Upgrade entire system, or just video card?

[Deleted member 4644]

Right now I run the following:


A64 X2 4200 939 | eVGA SLI mobo |Geforce 7800GT @ 490/1.16 | 2GB Ram 3-3-3 | 150gb Raptor X |74gb WD Raptor | 200gb Seagate IDE | SB X-Fi | Enermax 485W dual rail

I want to play UT3, Quake Wars, and Crysis on my 1920x1200 monitor (maybe at 1600x1200).

My current CPU is a dud and does not OC.

I don't want to spend much cash at all!

Should I just get an 8800GT, or will I need a new CPU/Ram as well? I want to get a Nehelem when it comes out, so part of me does not want to upgrade, but I also want to play these games well.

 

[0roo0roo]

well amd has cheap "black edition" cpus out cheap that are unlocked. partially because their cpus can't really compete these days without such a stunt.
http://www.tomshardware.com/20...22/budget_overclocker/
if its a drop in for you then its good.
gpu needs upgrades first thats for sure. but it might be wasted without cpu upgrade.
you dont need new ram.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

I am running a 939 socket, that changes things, yes?

 

[myocardia]

Yeah, you can't put an AM2 cpu into a Skt 939 motherboard. I think you should buy the best video card you can afford now, and keep saving your money. I agree with OrooOroo, that you'll be cpu-bound with that card (the card will be considerably faster than the cpu), although you'll be much better off than you are now.

At 1920x1200, your cpu doesn't make anywhere near as much difference as it does @ 1024x768, or even @ 1280x1024, in your average game. In other words, those games you mentioned will be playable @ 1920 with an 8800 series card, and won't be with a 7800GT. Of course, some games are more cpu-bound than others. Also, you can download the demos for both Quake Wars and Crysis, so you should do that first, and see how they run on your current system.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

I went ahead and got an 8800GT, I think I'll wait at least a few days on the mobo/cpu to see what the vid card does for me. Thanks guys!

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Anyone else, my 8800GT arrives today.... still wondering about the CPU though..

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644
Anyone else, my 8800GT arrives today.... still wondering about the CPU though..

It seems folks are getting 2.4-2.6GHz . . . . some even higher

AT: CPUs - - 939 X2 4200+ upgrade

 

[jkresh]

you should be fine with ut3 and quake wars, but for crysis to run at 1600x1200 or 1900x1200 you might need to sli your 8800gt's to get solid fps.

 

[joejoeself]

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644
Right now I run the following:


A64 X2 4200 939 | eVGA SLI mobo |Geforce 7800GT @ 490/1.16 | 2GB Ram 3-3-3 | 150gb Raptor X |74gb WD Raptor | 200gb Seagate IDE | SB X-Fi | Enermax 485W dual rail

I want to play UT3, Quake Wars, and Crysis on my 1920x1200 monitor (maybe at 1600x1200).

My current CPU is a dud and does not OC.

I don't want to spend much cash at all!

Should I just get an 8800GT, or will I need a new CPU/Ram as well? I want to get a Nehelem when it comes out, so part of me does not want to upgrade, but I also want to play these games well.

your CPU is fine for right now, there was an article on CPU performance in the crysis demo and FPS difference was negligable (even at the 1440x900 resolution) until they underclocked a 2.66 C2D to 1.6 and even then the difference was only 2 fps at the low 1440x900 resolution.

your cpu should hold out fine and the most important thing for you right now should be your video card, you can always overclock your cpu for that little extra boost in those cpu intensive games (which there arent many compared to all the GPU intensive games)

 

[Deleted member 4644]

I got the 8800GT, seems to run everything I throw at it pretty darn well. I think I'll stick with this for now.

 

[fluxquantum]

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644
I got the 8800GT, seems to run everything I throw at it pretty darn well. I think I'll stick with this for now.

just curious, where did you buy your GT?

 

[joejoeself]

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644
I got the 8800GT, seems to run everything I throw at it pretty darn well. I think I'll stick with this for now.

seems as i was right, well grats on the new video card!