Upgrade options- only want to upgrade CPU/mobo

[DyslexicHobo]

So here's the scenario...
Right now, I have an Asus A8V deluxe mobo (skt 939) that doesn't have PCI-express support. I really want to upgrade, and the motherboard definitely needs to come first. I want to be able to upgrade the whole PC eventually, but I won't have the cash needed to upgrade everything until about next Christmas.

I'd really like to get a C2D. However, if I get a nice C2D with a good motherboard and RAM, I won't have the money to upgrade to a good gfx card. I was wondering if there is any good options out there as far as PCI-express motherboards which are also compatible with AGP video cards.

And also, will a 380W Antec True 380s be enough power for a mid-range C2D/1gb RAM/x800 Pro AGP card?

If anyone has any other recommendations as far as upgrade paths go, please let me know.

 

[Bryan]

ASRock 775Dual-VSTA

Has both AGP/PCIe slots, as well as DDR AND DDR2 support. Relatively inexpensive too.

Antec's PSU Calc

 

[jkresh]

the antec should be enough for now (unless you are planning on serious overclocks or have realy bad airflow in your case), but you will likely need to upgrade it when you get a new graphics card. I would second the asrock, as its the only simple option for your situation (the other thing would be to sell the x800 and buy a realy cheap pcie card to hold you over). The other option is if you wait till next christmass you could probably get a quad core (either intel or amd ) for a somewhat reasonable price (probably around with the e6700 is now). What are your ucrrent specs, what do you use it for, can you just pick up a cheap x2 to hold you over for a year?...

 

[DyslexicHobo]

Right now my specs are:

Athlon XP 3500+
X800 Pro OC
1GB Mushkin value ram
ASUS A8V Deluxe motherboard
Antec True380s PSU

And yeah... I know, I can wait a year and get so much better. But next year, I'm just going to be thinking the same thing. Last year I was going to upgrade, but wanted to wait for C2D. But instead, I decided I'd better use that money for a laptop instead of upgrading my desktop (for school purposes).

I might actually have enough cash now to upgrade the whole system, depending on how much cash I get for my B-day (somewhere between 100 and 200$) and how much money I spend on my laptop for college.

 

[DaveSimmons]

What programs are making you want to upgrade now?

For gaming, the C2D can't drive the X800 any faster than the A64 does, so you'd see very little or no change in performance there.

If gaming is the main reason, just keep saving up until you can get a full C2D system including 2 GB RAM and a video card upgrade.

 

[DyslexicHobo]

I'd just like faster over-all performance. Being able to rip a CD while doing other stuff, being able to alt+tab out of CS:S with no lag, being able to have a more complex UI in WoW... I think I would definitely get usage out of the extra stuff. I don't really mind playing my games all at low-quality, because when playing competitively that's the best (and I play competitively in pretty much all my games, 'cept WoW).