Upgrading My Computer....Need some advice.

[LasombraB]

Ok, I can get a dual system for about $100 more then the FX/55 system. Also I'm assuming I need to get a bigger PS for the systems. I plan on selling the parts with the * at the end and buying a used laptop.

Here is what I have now.

CPU- P4 3.2GHz (northwood)*
MB- ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe*
RAM- 1GB PC3200 Corsair XMS
HD- WD Raptor 37GB (sata)*
HD- WD 250GB (pata)
DVDBurner- Plextor PX-708A*
DVDROM- LiteOn 16X
Video- BFG 6800GT OC (8xagp)*
Case- Antec P160
PS- Enermax 420W NoiseTaker*


And Here is the SLI System.

CPU- Athlon 64 4000+
MB- ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe
RAM- 1GB PC3200 Corsair XMS
HD- WD Raptop 74GB (sata)
HD- WD 250GB (pata)
DVDBurner- Plextor PX-716SA (sata)
DVDROM- LiteOn 16X
Video- Dual BFG 6800 Ultra's
Case- Antec P160
PS- Enermax 600W w/SLI


Here is the FX/55 System.

CPU- Athlon FX/55
MB- ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe
RAM- 1GB PC3200 Corsair XMS
HD- WD Raptop 74GB (sata)
HD- WD 250GB (pata)
DVDBurner- Plextor PX-716SA (sata)
DVDROM- LiteOn 16X
Video- BFG 6800 Ultra
Case- Antec P160
PS- Enermax 600W w/SLI


I play games, so which would be better future proofed for me? Should I just go with the FX/55 system then added a video card down the road?

 

[mwmorph]

why dont you go fx55/ 6800gt oc sli? then oc the gt a little mor until ultra speeds?

 

[gobucks]

what would be the point? Is there any game you can't play right now? You have a 6800GT, after all. Rather than trying to "future proof" yourself, and wasting a whole lot of money, why not just wait till there is a game that you can't play or something you can't do. Besides, by the end of the month AMD will have CPUs with strained silicon, SSE3, and better memory controllers (full DDR400 support with 4 DIMMS), and by the end of the year there will be dual cores for better multithreading support, along with virtualization for running multiple OSes concurrently. For graphics, R520 and G70 will be out, and will probably have better performance than the fastest SLI setup currently, as well as newer features. All these things will vastly change the capabilities of the PC, and compared to that spending thousands for a speed bump you don't need just seems kinda silly. I generally won't bother upgrading until I can get at least double my performance AND have some new functionality I didn't have before.

 

[CaBoOse999]

If you really need to upgrade I'd get the FX-55. The performance increase from SLI isn't worth the price.

 

[canadageek]

personally, i wouldn't bother with the exreme-top-of-the-line parts. go a step or two lower, and oc it. switch the 4000+ for a 3500 or the like. it'll cost a helluva lot less, and still be plenty powerful

 

[AristoV300]

Yeah the 4000 is just a rebadged FX-53 and way overpriced. I'd say go with the 3500 or the FX-55. If you already have the GT I wouldn't waste on buying an Ultra, just add another GT later if you don't have the $.

 

[LasombraB]

Another thing to keep in mind is one of the reasons I'm wanting to upgrade is so I can sell my old parts and buy a used laptop. I can use a Employee Purchase Program at my work to buy the computer parts from Monarch Computer Systems. I might just wait a month and see what comes out and upgrade then. Whatever I do now will not change for about 2yrs. There isn't a game I can't play, there is some games I want to play at higher resolutions. And I would like to have the fastest CPU/Video Card.

 

[LasombraB]

BUMP

 

[AkumaX]

Originally posted by: LasombraB
Another thing to keep in mind is one of the reasons I'm wanting to upgrade is so I can sell my old parts and buy a used laptop. I can use a Employee Purchase Program at my work to buy the computer parts from Monarch Computer Systems. I might just wait a month and see what comes out and upgrade then. Whatever I do now will not change for about 2yrs. There isn't a game I can't play, there is some games I want to play at higher resolutions. And I would like to have the fastest CPU/Video Card.

riiight... we all keep telling ourselves that too

 

[moemac8]

I also have a P4 machine but plan on waiting to see what the AMD Tahoe Dual Core CPUS will be like before I decide to upgrade.

 

[LasombraB]

Originally posted by: AkumaX

Originally posted by: LasombraB
Another thing to keep in mind is one of the reasons I'm wanting to upgrade is so I can sell my old parts and buy a used laptop. I can use a Employee Purchase Program at my work to buy the computer parts from Monarch Computer Systems. I might just wait a month and see what comes out and upgrade then. Whatever I do now will not change for about 2yrs. There isn't a game I can't play, there is some games I want to play at higher resolutions. And I would like to have the fastest CPU/Video Card.

riiight... we all keep telling ourselves that too

Yea I said that last year when I upgrade, I mean build a complete new one. Then I upgraded the video card at X-Mas. And now we are here. hmmm.... What can I say, I like to build computers, fast computers. Plus I want an Athlon 64! Last year when I built mine the A64 had just came out, and I didn't like what I saw in the motherboards. So I didn't go that way. Now a year has passed and I'm inching for a new toy.

 

[imported_SLIM]

Originally posted by: moemac8
I also have a P4 machine but plan on waiting to see what the AMD Tahoe Dual Core CPUS will be like before I decide to upgrade.

I think you mean Toledo, the Tahoe is more of a chevy land-yacht

If games are your thing, and you have to have the best, I would choose SLI with an overclocked 3500+ winchester or better yet, one of the new E stepping processors (multiple enhancements to core) due to be released the first week of April.

 

[LasombraB]

BUMP

 

[Emultra]

Rich boy.

 

[Doctorweir]

Copy the rich boy

Besides, the 4000+ IMHO won't be able to feed two 6800s, therefore most likely little performance increase for the money...

 

[imported_Kensai]

The 4000+ is just a FX-53 with a locked multi.

 

[CaBoOse999]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but....On the topic of SLI, Is it possible to overclock with it? I'm assuming both cards would have to run at the same speed.

 

[LasombraB]

Well, Just finished running 3DMark05 on my system and it scored 4600. So I don't think I will upgrade it now. Instead I'm going to get an Dell Latitude D810, and maybe a PowerEdge SC420. I can get both of them for about $2000 and use my works EPP.

 

[Hott Nikkels]

Don't get the FX-55... if you really want to upgrade I'd wait for the new AMD chips (venice) and pick up a 3800+ venice and overlock it to match speeds of a FX-55 for half the price...