Extent of Upgrade

BDoN · Jan 10, 2006, 05:58 PM

Hey guys, ima noob here but ive found the site very helpful so far with driver work so Id like whatever i can get with this dilemma i have.

Currently my rig is as follows: Asus P4C800 mobo, 2GB Corsair DDR400, 3.2GHz P4 EE HT 800mhz FSB, Sound Audigy 2 ZS, GeForce FX5950 Ultra 256MB OC'd to 500mhz 1GHz memory, 2 80GB Seagate's, 480w Antec powersupply.

Ive had the computer for a little over 2 years in the current configuration and as you can guess im not running as smooth as the past, thats just technology obviously.

My dilemma is that i could probably afford the upgrade to a PCIE capable mobo but do have places to put the money if i dont have to spend it. The main reason for the upgrade right now is a game that comes out in March, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. Id like to be able to run it on high as settings as possible when its released. So i guess the whole point in all this is to ask your opinions, since the game isnt currently out, on whether i should do the whole rebuild or can AGP get me where i want to be.

Looking at the AGP cards i have plenty of room for improvment but i dont want to throw down the cash and then need to rebuild cause im not happy. On top of that, the G71 chip of Nvidia will be out about the time i go to rebuild, but here in a few months Nvidia will release the G80 so im not sure if i should be putting my rebuild off for the 80.

Im kinda lost, too many options, and technology is impossible to keep up with unless you are filthy rich.

Ive just been waiting on GRAW for years now and would like to experience in full effect. When another game comes along down the road ill deal with my lackluster pc def. but for now im just aiming to cover this one game i guess. I also have FEAR id like to run wide open but thats just a sidebar.

Sorry for the long drawn out post, just wanted to make sure i covered all the info and got what i was tryin to accomplish across. All input, comments and help is appreciated and I thank you for any in advance.

BDoN · Jan 11, 2006, 01:16 PM

lol well either this is an unopinionated board or no one cares to help. oh well.

Chaos · Jan 11, 2006, 01:48 PM

well the first thing would be to replace the motherboard with a pcie compatable one since AGP is fading into the past.

niceguyrichy · Jan 11, 2006, 03:43 PM

well, your cpu sounds fine. is it dual core or HT ?
maybe consider and upgrade to a pci-e mobo and upgrade your ram to ddr2 @ 667mhz, and throw in an x1800 or an nv7800.

but don't just take my word for it

g35x · Jan 11, 2006, 05:45 PM

well i deffinitly reccomend u go pcie.....my mobo has pcie and agp so im useing my x800xl until i get the $ for a pcie card.....the x800 series is prolly the best agp cards you can get.....agp is deffinitly fadeing (i highly reccomend my mobo,only 70$....save u some cash for getting a pcie card lolhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157081 )
or u could get an SLI board.....

BDoN · Jan 11, 2006, 05:52 PM

wow thanks alot, i didnt mean to be rude with the comment, was just sorta bumping it for some more attention.

i was looking at memory, cards, mobo's etc etc but i couldnt really decide. If i go ahead and get a mobo id like to be up to date and be able to handle dual's, SLI, etc so that im not in the same position later down the road.

im going to ask, even tho im sure i can, but could i use my current cpu on a newer board that has SLI and PCIE? if so that would probably save me some money until i have it to put the duals on. I mean, obviously id like to have it all but really cant right now, muchless justifying it for just one game...i have full intentions on a complete rebuild sometime within the next year. im just wanting to make sure i can run the new ghost recon on pretty decent looking settings with good frames.

Quote:

well, your cpu sounds fine. is it dual core or HT ?

Just HT

thanks alot guys its been helpful.

