Upgrading my P3 600EB, need opinions on this new system

[b4u]

Hi,

I'm thinking about an upgrade to my machine, so I'm asking for Anandtech community opinions.

Current System (a blast, over 3 years ago! lol):

Pentium III 600EB Copermine
MotherBoard ASUS P3V4X (chipset VIA AGP4x BUS133)
DRAM 256 Mb PC133
Apolo Riva TNT2 32Mb
HD Western Digital Caviar 120Gb 7200rpm 8Mb cache
Sound Blaster Live! Value
DVD ASUS 12x/52x
Plextor Writer 24/10/40 internal
Monitor Sony 420GST 19"
Windows XP Professional SP1


I was thinking about the following upgrade:

Processor: P4 2.4c
Board: ASUS P4P800 Deluxe
Memory: 1Gb DDR400 (2x512Mb) Kingston
Graphic: Stay with current TNT2, my change latter to a "Gigacube ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 128DDR VIVO" (or better if prices drop around HL2/DOOM3 )
Sound: Remove SB Live! Value since ASUS P4P800 has sound on-board

I was thinking of staying with TNT2 for some more time, if the system can keep up, because of cash limitations ... (always the money ).

Configuration:
Step1: Configure a 800FSB (200*4) 2.4c system, with DDR400 1:1 ratio
Step2: Later on, if I feel the need, the need for speed, configure a 1000FSB (250*4) 3.0c system, with DDR400 4:5 ratio (not pushing too much for it, just the necessary)
Step3: In the future (maybe Q2/Q3 of 2004), with many price drops , get the best Prescott socket 478 CPU out, so I can hang with this system as much as I can, since ASUS states that this motherboard is ready for it (hope so).

I'll post the prices I can get on my local store (?1=$1 aproximately):
(?214) P4 2.4c
(?175) ASUS P4P800 Deluxe
(2x?142) Kingston 1Gb DDR400 PC3200 (2x512Mb) (don't know the exact model yet)
(?229) Gigacube ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 128DDR VIVO
Note1: All prices with 19% VAT included. (Not much of great prices, eihm )
Note2: Based on P4 2.4c price, a P4 2.6c would be ?60 more, and a P4 2.8c would be ?111 more, again VAT included.

So my questions are:

[1] Typical question: is it cool, or what? What's your opinion?

[2] About video capture: I plan on getting that future 9600Pro VIVO to capture some video, from a VCR/analog Video camera. Do I need some special software?
Also the board has Firewire connectors, how does it work to capture video from a digital video camera? It should have a firewire OUT connector on camera and some special PC software? I'm really new at video capture.

[3] Million dollar question: Do you think this system (with the 9600 Pro) will get good points at HL2/DOOM3? Before answering this one, take notice that I KNOW the games aren't out yet, and for the best answer I'll just have to wait for 30 Sept for HL2 (like everyone out there), or little sooner if they get a demo rolling. I'm just asking, since I'm thinking about a new system and like to hear every opinion about it.


Disclamer:
My grammar and spelling may actually suck badly! You have been warned!

Thanks for the help

 

[bandana163]

Are you sure that a R9600Pro is the best opinion ? The CPU&MB seems great, but for about 230-250 Euro, even a R9700 normal would be affordable. Of course, if you need ViVo, that card's pretty good. However, I think that this sytem could handle all upcoming games with ease.

 

[b4u]

Thanks for the reply Vaerilis. I'm a bit disapointed with the prices ... and I heard that the 9500 Pro can be slightly faster then the 9600 Pro ... would it be enough to justify searching for a 9500 Pro?

To everyone else:
Bump! Do I have such a miserable PC that I don't even deserve an opinion? eheh (glup! thought so )

 

[Lonyo]

Where do you live b4u? (Just wondering what online stores might be options)

 

[b4u]

I live in Portugal, so it's kind of hard to get shipment from USA ... I really like newegg, but they don't ship to Canada/Europe

 

[Chumpman]

Maybe you should look at an AMD setup, so that you have enough cash to purchase a video card at the same time as the rest of the computer. You would be crippling that P4 with the lowly TNT2 in there, and with AMD, you might have enough left over to buy your 9600 Pro.

 

[b4u]

How much a used GF4 MX440 would cost?

Simple question, really. I don't know brand, just that it was sold on a new PC.

Also should it be overclockable?

I'm thinking about the remote possibility of buying something like that for the P4 2.4c, and hold a bit until HL2/DOOM3 and more graphic cards come out.

 

[o1die]

Check newegg.com's refurbished section in the evening hours for an 8500LE (about $49) or a ti4200 ($69-89). I have 2 8500LE's with 64 megs of memory, and they both work fine with my p4 and 645dx board. If you find one, order it and check out fast.

 

[Corporate Thug]

dont waste $ on a MX440

 

[b4u]

Bump for some opinions ... and some answers about 2nd question ...

Thanks