You Upgrade Teh Server !

[Boney]

So my friend runs a pretty popular CS:S server and decided its time to upgrade it a little bit.

These are the current specs:
CPU - AMD 2600+
Mobo - Asus A7N8X
HD - 2 HDs that total 20GB (prolly 5400, not sure)
Ram (type & amount) - 1 GB Crucial PC3200
Video card - ATi 3D Rage Pro (PWN!!!)

It is a 32person game server and will probably stay around that size due to map spawn-point limitation with counterstrike - he has 3 other computers with equal specs that also run different servers on it as well because bandwith is not an option (thank you college).

He has NO MORE than $500 to spend and was thinking of upgrading the CPU to get the greatest performance boost. What do YOU think would provide the BEST All-around performance boost for this game server? Intel CPU? AMD CPU? Better HD? SATA Maybe? YOU TELL ME !!!

 

[Overkiller]

For $500 you can get a AMD A64 3000+ Venice. O/C that to 2.4 GHZ more easily.
Dfi Ultra-D mobo
2 GB of Corsair Value Ram.


As its a server you dont need a powerful card..but you do need a video card and its' pci-X so I would look at the cheapest pci-X video card(6600 gt?) or more than likely get an Nforce mobo that supports agp(asus A8v) and then your game. I just dont see spending money on that old thing....especially if its a popular server

 

[imported_Tick]

I believe OK means PCI-E. PCI-X an entirely differnet thing, which actually might be worth looking into for a server.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Um, yea. They don't have PCI-X video cards (I wish they did)...
Tas.

 

[Boney]

Umm its a server - you dont hardly need ANY kind of graphics card whatsoever ...... so back to the point ......... what parts would you upgrade

Edit - I doubt he will be overlocking it so dont factor that in.

 

[imported_Phil]

Is the Rage card a PCI card? If so, just replace the motherboard and the CPU; more RAM isn't going to make any difference if he's not running low at the moment.

If the Rage card is AGP, then you're stuck, as you'll have to buy a PCI-E motherboard (realistically) and therefore be stuck with buying a video card that's more powerful than you need.

A CS:S server is mostly CPU-bound, so an Athlon64 3500+ or better would be a good idea, given that he's on a 2600+ AXP now.