Which Upgrade Path Would You Choose?

[Sithtiger]

I have a choice of upgrading my CPU, mobo, RAM and video card or keeping the same CPU, mobo and RAM and getting a new LCD monitor and video card. Despite what I choose, I'll still be buying a new video card either way though. I won't upgrading until around March or April of 2007. As far as video cards go I plan on getting either a GeForce 8800 GTX or a R600. If I go with the CPU that I want, I'm looking at the Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 processor along with DDR2 667MHz RAM and I'm not sure what mobo yet. As my specs show in my sig, I have an A64 X2 4400+ and despite how impressive the C2D E6700 is, I don't really think it will make that much difference in games and definitely everyday apps. The bottom line is, I don't think I'll be able to see a difference from my X2 4400+ to the C2D E6700, do you guys?

As far as monitors go, I'm looking for sizes between 20 and 24 inches. I currently am using a Viewsonic G90f 19inch CRT monitor. Of course I want the lowest response time along with the higher contrast ratio. I'm a gamer so monitor lag is a big concern. Because of low latency, I've pretty much decided on the Samsung 215TW which is a 21inch monitor with an 8ms response time. http://www.samsung.com/Products/Monitor...Digital/LS21DPWABXAA.asp?page=Features I was considering the 24 and 20.1 inch Dell LCD monitors but because of their latency time and this article, http://www.behardware.com/articles/632-...ages-delayed-compared-to-crts-yes.html I've decided against it. I believe the Samsung 215TW is the best monitor out there for that size. If anyone has any other recommendations please post them.

So I'm wondering what you guys would do? Go for the LCD monitor and video card or go for the vid card, CPU, RAM, mobo and keep my 19 inch CRT monitor?

 

[ForumMaster]

get a new monitor. your CPU is still quite sufficient. assuming the rig in your sig is the one we're talking about, i don't think you need a new vid card either for now. get a good screen. a monitor is a part that can be used in a later build. don't skimp on it.

 

[Firsttime]

I would also get a new monitor, I love big wide screen LCDs. The samsung you picked out looks like a nice monitor. I wouldn't even bother upgrading the video card untill a few months after this gen comes out. Wait for them to work the bugs out and price to go down.

 

[Sithtiger]

Thanks guys, that's what I'm leaning toward heavily. I know the GeForce 8800 GTX is coming in just a few days, but ATi's R600 won't be out until next year. I've dealt with paying outrageously high prices before. When I built the system I have currently, I paid over $800 for my CPU and $750 for my video card. I vowed never to pay that much again for either. Now my current ceiling is $550 for a CPU and $600 for a video card.

From what I've read it looks like the R600 will be the faster card, but who knows, then again both cards will be so fast that is honestly doesn't really matter because the difference probably won't be that much anyway. I hope I'll only have to around $500, perhaps $400 if I'm lucky for the video card. I think the GeForce 8800 GTX will likely go for that price because they'll have to compete with ATi and the 8800 will have been out for a while. It's likely that Nvidia will be releasing a refresh product to combat the R600 next year. If they do, then GeForce 8800 GTX could very well go for around $400. The R600 will probably be pretty expensive when it's first released as well as the 8800.

By March or so of '07, Samsung might even have a better LCD monitor(S) by that time. The only thing I really wish the Samsung 215TW had was a lower response time, which would especially be good for FPS games and movies. If the Dell 24 inch widescreen LCD monitor had a low response time as the Samsung or Viewsonic monitors do, then that will be the one I'd get. If you're not a gamer, then the Dell 24 inch widescreen LCD monitor is one of the very best monitors anywhere, but because of it's 16ms response time, it can lag pretty bad in fast paced games sometimes.

Originally posted by: Firsttime
I would also get a new monitor, I love big wide screen LCDs. The samsung you picked out looks like a nice monitor. I wouldn't even bother upgrading the video card untill a few months after this gen comes out. Wait for them to work the bugs out and price to go down.

 

[brikis98]

definitely the monitor... you prob. won't "feel" much of a difference from a new CPU/RAM, but a nice big LCD will change your computer experience every day.