UPGRADE, OR GO FOR NEW RIG

[MRHACHE]

OK,
Presently running ATHLON XP2600, 512DDR, 9700PRO..
Do I spend money upgrading, or just hold off and go for whole new rig ??
Use to play games, bf2 only just OK..
Won't need much higher than 1280x960 res..

Do I spend a few hundred upgrading, and get a satisfactory performance boost still good for the near future, or hold off and spend that bit more, and get a whole new rig ??

 

[Some1ne]

Well, your hardware seems pretty dated, especially for a gaming machine. Long story short in order to bring it up to spec of a current entry-level gaming setup, you would need a RAM upgrade, graphics upgrade, and CPU upgrade (which, unless you upgraded to an out of date chip, like a faster Athlon XP or socket A Sempron, would force a mainboard upgrade too)...so basically, you'd essentially be buying a whole new system if you were to upgrade all the parts that need upgrading. Therefore, I'd say just save until you can build a new system, and recycle the parts that you can (your 512 MB RAM stick should be reusable in the new system if it's PC3200, you can reuse your HDD and optical drives, your case, and maybe your PSU) in order to keep the cost down (you can get a new MB, decent CPU, decent PCI-E graphics, and another 512 MB stick of RAM for around $500 or less).

 

[ValuedCustomer]

"hold off and spend that bit more, and get a whole new rig" - IMO

 

[imported_ArtVandalay]

WAIT THEN BUILD NEW RIG!!!

 

[5LiterMustang]

I realize your system is dated I have a similar system.

When I built 30 months ago here's what I had...
ABIT NF7-S
1GB Corsair Low Latency matched ram
9700 Pro
AMD 2500+ oc'd to 3200+

I have since upgraded to the 6600 GT from nvidia...thats all i've done and I have to say I dont have much issue running games. I have yet to get BF2 but I'll have it in the next month. I still run most games fairly well, but its not always with settings all the way up. I'm waiting till next spring/summer to build a whole new rig. Why? because the only thing that'd carry over would be my case and HDD's and I'd rather use my current machine as a file server and build a rig with a 74gig 10k drive and maybe a 160 for additional storage. Doing upgrades to keep a machine relevent is like upgrading an old muscle car one part at a time. Just not worth it, if for no other reason other then the fact that its a hassel.

 

[ericlala]

you know whats sad? i upgraded from athlon 1.3ghz to a 2.6 venice and it doesn't *feel* faster

 

[Mrvile]

New rig.

 

[eXx08]

New RIg

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Save up more money, then get a new machine with an Athlon 64 and a PCI-e video card,

 

[BlacKJesuS]

wut about me?

athlon 2600+ ~ 2.1
1 gig of pc3200
6800

?

 

[johnnqq]

yo'ure fine for a while...cpu upgrade if anything.

 

[Some1ne]

wut about me?

athlon 2600+ ~ 2.1
1 gig of pc3200
6800

Get a socket 939 CPU and mainboard, keep the rest, or try to hold out for a year or so and then build a new M2 system.

 

[BlacKJesuS]

I was thinking about waiting for a m2 system...but then thats like forever from now w/ my processor..so i was thinking about getting a super cheap skt754 system

 

[Some1ne]

That's another option, although if you do upgrade to a new CPU/mainboard to hold you over until M2, you'll still probably be riding it for close to two years (unless you pounce M2 as soon as it comes out), so it might pay to spend a little extra on a socket 939 config for the extra performance and possibility to transition to dual-core if you decide you need another upgrade before M2 hits.

 

[BOLt]

If you can sell your rig, do so and get a new rig with a 6 or 7 series NVIDIA GPU, an AMD64 3000+, and 1GB of RAM. If you can't sell your rig, keep what you have a wait about 6 months. Something new is just around the bend with AMD...

 

[mindless1]

It depends on how long you would "hold off" before buying the new rig. If it'd be awhile (more than a month) and you're still actively gaming then I suggest adding at least 512MB of memory... which is a rather inexpensive upgrade but will definitely help with most modern games. I wouldn't put a lot of $$$ into another AGP video card though.

 

[Ike0069]

All new.

 

[MRHACHE]

Thanks guys for all the replies.
I can hang on for a while, and after reading all your apreciated replies, it has helped make up my mind.
I figure its better spent on a newer longer lasting rig, than throwing money on an older set up.
It can be a never ending cycle of upgrading, ( THATS IF we need the extra power of newer technology) we'll never get something thats going to be totally future prof.....
BUT it's better to spend money on something thats gona last longer....
And the way prices come down, hanging on and being patient, in several months time I should be able to get something at a reasonable price which would cost a premium to buy now..

 

[Davegod]

got similar system and wondering same, new setup now or later? I could do with a faster box now, but maybe I should wait until at least ATI bring their next lot of cards out (the lack of compatition isnt good for gfx prices right now), or maybe the next big game like Q4 or whatever.

FWIW I'm 'upgrading', but the guts will be all new - keeping drives, case, psu, monitor, peripherals, etc.

 

[Oyeve]

I was in the same dilema, but my system has better specs than yours. I was gonna go the whole new rig route but I realized the only thing holding me back really was my 9800 Pro. So I got a good deal from someone here in the FS forums and got an ATI X800 XT and now my system should last me at least 1-1 1/2 years longer.