Upgrading for World of Warcraft

[Nanobie]

**Edited my choices for a Video Card and RAM**

I?m upgrading my PC for the upcoming fun-fest known as World of Warcraft. My goal: smooth frame rates and great, detailed graphics. With the help of a few fellow WoW players, I have put together the following upgrades.

Budget: $500 US (buying everything from Newegg)

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 2800+, 512KB L2 Cache, 64-bit Processor ? Retail

Motherboard: GIGABYTE "GA-K8NS" NVIDIA nForce3 250 Chipset

Video Card: Jetway ATI RADEON 9600LE Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "96LE-AD-128C" ?RETAIL
EDIT DIAMOND ATI RADEON 9600XT Video Card, 256MB DDR, 128-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "Viper 9600XT" -RETAIL

RAM:
Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 512MBx2 DDR PC-3200 ? OEM
EDIT Mushkin 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - Retail

Case: ANTEC Solution Series Super Mid Tower Case with 350W Power Supply, Model "SLK3700AMB"

Not Upgrading
Hard Drives: One 60GB and one 20GB, both Western Digital 7200RPM ATA100 drives.
Audio: A SoundBlaster card, I don?t care too much about audio as some do.
CD Burner: works just fine.
Monitor: nice 19? CRT
Keyboard + Mouse + Speakers: all accounted for.

My Reasoning
CPU: The AMD 64 handles gaming amazingly.

Motherboard: Gigabyte is well respected, and 3 DIMM slots is a bonus

Video Card: I don?t need the latest in graphics, but something that is a great upgrade from my current Geforce3 Ti200. This last-generation card is currently on jpeyton?s System Buyer's Guide as well.

RAM: Corsair, another great company. I went with 1GB and a low end card, vs. 512MB and a $150 card. That extra memory will come in handy during raids when there are 50+ players running around on screen, with all those spell effects and textures and bump maps.

Case: Also from jpeyton?s System Buyer's Guide (great resource).

A question: will the 350w Antec PSU be enough for these upgrades?

Thanks in advance for any feedback. I know you get plenty of ?My Next Rig, Your Thoughts?? threads each day, yet Anandtech has a wonderful community which enjoys discussing upgrades as much as I do

 

[Mik3y]

:thumbsup:

 

[Tavoc]

I would definitely go with a faster Vid card. My friend already has the system you describe, except with a 9600XT, and he already has a few slowdowns in certain areas of WoW. When you think about possible expansions and large raids, I would say get a 9800 Pro to be safe.

 

[Farmer]

I agree with Tavoc. I would say get a 6600GT, though, if you could stretch your budget that bit.

 

[Nanobie]

Thanks for your feedback. I have made a few changes (edited my orig. post as well) in light of your suggestions.

Video Card: DIAMOND ATI RADEON 9600XT Video Card, 256MB DDR, 128-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "Viper 9600XT" ?RETAIL

I am told the 9600XT is great bang for the buck. I only have ~$150 to spend on a video card, so I couldn?t get an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro. What do you think, can?t go wrong with this card?

Memory: My original plan was for 1GB. But since a good video card is more important, I plan on going with a stick of Mushkin 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - Retail. A few questions arise however,

1. I have 3 sticks of RAM in my current PC:

a) 256MB PC2700
b) 2x 128MB PC2100

Because of the PC difference, are these currently running at 2100 then? Basically, they all default to speed of the slowest stick of RAM?

2. Should I use any of the above sticks in my new PC with the Mushkin 512MB PC3200 linked above? It would bring me close to 1GB of RAM, but they would all run at the lowest speed, PC2100, correct? Or should I only keep the 256MB PC2700? It would run a little faster, but I would loose those the extra 128MB.

I only have three DIM slots on that motherboard, so there are three options for which sticks I should use in my final PC.

3. Finally, is Mushkin quality RAM? Newegg also has Corsair and Rosewill around the same price, if either is better quality.

I can?t wait for a new PC and the release of World of Warcraft!

 

[gobucks]

9800 Pro can be found for about $20 more than what you are paying for the 9600XT, and is MUCH faster. I've seen plenty of 9800 Pros for under $180. Also, I agree with Farmer. Go for the 6600GT if you can wait another week for PCIe motherboards to come out. They are also about $180, and have the performance of an overclocked GT. As for the system, I think you will be very happy if you open up another $50 or so in your budget in order to:
Go for a 3000+ (socket 939) instead of the 2800+ (add $20, check pricewatch) - they overclock awesome, you can get 2.6GHz on air, so in a year, you can pick up a gig of fast ram and OC the hell out of it.

Get a 6600GT instead of a 9600XT (add $20, check pricewatch again) - WAY better performance. After all, Doom3 and Farcry are practically unplayable on a 9600XT in anything other than 640x480, 16-bit color, so if you get one, you're basically throwing $156 down the toilet, since you're gonna have to upgrade soon. After all, what 3 engines are gonna power future games? Hint - HL2, Doom3, and Farcry. If you don't believe me, look at the reviews of these new games on sites like this one or xbitlabs or firingsquad or others. 9600XT is about 50% of 9800 Pro performance, and 1/3 of 6600GT performance, for only about 15% less cost. It's just not a good buy unless you can find one closer to the $100 mark.

