Upgrade suggestions

[ConnyG]

This is what I have right now:

- Intel Pentium IV Northwood 2.4 GHz (533MHz FSB)
- Asus P4PE Gold (i845PE)
- 1.5 GB RAM (512MB CL2.5 Samsung DDR333, 1024 MB CL3 Kingston DDR400)
- 120 GB PATA (Hitachi Deskstar 180GXP)
- 2x250 GB SATA (Hitatchi Deskstar T7K250)
- 19" CRT
- Sound Blaster Audigy 2
- GeForce 6600GT 128 MB AGP

I use it mostly for "office work" but I also game now and then, but I am no uber/powergamer. When I do play games however I like to crank up the quality, if possible (it still has to be playable).

I have been thinking about upgrading but I am quite unsure if and how. As I see it I have three options:

1) upgrade graphics card to something like the 7800GS AGP and do a large upgrade later (maybe late this year when Conroe/AM2 is out and stable)

2) upgrade now (been looking at S939, X2 3800+, X1900XT, etc)

3) wait for Conroe/AM2 and upgrade then

I've been looking at option 2 and upgrading to something like Asus A8R32-MVP, AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+, 2 GB HyperX, ATI X1900XT but the one thing "bothering" me is the information that S939 will be end of life Q4 2006 with no new products appearing. While the system would be very good for several years I have some hesitation about upgrading to a platform they are about to move away from.

Then again option 3 would mean waiting at least half a year for products to become available in quantity here. It would also mean playing the waiting game and we all know that new hardware is always on the horizon.

Also, the motherboard of my choice right now is RD580-based. While I have no real interest in running SLI/Crossfire but right now there aren't many motherboards without it. However, the 7900GT cards are priced quite a bit lower than the X1900XT. Is it foolish to run Nvidia graphics cards with ATI-chipsets? (single card, not SLI/Crossfire of course) Or do they work well together. The same question goes for running ATI graphics cards with NVIDIA chipsets.

Or maybe option 4, a cheaper S939-system (Nf4 Ultra, GF7x00, etc).

Suggestions, comments?

 

[thespeakerbox]

I'd wait probably, since your current machine can run most games ok. But remember that youll be paying premium when conroe and am2 comes out. I think Asrock has a board that will support am2 and accepts 939 now. It also has pci-e/agp for upgrades later.

Or just get a cheap 939 system on the fs/ft forums, using your current machine to fund part of it. Then in a year or two when conroe and am2 gets cheaper, take the dive.