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Video or CPU Upgrade?

A

aaronjbc123

Member
Hi, right now I have some money sitting here that I could use on a PC upgrade. I'm running Windows XP, an 8600GT EVga card, AMD Sempron 3400+ 1.8ghz, and 1.5gigs of GSkill ram.

I'm looking at two possible upgrades, a video card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130318

GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3

or


http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103194

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz


I will also be upgrading my PSU from a 250w to
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817182016


To alot of people these upgrades probably wont seem significant, but I never spend much money on these things and to me I want the biggest performance boost I can get. It's for gaming, (Lord of the rings online, CoD4, TF2, world in conflict...etc). I am wondering if the video card upgrade would give me the biggest boost, or the processor.

Thank you for any input you can provide.


 
Tough call. You really could use a CPU ugrade -- a faster X2 chip would do wonders for you. But the 8800GT would be helpful too. I'd try to budget in both upgrades, if possible, or at least plan to get one now and the video card later. With the 9xxx series out, the 8800GT might not seem like a smart buy right now anyway. So maybe you should plop in a faster X2 chip and get a 9600GT or something along those lines in a couple months?
 
Processor would give you a bigger jump imo.
The 8600GT isn't a great card, but it should be sufficient for low-mid resolutions with low-mid detail.
 
Nother question, what is the difference between retail and OEM versions. I've never installed or replaced a processor before, it looks simple, but does the retail come with any tools or things I would need as a first-timer? I know OEM is cheaper and more barebones, but what exactly is the difference? Same question for PSU.
 
OEM means part only in a generic box, no retail packaging.

With OEM CPUs, you don't get a cooler. If you have one of the older AMD non-heatpipe coolers, I'd suggest getting an aftermarket one or buy retail to get a new heatpipe based AMD cooler. They're much better.

An OEM video card, I'm guessing since I never bought an OEM video card before, would just be the card in the box with maybe a driver CD. No cables (svideo, RGB, etc) or adapters (analog to digital) or game and software bundles.
 
And should I buy some of the thermal paste to put on the processor? I hear arctic silver 5 or something along those lines is quality?
 
Only if you plan on overclocking. If you are, make sure to use high purity isopropyl alcohol to clean off the pre-applied TIM on the new heatsink if any. Then follow the instructions to apply the AS5 from the AS5 website.
 
Originally posted by: aaronjbc123
Ok, I'll be buying

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103212

When I get back for the day, apparently it comes pre-applied with thermal grease so I won't need the AS. Thanks for the help everyone.
Click to expand...

that just seems like a . . . waste

yes it will be faster, but to invest that much in a processor that's already so slow, man i just don't know

i guess the question is 'what are your long term goals' with this rig

if you have enough to get an 8800GT, my personal preference would be to switch to ip35-e + E2160 + 2gb ram and then overlock it to 3ghz or so

this will provide
1. substantially better performance than both your current cpu and the 4800+
2. much better future upgrade path where you can just drop in an e8400 or whatever after they come down in price

i know this throws out your current cpu+mb+ram, but there comes a point when it's no longer worthwhile to throw good money after bad

if you were going to upgrade just the cpu in your current rig, i would get something faster if you can
 
Actually I did something and realized that there are too many crap parts in here, the mobo, PSU, HD, I think I'll be better off building a new system. Though I'll have a rather small budget, I already have RAM I can use and a video card I can use till I scrounge up some more for a better one. I'm probably looking at around a 400-500$ budget, or maybe I'll just wait till I can get some more.
 
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