Go for an nForce4 mobo - (not sure on price difference, but on the german site I saw them for presale on, they were within 1 euro of the nforce3 250GB price). This is a must for the PCIe 6600GT. It also gives you lots of new tech, like PCIe expansion slots, SATA-II, dual gigabit ethernet, hardware firewall, lots of other stuff. Upgrade path will be better, too. Socket 939 will let you upgrade to dual core when the time comes, and PCIe will be where most future video cards will be .

For memory, if you are strapped for cash, then go cheap on RAM. 512 should work for now. In a while, when you need more, then get a 1GB kit of low-latency ram (should be cheap by then), and sell the 512 stick to a friend or something. That will let you overclock your CPU a hell of a lot (probably up to 45%). As for the old ram, don't even bother. Running at DDR333 or 266 will hurt performance a hell of a lot, and the extra 256MB won't help enough to make up for it.

These changes, which should only add an extra 10% to the cost, will give your PC a lot of extra life, as well as ugradeability for the future.

 

[rsd]

Seriously, check out hot deals on here and Fatwallet. You can often find very good deals, better than newegg, but depends on how much effort you want to make and how long you want to wait (and whether you are willing to deal with rebates).

For example on FW, there is a posting for a 9600xt from Outpost for $130 after $50 rebate. So right there is another $30 to play with.

 

[gobucks]

btw, if you absolutely can't shell out an extra $50 bucks, and can't do my recommendation, I at least STRONGLY suggest that you upgrade your video card to a 9800 Pro at the bare minimum. You'll likely be sorry in six months if you don't. My friend's actually been playing WOW beta for a while now, using a 9800 Pro, and I've seen it. It looks pretty good, but he's gotta run it without any eye candy, so I think it'd be pretty damn choppy on anything less.

 

[rsd]

Also buy.com has a 6600gt for $230

 

[rsd]

Or buy this Dell Dimension w/lcd for $750 after rebate here
and then sell the monitor, and upgrade the video card (or upgrade during the configuration a x800 SE is $180 more).

So figure $750 + 180 (vid card upgrade) - $400 for monitor(? just a guess) ~$530

Oh this also comes with a free printer. Maybe pawn it off for a few more bucks.

So like I said you can get a pretty nasty computer if you are willing to do some work.

 

[KutterMax]

I have to agree with the comments on the video card - at least get a 9800 Pro and if possible consider a 6600GT.

You will get more use out of the system and be much happier in the long run.

 

[scaryclownsarefun]

WTF, if you get that dell, you will be signing your soul over to the devil. that 3.2GHz p4 will get you no where in games, and the whole thing will be utterly un-overclockable.
my recomendation:
Powercolor Radeon 9800SE $145 http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-131-236&depa=0
- you can softmod this card to the 9800 pro, and then to the 9800XT if you are lucky.
Chaintec VNF3-250 $72 http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-152-043&depa=0
- this motherboard has really good overclocking capabilities, and will support every feature you will need.
Kingmax PC 3200 $66.50 http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
- good stable PC 3200 ram, cheap and has cas 2.5-3-3 (can reach cas 2.5-3-2 at default voltages)

 

[rsd]

Originally posted by: scaryclownsarefun
WTF, if you get that dell, you will be signing your soul over to the devil. that 3.2GHz p4 will get you no where in games, and the whole thing will be utterly un-overclockable.
my recomendation:
Powercolor Radeon 9800SE $145 http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-131-236&depa=0
- you can softmod this card to the 9800 pro, and then to the 9800XT if you are lucky.
Chaintec VNF3-250 $72 http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-152-043&depa=0
- this motherboard has really good overclocking capabilities, and will support every feature you will need.
Kingmax PC 3200 $66.50 http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
- good stable PC 3200 ram, cheap and has cas 2.5-3-3 (can reach cas 2.5-3-2 at default voltages)

Don't get a 9800SE imho. Softmod is no guarantee, and for a little more you can probably get something better.

 

[rsd]

Originally posted by: scaryclownsarefun
WTF, if you get that dell, you will be signing your soul over to the devil. that 3.2GHz p4 will get you no where in games, and the whole thing will be utterly un-overclockable.
my recomendation:
Powercolor Radeon 9800SE $145 http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-131-236&depa=0
- you can softmod this card to the 9800 pro, and then to the 9800XT if you are lucky.
Chaintec VNF3-250 $72 http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-152-043&depa=0
- this motherboard has really good overclocking capabilities, and will support every feature you will need.
Kingmax PC 3200 $66.50 http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
- good stable PC 3200 ram, cheap and has cas 2.5-3-3 (can reach cas 2.5-3-2 at default voltages)

Shrug, I think that 3.2ghz is MORE than fine for WOW. For most modern games after a certain point, you are more limited by your video card. And what is overclocking going to give you ...another %10fps at best? That would be hardly noticeable compared to getting, let's say, a 9800se and a x800pro or 6600gt.