Which upgrade, or wait?

[Sentinel]

Thinking about a possible upgrade path.

Currently have:
XP 1700 @ 2.1 GHz
2 GB DDR 3200
Shuttle AN35N Ultra 400 Motherboard
Radeon 9600XT 128MB

I've managed +/- 4 years out of this, so figure on about the same for another upgrade. Not looking to go Intel. Use current video card until the future, so agp/pcie board would be useful.

edit:
AMD ATHLON 64 3700+ (San Diego)
Use current DDR 3200 RAM

AMD ATHLON 64 X2 3800+ (Manchester)
Use current DDR 3200 RAM

 

[imported_goku]

What is with this biostar crap? Why are you upgrading anyways? If you're upgrading because of failing components, I suggest you choose components more wisely next time.

 

[imported_gybp]

`yes lol there are better options man

 

[SynthDude2001]

I'd probably recommend a dual-core in general now since they've dropped so much in price in recent months....but without knowing your intended uses for this computer it's more difficult to make suggestions

 

[Munky]

There are 2 options: go cheap or go high end. The cheap options is get a X2 3800 s939, a inexpensive s939 mobo, and reuse your ddr mem. If you want to upgrade the video card too, make sure you go the PCIe route, not AGP.

The more expensive route is get a C2D 6300, a new mobo, ddr2 mem, and a new PCIe video card.

 

[openwheelformula1]

keep using your rig. My HTPC has similar specs and runs high def perfect. Make a bigger jump later.

 

[Zap]

Biostar is not too bad - actually some of them are really nice overclockers.

Sentinel, if you want to upgrade, don't hold back. Now, if your RAM is a matched pair of 1GB sticks, then the logical choice would be socket 939. For motherboard, if you were considering the Biostar Geforce6100-M9... do yourself a favor and don't buy that board. Instead, pay $10 more for the Biostar Tforce6100-939. These boards are so similar, yet different. The difference is twofold. First, the "T" version has better components (as in better capacitors). Second, the "T" version has a much more tweakable BIOS. Now, I have not personally owned the Geforce6100-M9, but have owned a Geforce6100-M7 (the socket 754 version). I have also owned the Tforce6100, Tforce6100-939 and Tforce6100-AM2... basically the Tforce version in all three sockets. These have all been excellent (except for one refurb that was DOA - so much for refurbs). The one non-"T" version that I got wasn't bad compared to other boards, but couldn't hold a candle to the "T" version for overclockability, and I noticed that your current CPU has a healthy overclock.

I've reviewed all three Tforce6100- boards and the Geforce6100-M7 board. Just do searches in the Motherboards category.

For CPU, if you would like dual core then get the x2 3800+. If you don't think you need dual core yet, then go for something cheap. Looking at current Newegg pricing (feel free to shop anywhere though)... the best bang for buck IMO would be the 3000+ at $64 or the 3700+ at $96.

 

[Parasitic]

X2 3800+
ASRock S939 Dual AGP/PCIe mobo
runs maybe $210?

Although my opinion is that if it's going to be an intermediate upgrade, i.e. in 3 months you're getting another upgrade then you might as well just skip it. I moved to a 4400+ X2 because I have no plan to upgrade my S939 platform in the near future and as a terminal upgrade an X2 is excellent.

If I were in your shoes I'd probably wait a bit when DDR2 drops in price then move to AM2 or C2D.

 

[Sentinel]

Yep, just wondering others' thoughts. I think I can squeeze some more time out of this rig. BTW- I had read about some of the Biostar issues and benefits, which is why I had mentioned the boards. Upgrading for the purpose of better performance in general computing (gaming, graphics, 3D apps, etc.).

 

[Netopia]

Originally posted by: Zap
Biostar is not too bad - actually some of them are really nice overclockers.

Sentinel, if you want to upgrade, don't hold back. Now, if your RAM is a matched pair of 1GB sticks, then the logical choice would be socket 939. For motherboard, if you were considering the Biostar Geforce6100-M9... do yourself a favor and don't buy that board. Instead, pay $10 more for the Biostar Tforce6100-939. These boards are so similar, yet different. The difference is twofold. First, the "T" version has better components (as in better capacitors). Second, the "T" version has a much more tweakable BIOS. Now, I have not personally owned the Geforce6100-M9, but have owned a Geforce6100-M7 (the socket 754 version). I have also owned the Tforce6100, Tforce6100-939 and Tforce6100-AM2... basically the Tforce version in all three sockets. These have all been excellent (except for one refurb that was DOA - so much for refurbs). The one non-"T" version that I got wasn't bad compared to other boards, but couldn't hold a candle to the "T" version for overclockability, and I noticed that your current CPU has a healthy overclock.