CDsDontBurn · Jan 11, 2006, 06:06 PM

you would be doing a complete system rebuild.

one question though. is your CPU an Extreme Edition p4 (3.2EE), or is it a prescott p4 (3.2E). alot of people get those confused. if it's an EE chip, then i'd say keep what you have, and upgrade your machine's gfx card to like an x850xt, and that should be able to hold you over until next year w/o giving up your first born on a whole new machine. But hey, if you want to get a new machine, then go for it. it's your money afterall

niceguyrichy · Jan 11, 2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

you would be doing a complete system rebuild.

one question though. is your CPU an Extreme Edition p4 (3.2EE), or is it a prescott p4 (3.2E). alot of people get those confused. if it's an EE chip, then i'd say keep what you have, and upgrade your machine's gfx card to like an x850xt, and that should be able to hold you over until next year w/o giving up your first born on a whole new machine. But hey, if you want to get a new machine, then go for it. it's your money afterall

aren't the 3.2EE's dual core, rather than the 3.2E's which are HT??

or have intel managed to confuse me yet again?

CDsDontBurn · Jan 11, 2006, 06:33 PM

lol....it's a 478 chip. the 3.2EE is not a dual core chip. it is simply a a 478 chip, 3.2-3.4Ghz clock speeds, 800Mhz FSB, HT support, 512Kb L2 cache and 2Mb L3 cache, single core. whereas the 3.2e is 478 chip, 2.8-3.4Ghz clock speeds, 800Mhz FSB, HT support, 1Mb L2 cache no L3 cache, and single core.

niceguyrichy · Jan 11, 2006, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

lol....it's a 478 chip. the 3.2EE is not a dual core chip. it is simply a a 478 chip, 3.2-3.4Ghz clock speeds, 800Mhz FSB, HT support, 512Kb L2 cache and 2Mb L3 cache, single core. whereas the 3.2e is 478 chip, 2.8-3.4Ghz clock speeds, 800Mhz FSB, HT support, 1Mb L2 cache no L3 cache, and single core.

eek..

i didn't look up the mobo

i presumed 775

make's his decision easier though.

complete upgrade

only a couple mobo's support 478 and pci-e, not worth it.

sell the lot, and go for a full blooded upgrade I say.
dual core, X1xxx, ddr2, sata2, the works.

won't cost too much extra once you've sold what you've already got.

CDsDontBurn · Jan 11, 2006, 06:47 PM

lol.....or it will cost him his first born if he decides to keep his machine to give to somebody else in the house

No_Style · Jan 11, 2006, 09:55 PM

Can you wait a few months? Socket AM2 is coming for AMD. If you can't, I'd still recommend an AMD Athlon X2 setup on PCI-E. Just remember that the AMD Athlon FX-60 is the last processor speed bump on the socket 939 platform. If you want more breathing/upgrading room, then do wait for Socket AM2.

On the Intel side of things, a new processor design (which is basically the marriage of Intel's NetBurst and Centrino microarchitectures with some unknown special ingredients) is supposed to arrive by the half way point of this year as well.

Video card choice is up in the air since I don't know what your budget is. Both ATI and NVIDIA currently have great line-ups. X1900 series (I personally wouldn't touch the X1800 series) is just around the corner as well. Same with G71 as you've stated.

In the end, we can probably help you out more if you can answer these basic questions:

1. When do you want to do this upgrade?

2. How much are you willing to spend?

3. What are you keeping from the current system?

pr0digal jenius · Jan 11, 2006, 10:22 PM

PCI-Express is definately the way to go, as for the CPU, LGA socket still has a lot of life left in it from the intel camp, or yea, for AMD wait on the new socket.

As for video cards, it depends what you plan to do with it, but I personally would wait for the g80 to hit and get a machine fully certified for the new direct X garbage and windows Vista [meaning, get a new CPU too, so you can do x64]

BDoN · Jan 12, 2006, 12:39 AM

wow thanks again.

it is the extreme edition, and i know its a single core, but its odd. because in dxdiag it lists the computer as having 2 processors. also, in windows task manager under performance, i get 2 charts for performance graphs instead of just one. i must be missing something on that one. i swear i have experience on computers lol just not a hardware guy.

as for someone else in the house getting my first born, its just me using computers. i plan on keeping the sound card, both HD's. possibly the ram unless i see need for it until i have more money, same with the power supply. obviously would be keeping both cd drives and floppy if i even put it on lol didnt really want it but it was just kinda tossed in the deal for free. other than that, i figured id revamp everything. but if the new intel's are coming out this summer, and the g80 as well, ill just wait on that for the full build. id feel like a fool on a rebuild right now and all the new goodies come out later this year.

if i can really get by for ghost recon advanced warfighter on decent settings, ill be happy. not knowing the requirements is a pain, but seeing how i run fear, and seeing the light intensity in the screenshots i know ima need more than i have.

i have been looking into the higher end agp cards, and the ATI Radeon X850XT PE 256MB seems the most appealing, although i enjoy the experience with nvidia. i just didnt see anything on nvidia's lineup on newegg that came close to that on agp. maybe i overlooked something.

