What should I be looking for, upgrade wise?

[Cook1]

Ok, so on a limited budget (about $200ish), what should I be looking for upgrade wise. I use my computer for gaming, listening to the radio, watching tv, email, school reports, surfing and etc.

System Specs.

AMD Athlon 64 2800+
Thermalright XP-120 w/120mm Fan
DFI Lanparty UT NF3 250GB
2 Gigs of PC3200
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB
Sound Blaster Live 5.1
Leadtek Win2000XP TV Tuner Card
100GB/8MB WD SE HD
120GB/2MB WD SE HD
Pioneer 16x DVD-ROM
Generic Floppy
Thermaltake Tsunami Dream w/Side Window Panel (Silver)
Thermaltake 420W Silent Pure Power PSU

So, whatcha think is my major bottleneck in my system?

 

[ts3433]

9800 Pro. Sell that and save up a little bit more to get a 6800 GT. The 2800+ can be overclocked a bit to accommodate that better, if it isn't already (why else would one have an XP-120?).

 

[Cook1]

The 2800+ can be overclocked a bit to accommodate that better, if it isn't already (why else would one have an XP-120?).

I just ordered the DFI last night, so I should have it by Tues/Wed and I hope to get the 2800+ up to at least 2.4GHz, which I think would be decently fast for awhile.

 

[Cook1]

If the 9800 is my major bottleneck I could probably by an X800 Pro for around my budget. But if not, I can slap some heatsink and a vga silencer on there and flash it to an XT.

 

[Gurck]

Sell the 9800pro and a gb of ram (unless you do hardcore photo editing or other uncommon things which require more, 1gb is all you need), with the proceeds from that and the $200 get a 6800GT.... that or a 6800NU + DVD burner + better sound card.

 

[Cook1]

Originally posted by: Gurck
Sell the 9800pro and a gb of ram (unless you do hardcore photo editing or other uncommon things which require more, 1gb is all you need), with the proceeds from that and the $200 get a 6800GT.... that or a 6800NU + DVD burner + better sound card.

...

...

I'm seriously debating if I shouldn't just get 3 Gigs. With the type of games I play, RAM is just as important as a Video Card.

 

[Gurck]

Mmorpgs?

 

[Cook1]

Originally posted by: Gurck
Mmorpgs?

Yeeap

EQ2 on Tuesday, so I'm stoked for that as well. Don't think I'll have my new mobo by then but keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[airfoil]

#1: Get a 16X DVD +- R/W drive, an NEC is the best bet
#2: Creative Audigy2 ZX Gamer limited edition
#3: Get a faster A64 CPU (least cost effective IMO)

#s 1 & 2 are all the upgrades you need, for now...

 

[ComputerWizKid]

I like that system just give it to me as-is`

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: Cook1

Originally posted by: Gurck
Mmorpgs?

Yeeap

EQ2 on Tuesday, so I'm stoked for that as well. Don't think I'll have my new mobo by then but keeping my fingers crossed.

Sony is the debil, play WoW instead Anyhow, if you sell the 9800pro and add in a bit more than $200 you should be able to scrounge up enough for a 6800GT, I'd imagine that would be your best price/performance upgrade.

 

[Cook1]

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: Cook1

Originally posted by: Gurck
Mmorpgs?

Yeeap

EQ2 on Tuesday, so I'm stoked for that as well. Don't think I'll have my new mobo by then but keeping my fingers crossed.

Sony is the debil, play WoW instead Anyhow, if you sell the 9800pro and add in a bit more than $200 you should be able to scrounge up enough for a 6800GT, I'd imagine that would be your best price/performance upgrade.

I take it you're playing WoW? How is that compared to EQ, I mean demanding of the system that is. I've noticed that with EQ (And guessing the same with EQ2) the demands are on the memory and RAM and less on the cpu speed. And how is WoW in general?

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: Cook1

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: Cook1

Originally posted by: Gurck
Mmorpgs?

Yeeap

EQ2 on Tuesday, so I'm stoked for that as well. Don't think I'll have my new mobo by then but keeping my fingers crossed.

Sony is the debil, play WoW instead Anyhow, if you sell the 9800pro and add in a bit more than $200 you should be able to scrounge up enough for a 6800GT, I'd imagine that would be your best price/performance upgrade.

I take it you're playing WoW? How is that compared to EQ, I mean demanding of the system that is. I've noticed that with EQ (And guessing the same with EQ2) the demands are on the memory and RAM and less on the cpu speed. And how is WoW in general?

Strictly from a technical aspect, EQ2 is much more demanding on a rig and uses resources less efficiently. Won't go into the games here, suffice to say I'm a disenchanted EQ1 player, didn't mean my comment seriously anyway. The general consensus is that WoW was ready a year ago and that EQ2 will be ready in a year (though they both go live this month), and that WoW is the better game and Blizzard the better company regardless.