Worth changing to PCI-e with current system?

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WAZ

Golden Member
Jan 17, 2001
1,642
2
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Ok, I'll start by noting that a full system upgrade is out of the question right now. That said, here's my current rig:

- Athlon FX-60
- MSI K8N Neo-2 Platinum
- 2GB PC3200 RAM
- Geforce 6800 (vanilla - 128MB AGP)
- Enermax 460W PSU

Now the only thing I'm really looking for is a video card upgrade... AT MOST a 7600GT or 7800GS (~$170 for AGP, but only $112 for PCI-e). The nice and easy way is to get a 7600GT AGP, pop it in, and tada - insta-upgrade. The "better" way -- IF it's worth it with my current rig -- is to upgrade to PCI Express, though that's much more of a pain to rebuild, plus the extra cash.

Problem is, to do PCI-e, I'd also need to upgrade my motherboard (say, a DFI Lanparty SLI) AND get a new PSU with a 24-pin adapter (I've read numerous things saying I should have a true 24-pin and not use a 20-to-24 adapter, at least for the DFI).

So the question is, is all that worth it, JUST to be on PCI-e (SLI capable, though I won't be getting a 2nd card any time in the foreseeable future anyway), rather than AGP? All else stays the same... same FX-60 processor, same PC3200 DDR400 RAM, same 7600GT.

Not counting SLI, any performance differences, or will AGP still be okay, with this rig w/ a 7600GT?
 
AVP

AVP

Senior member
Jan 19, 2005
885
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In my opinion I would not bother getting 939 pci-e board, UNLESS, one could be had for the price difference, which is possible, not sure. I have an Asus A8N SLI-dlx with a 20pin psu in a 24pin slot, the bottom four are just unused, been working fine for me for two years.

*Edit have you checked Newegg? If you are not dead set on SLI you can 939 pci-e mobos for $60-65. The cheapest with SLI is $75. Also, 7600gt can be had for $99 after MIR
 
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solas989

Junior Member
Jan 31, 2007
20
0
0
I agree with the above - you need to upgrade to a non expired socket (ei AM2) - which is alot more money than what you want to buy. Plus you may not seem a huge difference between AGP/PCIe (given other variables are constant - good luck with that).

Just get a good AGP card and be happy - I did this for an old system and was quite pleased with the results (went from COD2 35FPS on low quality 800x600 to 50+FPS on 1024x768 on medium+ quality).

Also, 460W should be enough for a new video card, just be sure it is as a caution.

Just my $0.02

Solas
 
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WAZ

Golden Member
Jan 17, 2001
1,642
2
81
Cool, thanks guys. The "is it worth it NOW" question was really the big one, and since it'd still be s939 and I wouldn't see the real benefits until I upgrade the whole system some other time, it looks like it would not be worth it now.

These were the two cards I was comparing:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productco...E16814150210%2cN82E16814130274&bop=And

7600GT and 7800GS.... I hadn't considered the Radeons and will have to look into those, too. The X1950XT is too much money right now, but the Pro or another ATI that's at least as good as the 7600GT may be feasible. :)
 
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conlan

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
3,395
0
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Originally posted by: WAZ
Cool, thanks guys. The "is it worth it NOW" question was really the big one, and since it'd still be s939 and I wouldn't see the real benefits until I upgrade the whole system some other time, it looks like it would not be worth it now.

These were the two cards I was comparing:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productco...E16814150210%2cN82E16814130274&bop=And

7600GT and 7800GS.... I hadn't considered the Radeons and will have to look into those, too. The X1950XT is too much money right now, but the Pro or another ATI that's at least as good as the 7600GT may be feasible. :)
Click to expand...


The X1950Pro or XT would be better options, the 7600GT can barely run w/ the X850XT.

 
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WAZ

Golden Member
Jan 17, 2001
1,642
2
81
Yeah, was just reading up on the ATI alternatives. Unfortunately $270-300 is just too much, as great as the 1950XT would be. :(

After some more research it looks like the 7600GT, 7800GS, and maybe the X1650 XT would be viable options for the ~$170 range, and at least quite solid upgrades over a 128MB vanilla 6800.
 
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crimson117

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2001
2,094
0
76
Look at the numbers... ~$170 for AGP, ~$112 for PCI-e.

AGP path:
Hassle: Minimal - swap in new card and drivers, done.
Cost Now: $170 for new card.


PCIe path:
Hassle: Significant - reinstalling mobo is a pain.
Cost Now: $75 for new throwaway 939 mobo.
Parts for next rig: $112 for new card + $75 for new PSU which can be carried over into next rig.


Actually, you should probably upgrade your mobo + psu + video card now to PCIe. The only part you won't keep for your next rig is the mobo, and that's only ~$75-$100. PSU's don't change very often, so you can keep a good one (like a corsair 520 or 620) through a few rigs.