Quote:

1. When do you want to do this upgrade?

2. How much are you willing to spend?

3. What are you keeping from the current system

1- sometime within the next couple months.

2- lets try to keep it below 3000, keeping in mind im keeping a few things from my old pc.

3- answered above

Quote:

won't cost too much extra once you've sold what you've already got.

i hope not, but i dont think i have much thats worth alot to many, seeing that its not exactly crankin the juice anymore. i mean everything here is 2 year old technology. i figured the mobo and proc will bring the most. might as well not bother with the vid card.

thanks alot.

niceguyrichy · Jan 12, 2006, 12:44 AM

you get 2 readings for the cpu because it's hyperthreading, so the os recognises it as 2 cores

niceguyrichy · Jan 12, 2006, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDoN

i hope not, but i dont think i have much thats worth alot to many, seeing that its not exactly crankin the juice anymore. i mean everything here is 2 year old technology. i figured the mobo and proc will bring the most. might as well not bother with the vid card.

thanks alot.

no, you're absolutely right, they are all worth nothing.

so give it all to me

g35x · Jan 12, 2006, 12:47 AM

3000

for under 3000 u can get a SLI mobo,athlon x2 or a dual core opteron,2 7800s......

BDoN · Jan 12, 2006, 01:08 AM

k figured so but thought id ask

Randomletters · Jan 12, 2006, 01:18 AM

if you didnt really have the money to upgrade right now, Id wait until the 7800gs AGP debuts thay way youll definately be able to play your game on high and still keep all your other hardware.

g35x · Jan 12, 2006, 01:21 AM

i dont think they're makeing agp 7800s.....prolly like the agp x1800xts.......misprint lol....if his budget is 3000 let him go SLI

No_Style · Jan 12, 2006, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g35x

i dont think they're makeing agp 7800s.....prolly like the agp x1800xts.......misprint lol....if his budget is 3000 let him go SLI

According to Hexus, some of NVIDIA's partners are gearing up to release AGP 7800GS.

As for your upgrade BDon, wait it out if you can. I can see you're planning for the next couple of months, which is good. Ghost Recon Advanced Recon is slated for March 1st, 2006 according to GameSpot. Perhaps you should hold out until at least then for a full upgrade. A little patience will pay off in terms of future upgradability.

CDsDontBurn · Jan 12, 2006, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No_Style

Ghost Recon Advanced Recon is slated for March 1st, 2005

March 1st 2005 huh??? where have i been? lol.

well, speaking of the 7800GS, does anybody have any specs on the card yet?

No_Style · Jan 12, 2006, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

March 1st 2005 huh??? where have i been? lol.

well, speaking of the 7800GS, does anybody have any specs on the card yet?

AnandTech has specs and pics.

Fixed the typo.

CDsDontBurn · Jan 12, 2006, 05:17 AM

according to anantech, it's just a 16pipe card, 375 core and 1Ghz RAM. unless there's something else behind that card, i don't think i would get one. my x800xt pe will still suit me just fine.

BDoN · Jan 12, 2006, 06:34 AM

i probably wont do anything until closer to march anyways but i like doing ample research. if i hadnt, i would have went out and bought a bunch of stuff thats really about to be old news with new intel and huge gains by nvidia to be made this year.

but at this point, im somewhat leanin toward waiting until the middle to last quater of the year to rebuild so that i try to grab some of the years best. i might just have to deal with the fact that i buy an agp card and basically waste money once i go and rebuild into a performing machine. maybe i can resell it too yay.

