Upgrade question

[kbray]

Hey all, I have about $400 to upgrade my pc, used for gaming.

I have a p4 2.4C, 1 gig 3200 ram, 6600GT.

My question is where I should apply the $400? I was originally thinking of getting an a64 x2 3800 with a new board, but for gaming, would I be better off buying a new video card? Id mainly want to play bf2 (it plays decently right now), civ4 and fear (haven't tried these on this rig), and especially oblivion when it comes out.

If you recommend video card, which one should I get with the $400?

Thanks in advance for the advise!

 

[Ricemarine]

Your system should last you very well right now.

Wait until 2006 when the dual core socket m2's start pouring in... Then you'd have enough money and have a good moment to upgrade with ddr2.

 

[kbray]

Thanks for the reply, I'd been hearing wait until the m2s come out. When is this expected?

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: kbray
Thanks for the reply, I'd been hearing wait until the m2s come out. When is this expected?

Q1 or Q2 of '06
DDR3 is expected in '07.
Blu-ray probably '06 or 07.
New hard drive tech = '09.

 

[doggyfromplanetwoof]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine

Originally posted by: kbray
Thanks for the reply, I'd been hearing wait until the m2s come out. When is this expected?

Q1 or Q2 of '06
DDR3 is expected in '07.
Blu-ray probably '06 or 07.
New hard drive tech = '09.

This is true, but uhm I would upgrade your video card 850XT for 300

oh some food for thought...

92 edoram
94 pc100 ram
agp around this time
98 DDR200
04 PCIe
05 dual cores

Yeah you see my point? It goes on and on and on, upgrade now before its to late becuase next year your going to do it again! and again! and again!
Upgrade what you can use now, not tomorrow.

 

[Viditor]

The problem is that any serious video card upgrade will require PCIe on your motherboard...for price/performance, the best choice would be a $350 GF7800 GT, but I think you will need to upgrade your platform first. So, the X2 3800 and mobo may not be a bad idea...

 

[The Green Bean]

238$ X800GTO2 from Newegg and unlock it to a X850XTPE

 

[kbray]

The new video card would be great, but as viditor suggests, I don't have a pcie slot. I was considering upgrading to the 3800+, especially with an asrock board that has both agp and pcie slots, so that I could upgrade the video card too... but the trouble is that I wouldn't have enough for the video card yet. Is there a better agp video card youd recommend, then instead of upgrading processor now, I could do it later and find one with agp? Or would you recommend to wait for m2 anyway?

Thanks again

 

[xanis]

I was in the same situation not too long ago with the same setup, only with a P4 2.8ghz. I spent a lot of time saving money for my computer, but what I would suggest is waiting until you have enough to get a new mobo/CPU and a 6800GS, then you could wat and get a 7800GT later.

 

[GamerExpress]

I would stick with what you already have and save your money up. Once you have about $1200 or so go for a whole new rig, and please this time switch to AMD, by the time you get enough money saved maybe the M2 will be out!!