So if you plan on sticking with your new video card into your next rig, then switch to PCIe now. If you plan on replacing it again, then your throwaway cost becomes $75 + $112 = $187, plus a lot of hassle, so you'd be better off with the easy to install $170 agp solution.

Unless you think you'd be able to sell your $112 PCIe card later, which is possible :)


Best bet would be to hold off 6-9 months until you can upgrade to 775 or AM2, especially since video cards will have moved along by then.
 
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Twsmit

Senior member
Nov 30, 2003
925
0
76
If your looking for a midrange video card I would get AGP for now. If you want something for the future and want to spend big bux get a PCIe throwaway card and a new PSU. That will get you setup for the future.
 
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WAZ

Golden Member
Jan 17, 2001
1,642
2
81
Thanks for the tips. :)

All said, I do want some upgrade now, as my 6800 is no longer cutting it for games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Before I even posted here I actually followed nearly the EXACT logic that crimson just laid out -- noting the fact that I would save about $50-60 on the video card (PCI-e being cheaper than AGP) which could go toward a new 24-pin PSU. But more than even the cost of the new motherboard is the pain in the ass of rebuilding my PC when, unless I'm mistaken, there will not really be any performance benefit of PCI-e over AGP.

So I think I'm just going to get an AGP card and wait to upgrade my whole PC in a couple years. Somewhere I'm out some cash regardless, which I can hopefully sell later to get some back -- whether it's a throwaway 939 board or an AGP video card. So I'm thinking, if I'm paying the extra $60-70 now anyway, and something's going to be a throwaway, it might as well be the video card, which saves me a lot of hassle, too.

Now I just have to decide between the 7600GT and the X1650XT...
 
K

krotchy

Golden Member
Mar 29, 2006
1,942
0
76
Originally posted by: WAZ
Thanks for the tips. :)

All said, I do want some upgrade now, as my 6800 is no longer cutting it for games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Before I even posted here I actually followed nearly the EXACT logic that crimson just laid out -- noting the fact that I would save about $50-60 on the video card (PCI-e being cheaper than AGP) which could go toward a new 24-pin PSU. But more than even the cost of the new motherboard is the pain in the ass of rebuilding my PC when, unless I'm mistaken, there will not really be any performance benefit of PCI-e over AGP.

So I think I'm just going to get an AGP card and wait to upgrade my whole PC in a couple years. Somewhere I'm out some cash regardless, which I can hopefully sell later to get some back -- whether it's a throwaway 939 board or an AGP video card. So I'm thinking, if I'm paying the extra $60-70 now anyway, and something's going to be a throwaway, it might as well be the video card, which saves me a lot of hassle, too.

Now I just have to decide between the 7600GT and the X1650XT...
Click to expand...

The 7600GT/x1650 wont provide much of a boost over a 6800 to be honest.

Save up for an X1950 AGP or dont upgrade quite yet.
 
W

WAZ

Golden Member
Jan 17, 2001
1,642
2
81
Well, besides a number of reviews and benchmarks, I looked at one specific point of reference for STALKER:

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/stalker_mainstream_3d_performance/page7.asp

and the numbers are pretty much dead-on... my FPS are about 15 in that game. So knowing a 6800 is slightly better than a 6600GT and just under a 7600GS, this chart seems just about right. And at least for this game, my framerate would more than double... I was assuming the performance boost would be comparable in other games, but maybe I'm wrong?

So in my price range, I compared my 6800OC to the 7600GT and X1650XT:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productco...20%2CN82E16814161064%2CN82E16814150210

I'd increase the core clock, more than double the memory clock, go from DDR to GDDR3, and of course go from 128MB to 256MB. I know it wouldn't be a mind-blowing boost like an X1950 would... but you don't think these would provide a good enough performance boost for now?
 
bob4432

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,726
45
91
look for a agp x800xtpe/x850xtpe or x800xt/x850xt in the fs/ft section. you should be able to get one for ~$90 or so i would imagine, and they are not much less than a 7600GT
 
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imported_Nacelle

Senior member
May 8, 2004
933
0
0
I might be going against the crowd. But I say get the cheapest 939 mobo you can get and get at least a 7900 GS. Any less woun't be worth it, really. You don't need to upgrade your P/S. I have a computer sitting right here that has a 20pin P/S on a 24pin board. It's working just fine.
 
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Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
6,045
0
0
But then he's still stuck on 939. Better off buying something now that'll last a few months during which he can save up the cash to get a new system.
 
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WAZ

Golden Member
Jan 17, 2001
1,642
2
81
Hmm... is the consensus that a 7600GT (256MB) will not be a worthwhile upgrade over a 128MB vanilla 6800?

I mean, I know the more I spend the better/faster card I can get -- i.e. the X1950 -- but that's the lowest I should aim for for a "worthwhile" AGP upgrade?
 
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