what are you talking about? sc:ct @1280 hq with hdr+aa+af performance between the 320 and 640mb versions of the GTS is nearly identical (within 1%), and stays pretty close

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/video/g80-7.html

in fact, even @ 1920 the stock oc'd 320mb cards are actually faster than a stock 640mb

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=7840&page=7

frankly i can't think of a single game @1280 where the performance is much different from a 640mb version.

i'm 99% sure you cannot run some games @ max settings with 320 MB version, my friend has this card and she cannot run Splinter Cell Double Agent ( an extremely heavy 3D game) .

double agent is a crappy 360 port (good game, poor port from console to pc) that wouldn't even support 8800 series hardware. ubisoft stated a command line needed to be used, and 97.92 or newer driver to make it run at all. at any rate, sca is in no way a good title to judge 8800 performance as their are software issues with it.

i have both a 320mb and 640mb version now, and the 320mb is almost identical in performance to the 640mb version. the card is more than capable of running max quality and high AA settings @ 1280.

in fact with the exception of CoD2 (and Q4 according to reviews; i haven't played that game in forever), it's not until after 1680 that the memory starts holding the gpu back.

 

[Johnbear007]

So at this point I am still leaning towards a 320mb GTS.... Is there any way an 8800 GTX would be beneficial? I am thinking not... I should see the best increase with a gts as well as a dual core proc upgrade...

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
So at this point I am still leaning towards a 320mb GTS.... Is there any way an 8800 GTX would be beneficial? I am thinking not... I should see the best increase with a gts as well as a dual core proc upgrade...

GTX is only needed for like 1680x1050 or higher. and thats probably with AA/AF cranked too. the 320MB GTS is your best bet, or wait till next month for the 8600GTS, 8600GT to come out. its supposed to outperform the 7900GS/7950GT.

but i always ask myself this question, a high end midrange card (8600GTS) or a 320MB 8800GTS...

 

[imported_blacken]

Originally posted by: Aberforth

Originally posted by: Captante
I'd suggest an 8800GTS 320mb as the best bet for your situation... you could also consider stepping up to the 640mb version if you want to be more future-resistant.

no dude, 320 MB cannot run Splinter Cell maxed at 1280. However 640 MB version can.

No dude, 320 / 640 are equivelent - the BFG 8800GTS 320 is actualy 4fps faster than the stock 640 in this benchmark.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/416/12/

 

[Johnbear007]

Thanks for the advice everyone, im going to go for the gts, probably the 320mb version.... Should I be able to play Crysis with this and my A64 at 2.4GHZ? or will I need to get a a dual core as well

 

[Johnbear007]

After looking everything over the 320mb evga GTS looks like a good value, and I can always use the step up program if I like within 3 months. I think I'm going to order one. I have my Athlon 64 up to 2.5 and may be able to get 2.6 out of it. Would going socket 939 dual core give me any kind of an appreciable performance gain?

 

[deadseasquirrel]

At your playing resolution (1280x1024), a dual-core X2 would be a good upgrade for you. It might not make a lick of difference on many games out there, but in a few, it does. Quake4, for example, gets a 40% boost at your resolution with a dual-core over its equally-clocked single-core chip. Most other games get squat. But the future could bring new games that do much better. So might as well upgrade when you can.

Finding a new s939 X2 for a decent price is a bit hard these days (Ewiz has one for $130, but it is OEM and would need a HSF.... retails with HSF are $200+). Since you're not in such a big hurry to upgrade the CPU, I would look for a used Opty 165 that overclocks well (from these FS/FT boards), or wait for a hot deal on an X2 3800+ and overclock it.

 

[Johnbear007]

I think then I will hold off on the CPU upgrade and see how things fare after the upgrade to the 8800