Here's the Plan: I'm upgrading. Sugestions?

[Event]

I'm tired of having crappy hardware. I have 2 options.

1) Get XP3200+ to replace XP2600+ and X800XT PE to replace 9800Pro. (About $450)

2) Get 939 Crossfire motherboard and A643700+ San Diego CPU. Since that right there will cost about $370-$400, I am going to use my friend's X300SE for a while, until I can save up for an X800XL. When I come across more money, and when my computer gets old and busted, I will buy a Crossfire Edition card.

Any suggestions? Which way should I go? Is the X800XL the way to go? I heard it's the best value card out there, like the 9800Pro was for a while. Also, will I be crying with the slowness of the X300SE (128bit memory)? I still plan on gaming with it, mainly UT2004, which is a more CPU intesive game anyway.

I plan on upgrading with X-mas money.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I'm tired of having crappy hardware. I have 2 options.

1) Get XP3200+ to replace XP2600+ and X800XT PE to replace 9800Pro. (About $450)

2) Get 939 Crossfire motherboard and A643700+ San Diego CPU. Since that right there will cost about $370-$400, I am going to use my friend's X300SE for a while, until I can save up for an X800XL. When I come across more money, and when my computer gets old and busted, I will buy a Crossfire Edition card.

Any suggestions? Which way should I go? Is the X800XL the way to go? I heard it's the best value card out there, like the 9800Pro was for a while. Also, will I be crying with the slowness of the X300SE (128bit memory)? I still plan on gaming with it, mainly UT2004, which is a more CPU intesive game anyway.

I plan on upgrading with X-mas money.

I haven't had any problems playing Rome: Total War with my X300SE, but that's about the only intensive game I play.

 

[donbenni]

Have we already had the "You've got exactly the same computer as me" discussion before, i canna remember? I have a 2600 and 9800Pro too.

I have been thinking about upgrading my pc and it's nice to see there are some similarities in our choices.

1). I assume your 2600+XP is mounted on a Socket A motherboard right? If yes, where are you getting a Skt A 3200+XP from? I was looking to upgrade to a 3200 but i thought they only came in the 64bit variety.

I was also looking to upgrade to an X800 card but it was the X800XL i was after. However after much looking around, i've found a load of people saying that the 6800GT is a much better card and is cheaper. In this months Computer Shopper magazine they state that "a 2Ghz P4 with X800 produces 25.7 frames per second in Doom 3 which is twice as fast as a 9800Pro". They then go on to say that the best value card for an AGP based computer is the nVidia 6800 which is a bit of a turn around, but there you go. So i guess if you can stretch to the 6800GT then all is well. The 6800GT is what i'm looking at now (roughly £250).

2.) Not sure about the CrossFire but give it a go if you must. It's very new technology and bare in mind that you will need a new power supply unit to provide enough juice for two cards. 3700 is a great chip, again the one i'd get as it's the cheapest chip that's got 1mb L2 cache and anything more powerful doesn't really make much more of a difference unless you've got a stupidly fast graphics card (CrossFire accepted will be), and are planning on running games at 1600x1200.

The X300SE will feel like a kick in the balls after your 9800Pro: you will indeed be crying.

 

[Solid Fro]

The San Diego 3700+ is a great Athlon CPU. Basically, it's just an underclocked San Diego FX-57, same 1MB cache, same 90nm processing, just a lower clock speed. With some good cooling, you can reach FX speeds with this CPU for half the price.

 

[Event]

Have we already had the "You've got exactly the same computer as me" discussion before, i canna remember? I have a 2600 and 9800Pro too.

I have been thinking about upgrading my pc and it's nice to see there are some similarities in our choices.


1). I assume your 2600+XP is mounted on a Socket A motherboard right? If yes, where are you getting a Skt A 3200+XP from? I was looking to upgrade to a 3200 but i thought they only came in the 64bit variety.

eBay. They don't make em anymore, but new ones are still on ebay for ~$120. Socket A, too!

I was also looking to upgrade to an X800 card but it was the X800XL i was after. However after much looking around, i've found a load of people saying that the 6800GT is a much better card and is cheaper. In this months Computer Shopper magazine they state that "a 2Ghz P4 with X800 produces 25.7 frames per second in Doom 3 which is twice as fast as a 9800Pro". They then go on to say that the best value card for an AGP based computer is the nVidia 6800 which is a bit of a turn around, but there you go. So i guess if you can stretch to the 6800GT then all is well. The 6800GT is what i'm looking at now (roughly £250).

It's still too expensive. I am actually thinking about the X1600XT when it comes out. It offers about the same performace as the X800XL, but supports newer technologies, like Pixelshader 3.0. I've heard that the X800 series is really just a beefed up 9800pro.

2.) Not sure about the CrossFire but give it a go if you must. It's very new technology and bare in mind that you will need a new power supply unit to provide enough juice for two cards. 3700 is a great chip, again the one i'd get as it's the cheapest chip that's got 1mb L2 cache and anything more powerful doesn't really make much more of a difference unless you've got a stupidly fast graphics card (CrossFire accepted will be), and are planning on running games at 1600x1200.

The crossfire will make this machine last a litte bit longer. 👍 Won't go out of date so quickly, even though the new M2 Socket will be released in 2006... 939 is out of date already! grrr....

The X300SE will feel like a kick in the balls after your 9800Pro: you will indeed be crying.

Better than no card at all, eh? Hopefully I will only go a few weeks with it before I get the X1600XT.

The San Diego 3700+ is a great Athlon CPU. Basically, it's just an underclocked San Diego FX-57, same 1MB cache, same 90nm processing, just a lower clock speed. With some good cooling, you can reach FX speeds with this CPU for half the price.

Good cooling as in watercooling, or a big copper heatsink?

 

[Iceman]

Personally I'd take the 939 mobo and A64 3700+ any day over the first option. You'd be using parts with much greater upgradability and options. Start with the main parts and then get the better video card down the road.

 

[Event]

I actually discovered this board: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157081
It has AGP and PCI-E. That could give me time where I could use the 9800Pro until I upgrade the video card. However, it's not nForce, and that makes me unhappy. I don't really trust it as of now.

 

[Solid Fro]

Good cooling as in watercooling, or a big copper heatsink?

Good cooling as in proper air cooling, heatsink, and fan. Plus good voltage wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Iceman]

I'd stay away from the ULi chipset, it hasn't got very good reviews.