I've reviewed all three Tforce6100- boards and the Geforce6100-M7 board. Just do searches in the Motherboards category.

For CPU, if you would like dual core then get the x2 3800+. If you don't think you need dual core yet, then go for something cheap. Looking at current Newegg pricing (feel free to shop anywhere though)... the best bang for buck IMO would be the 3000+ at $64 or the 3700+ at $96.

I agree 100% with Zap. I've also used a few of the Biostar and have been very happy with them and with overclocking them.

The one change would be that the 3700+ (1 meg L2 and pretty overclockalbe) is now available for less than $80! I would make this chip and the Tforce6100-939 and a nice heatsink my upgrade, were I you.

Joe

 

[deadseasquirrel]

IMO, you should just keep waiting until there is an application you want to use that runs too slow-- whether that be gaming or whatever else you might be doing. I've still got an AXP 1700+ (at 2.2ghz) running as the 2nd gaming computer (for my 9 y/o). It has a 6600gt AGP in it and he plays tons of games on it without issues (HOMM5, UT2k4, WC3, Flatout2, BFME2, SWBF2) . I even have Oblivion running on it. And, since your LCD keeps you at 1280x1024, upgrading that 9600xt to a faster AGP will give you the best performance increase for the money spent, if you need it.

It just comes down to what do you want to accomplish with your computer, and how is your current one keeping up with those tasks?

 

[CupCak3]

Originally posted by: Netopia

Originally posted by: Zap
Biostar is not too bad - actually some of them are really nice overclockers.

Sentinel, if you want to upgrade, don't hold back. Now, if your RAM is a matched pair of 1GB sticks, then the logical choice would be socket 939. For motherboard, if you were considering the Biostar Geforce6100-M9... do yourself a favor and don't buy that board. Instead, pay $10 more for the Biostar Tforce6100-939. These boards are so similar, yet different. The difference is twofold. First, the "T" version has better components (as in better capacitors). Second, the "T" version has a much more tweakable BIOS. Now, I have not personally owned the Geforce6100-M9, but have owned a Geforce6100-M7 (the socket 754 version). I have also owned the Tforce6100, Tforce6100-939 and Tforce6100-AM2... basically the Tforce version in all three sockets. These have all been excellent (except for one refurb that was DOA - so much for refurbs). The one non-"T" version that I got wasn't bad compared to other boards, but couldn't hold a candle to the "T" version for overclockability, and I noticed that your current CPU has a healthy overclock.

I've reviewed all three Tforce6100- boards and the Geforce6100-M7 board. Just do searches in the Motherboards category.

For CPU, if you would like dual core then get the x2 3800+. If you don't think you need dual core yet, then go for something cheap. Looking at current Newegg pricing (feel free to shop anywhere though)... the best bang for buck IMO would be the 3000+ at $64 or the 3700+ at $96.

I agree 100% with Zap. I've also used a few of the Biostar and have been very happy with them and with overclocking them.

The one change would be that the 3700+ (1 meg L2 and pretty overclockalbe) is now available for less than $80! I would make this chip and the Tforce6100-939 and a nice heatsink my upgrade, were I you.

Joe

i have a tforce6100 am2 and couldn't be happier! Rock solid being used at 100% on both cores since I recieved the board... all with a 3800+ @ 2.72 to boot

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Parasitic
X2 3800+
ASRock S939 Dual AGP/PCIe mobo
runs maybe $210?

Although my opinion is that if it's going to be an intermediate upgrade, i.e. in 3 months you're getting another upgrade then you might as well just skip it. I moved to a 4400+ X2 because I have no plan to upgrade my S939 platform in the near future and as a terminal upgrade an X2 is excellent.

If I were in your shoes I'd probably wait a bit when DDR2 drops in price then move to AM2 or C2D.

Yup. It's cheap, fast, takes DDR/DDR2 ,AGP/PCI-e and 939/AM2! Had mine 11 months now and it has been rock solid. So far I've upgraded from AGP to PCI-e, but will do an AM2/DDR2 sometime in the future(most likely).