Upgrading to PCI-E Motherboard

[Bradtechonline]

I got an Athlon 64 3700+ S754 CPU, and 1.5 GB of pc3200 ram. I don't think my CPU is out of date to the point where I need to upgrade to an Am2/Conroe build right now. The Dual cores aren't really offering any performance gains in gaming, and my system multi-tasks fine, and runs like a champ doing tasks. My video card though is keeping my from enjoying games like F.E.A.R, Oblivion, but plays Doom3, and Quake 4 decent in 1024x768.

I don't really want to shell out $269.00 on a 7900 GT that will be out of date technology in a couple of months with the release of DX10. What do you guys think would be something I could upgrade to that would offer a signficant performance gain vs my old 5900XT. I was thinking of getting 7300 GT or 7600 GT.

I'd like to be ready for the next gen DX 10 cards. That's the reason I'm getting the EPoX s754 SLI mobo, and getting a decent PCi-E card for now.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

well unless your going to vista, dx10 isnt supported by windows xp. correction, wont be. as microsoft puts it.

 

[Captante]

Just about any current generation GPU will slam-dunk your old 5900XT, but if you want to spend less then $269 I'd either go with the cheapest 7900GT available which s/b about $239 or a 7600GT which should be less then $200 but will be a lot slower... you might be able to find an X1800XT that fits your budget too, otherwise wait a few weeks for the 256mb X1900XT instead.

 

[acegazda]

Originally posted by: Captante
Just about any current generation GPU will slam-dunk your old 5900XT, but if you want to spend less then $269 I'd either go with the cheapest 7900GT available which s/b about $239 or a 7600GT which should be less then $200 but will be a lot slower... you might be able to find an X1800XT that fits your budget too, otherwise wait a few weeks for the 256mb X1900XT instead.

get the 7600gt if you're just going to buy another card soon. BOLD STATEMENT??? AWESOME!

 

[Skott]

You're talking 5 months assuming they come out no later than Christmas. If you are going to quibble over $40 for the price difference of the 7600GT and the 7900GT then you might as well wait it out. Personally I'd spend the extra $40 because the 7900GT performance is worth it. It'll also take you farther if the DirectX 10 cards dont make it this year. Also the card can be clocked up to or very near to GTX status so you got even more headroom there if you wanted. I say either get the 7900GT or wait it out.

 

[beserker15]

Originally posted by: Skott
You're talking 5 months assuming they come out no later than Christmas. If you are going to quibble over $40 for the price difference of the 7600GT and the 7900GT then you might as well wait it out. Personally I'd spend the extra $40 because the 7900GT performance is worth it. It'll also take you farther if the DirectX 10 cards dont make it this year. Also the card can be clocked up to or very near to GTX status so you got even more headroom there if you wanted. I say either get the 7900GT or wait it out.

Where are you getting $40 difference anyways? Newegg has a sold out 7900gt for $230 and an instock 7600gt for $146...an $84 difference is a tad more than $40. As for what you said, I'm assuming you just need a good card to handle stuff at 1024 res right now, and thus a 7600gt, or hell even a 7600gs can probably do that.

 

[bigshooter]

I need a decent card and will be playing at 1680x1050. I'm probably going the 7600GT route just because of how cheap it is. If you're only playing at 1024x768 just get the 7600GT. It will be plenty fast for anything you play at that rez. You may even be able to turn on all the eye candy, except in Obliviion.

 

[nismotigerwvu]

in the meantime a x850XT isn't a bad move....a hair over 100 clams and will hold you over pretty well till dx10 cards show up