thinking about upgrading

CDsDontBurn · Aug 30, 2008, 08:53 AM

from my current x1950pro AGP to a 3850 AGP card.

would it be worth it? how much would my current system be bottlnecking that video card? i know that this shouldn't be the upgrade path i should go, but i can't afford to spend not even $300 or $400 on a chepo system build

.

i don't game on my PC anymore because all the games i want to play are so demanding, but getting this card should enhance my computer's game play ability, or am i just killing the potential by the CPU i have?

system specs are on the left, but for those of you who are too lazy....

p4 3.2Ghz prescott, s478
2GB OCZ RAM, 2-3-2-5 1T
x1950pro AGP
OCZ PowerStream 520w
ABIT IC7-G (Intel 875p)

**temeteus82** · Aug 30, 2008, 09:07 AM

You would notice some performance increase but not much since that CPU of yours is bottlenecking the whole system. If I were you I would start saving money to more major upgrade.

cozumel · Aug 30, 2008, 09:32 AM

Seeing how the cheapest 3850 AGP I can see on Newegg is $105 I think you would be wasting you hard-earned cash (on a bang to buck level)

I would put the money aside and save up for a good mobo and psu with everything else budget components so you can upgrade. It would give you a nice gaming experience for the money with a ton of upgrade possibilities.

Something like (and I did this real quick):
Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4
Intel E2180
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ
SAPPHIRE 100226L Radeon HD 3850 512MB
PC Power & Cooling PPCT860 860W
Total $665 after rebates

Means more saving but you've already got over $100 in the pot!

CDsDontBurn · Aug 30, 2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

You would notice some performance increase but not much since that CPU of yours is bottlenecking the whole system. If I were you I would start saving money to more major upgrade.

well, to remove a little bit of the bottlneck, i could always OC my CPU again

. i'll need to take out the Mushkin DDR500 RAM in my sister's computer to do it though because this OCZ is crap for OCing

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cozumel

Seeing how the cheapest 3850 AGP I can see on Newegg is $105 I think you would be wasting you hard-earned cash (on a bang to buck level)

I would put the money aside and save up for a good mobo and psu with everything else budget components so you can upgrade. It would give you a nice gaming experience for the money with a ton of upgrade possibilities.

Something like (and I did this real quick):
Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4
Intel E2180
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ
SAPPHIRE 100226L Radeon HD 3850 512MB
PC Power & Cooling PPCT860 860W
Total $665 after rebates

Means more saving but you've already got over $100 in the pot!

i don't really do rebates anymore. i either tend to forget to submit them, or when i do, i don't get my money....

although, that RAM is a killer deal though

.

oh, and i'd get me an NVIDIA card rather than an ATI card

Judas · Aug 30, 2008, 03:43 PM

you biased bastard you

CDsDontBurn · Aug 30, 2008, 03:49 PM

how?

Judas · Aug 30, 2008, 04:10 PM

nvidia over ati......

CDsDontBurn · Aug 30, 2008, 04:48 PM

i have my reasons why though

cozumel · Aug 30, 2008, 05:07 PM

I went with the 3850 as that was what you had in your original post!!

Ferret_Style · Aug 30, 2008, 06:24 PM

Honestly for the money i would get an HD4850. You can get them for just over 150 now and they perform leaps and bounds above the 3800 series.

**kris23** · Aug 30, 2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferret_Style

Honestly for the money i would get an HD4850. You can get them for just over 150 now and they perform leaps and bounds above the 3800 series.

so you read the system specs and recommended a 4850? smart.....

CDsDontBurn · Aug 30, 2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cozumel

I went with the 3850 as that was what you had in your original post!!

lol, but that was only for my current system as that is the current best AGP card on the market

. If NVIDIA had something just as powerful, i would go with that instead

.

if i went with a new system build, why would i go with an ATI card seeing as to where i work

anybody who knows, don't say

Ferret_Style · Aug 30, 2008, 08:14 PM

opps !

Aug 30, 2008, 08:53 AM	#1
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,740 Rep Power: 231 System Specs	thinking about upgrading from my current x1950pro AGP to a 3850 AGP card. would it be worth it? how much would my current system be bottlnecking that video card? i know that this shouldn't be the upgrade path i should go, but i can't afford to spend not even $300 or $400 on a chepo system build . i don't game on my PC anymore because all the games i want to play are so demanding, but getting this card should enhance my computer's game play ability, or am i just killing the potential by the CPU i have? system specs are on the left, but for those of you who are too lazy.... p4 3.2Ghz prescott, s478 2GB OCZ RAM, 2-3-2-5 1T x1950pro AGP OCZ PowerStream 520w ABIT IC7-G (Intel 875p) __________________ Her First Day \| A year later Last edited by CDsDontBurn; Aug 30, 2008 at 08:01 PM. Reason: Forgot MoBo

Aug 30, 2008, 09:32 AM	#3
cozumel I'm dangerous but cute... Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Under the waves... Posts: 3,577 Rep Power: 60 System Specs	Seeing how the cheapest 3850 AGP I can see on Newegg is $105 I think you would be wasting you hard-earned cash (on a bang to buck level) I would put the money aside and save up for a good mobo and psu with everything else budget components so you can upgrade. It would give you a nice gaming experience for the money with a ton of upgrade possibilities. Something like (and I did this real quick): Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 Intel E2180 G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ SAPPHIRE 100226L Radeon HD 3850 512MB PC Power & Cooling PPCT860 860W Total $665 after rebates Means more saving but you've already got over $100 in the pot! __________________ Don't worry about money - Be a beach bum! Scuba Rocks

Aug 30, 2008, 03:49 PM	Thread Starter #6
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,740 Rep Power: 231 System Specs	how? __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 30, 2008, 04:48 PM	Thread Starter #8
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,740 Rep Power: 231 System Specs	i have my reasons why though __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 30, 2008, 05:07 PM	#9
cozumel I'm dangerous but cute... Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Under the waves... Posts: 3,577 Rep Power: 60 System Specs	I went with the 3850 as that was what you had in your original post!! __________________ Don't worry about money - Be a beach bum! Scuba Rocks