Upgrade one component of my PC...

[Shyatic]

I admit up front folks, that I'm pretty much a gamer. My system runs more or less anything I want, but I have a few extra bucks and I know my system is behind the times.

I have an AMD64 3200+ processor with a BFG 6800GT OC video card. Between those two, which should I upgrade? I want to stay within about $250-300.

Thanks!

 

[jlbenedict]

is it an AGP or PCIe system?

If its PCIe, then go for a 7900GT

 

[Shyatic]

PCIe system.

The processor won't be too much of a drawback with the new card? How much would the new card go for and what kind of performance increase would I get?

 

[m1ldslide1]

For a gaming system your video card will be king. Processor, schmocessor. You'll notice a world of difference between a 6800GT and a 7800GT or 7900GT, whereas if you upgrade to a 4400+ CPU (as an example) you'll notice somewhere between little and no difference in your games.

The 7900GT is supposed to be around $300, and they should be available today or within the next few days on newegg. Performance is supposed to be the same as a 7800GTX, which is more expensive. The 7800GT is what I have, and am very happy with, and can be had for $260 on newegg right now. That price should be coming way down soon as well.

But seriously, a 7900GT and you'd be stoked. I'm not really sure how to exactly quantify the difference you'll see, but if you have at least a gig of RAM then with a 7900 you'd be able to play FEAR and BF2 at max settings and get excellent frame rates. Your new card would also support high settings at a number of different resolutions, depending on what kind of monitor you have.

 

[Shyatic]

I have 2GB of RAM, with my Dell 2001FP monitor

Thanks for the advice... I'm going to wait just a little bit before I bite the bullet on the graphics card.

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: m1ldslide1
For a gaming system your video card will be king. Processor, schmocessor. You'll notice a world of difference between a 6800GT and a 7800GT or 7900GT, whereas if you upgrade to a 4400+ CPU (as an example) you'll notice somewhere between little and no difference in your games.

The 7900GT is supposed to be around $300, and they should be available today or within the next few days on newegg. Performance is supposed to be the same as a 7800GTX, which is more expensive. The 7800GT is what I have, and am very happy with, and can be had for $260 on newegg right now. That price should be coming way down soon as well.

But seriously, a 7900GT and you'd be stoked. I'm not really sure how to exactly quantify the difference you'll see, but if you have at least a gig of RAM then with a 7900 you'd be able to play FEAR and BF2 at max settings and get excellent frame rates. Your new card would also support high settings at a number of different resolutions, depending on what kind of monitor you have.

7900GT's and 7900GTX's were available yesterday on Newegg.. they are seling out quick though...

 

[djnsmith7]

I recommend upgrading to a 7900 GT...I saw very nice gains when I upgraded from my X800XL (comparable to your 6800 GT)...