No_Style · Jan 12, 2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDoN

i probably wont do anything until closer to march anyways but i like doing ample research. if i hadnt, i would have went out and bought a bunch of stuff thats really about to be old news with new intel and huge gains by nvidia to be made this year.

but at this point, im somewhat leanin toward waiting until the middle to last quater of the year to rebuild so that i try to grab some of the years best. i might just have to deal with the fact that i buy an agp card and basically waste money once i go and rebuild into a performing machine. maybe i can resell it too yay.

Good man.

BWX · Jan 12, 2006, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Even with an entire quad disabled, our internal testing proved that the card was ample competition for ATI's X1800XL. Currently, we are working on enabling the disabled quad and/or overclocking the 7800GS up to 7800GT and GTX speeds. With a good price point, the GeForce 7800GS could easily become 2006's rendition of the Radeon X800GTO^2. A 16 pipe version of 7800GT would easily best a GeForce 6800GT or 6800 Ultra (at least on paper), but with current drivers we've already witnessed higher performance than that.

hmmmm

Jan 10, 2006, 05:58 PM	#1
BDoN DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	Extent of Upgrade Hey guys, ima noob here but ive found the site very helpful so far with driver work so Id like whatever i can get with this dilemma i have. Currently my rig is as follows: Asus P4C800 mobo, 2GB Corsair DDR400, 3.2GHz P4 EE HT 800mhz FSB, Sound Audigy 2 ZS, GeForce FX5950 Ultra 256MB OC'd to 500mhz 1GHz memory, 2 80GB Seagate's, 480w Antec powersupply. Ive had the computer for a little over 2 years in the current configuration and as you can guess im not running as smooth as the past, thats just technology obviously. My dilemma is that i could probably afford the upgrade to a PCIE capable mobo but do have places to put the money if i dont have to spend it. The main reason for the upgrade right now is a game that comes out in March, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. Id like to be able to run it on high as settings as possible when its released. So i guess the whole point in all this is to ask your opinions, since the game isnt currently out, on whether i should do the whole rebuild or can AGP get me where i want to be. Looking at the AGP cards i have plenty of room for improvment but i dont want to throw down the cash and then need to rebuild cause im not happy. On top of that, the G71 chip of Nvidia will be out about the time i go to rebuild, but here in a few months Nvidia will release the G80 so im not sure if i should be putting my rebuild off for the 80. Im kinda lost, too many options, and technology is impossible to keep up with unless you are filthy rich. Ive just been waiting on GRAW for years now and would like to experience in full effect. When another game comes along down the road ill deal with my lackluster pc def. but for now im just aiming to cover this one game i guess. I also have FEAR id like to run wide open but thats just a sidebar. Sorry for the long drawn out post, just wanted to make sure i covered all the info and got what i was tryin to accomplish across. All input, comments and help is appreciated and I thank you for any in advance.

Jan 11, 2006, 01:48 PM	#3
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,268 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	well the first thing would be to replace the motherboard with a pcie compatable one since AGP is fading into the past. __________________

Jan 11, 2006, 05:45 PM	#5
g35x Hellhound Pilot Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deptford, New Jersey Posts: 1,100 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	well i deffinitly reccomend u go pcie.....my mobo has pcie and agp so im useing my x800xl until i get the $ for a pcie card.....the x800 series is prolly the best agp cards you can get.....agp is deffinitly fadeing (i highly reccomend my mobo,only 70$....save u some cash for getting a pcie card lolhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157081 ) or u could get an SLI board..... __________________

Jan 11, 2006, 06:06 PM	#7
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	you would be doing a complete system rebuild. one question though. is your CPU an Extreme Edition p4 (3.2EE), or is it a prescott p4 (3.2E). alot of people get those confused. if it's an EE chip, then i'd say keep what you have, and upgrade your machine's gfx card to like an x850xt, and that should be able to hold you over until next year w/o giving up your first born on a whole new machine. But hey, if you want to get a new machine, then go for it. it's your money afterall __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Jan 11, 2006, 06:33 PM	#9
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	lol....it's a 478 chip. the 3.2EE is not a dual core chip. it is simply a a 478 chip, 3.2-3.4Ghz clock speeds, 800Mhz FSB, HT support, 512Kb L2 cache and 2Mb L3 cache, single core. whereas the 3.2e is 478 chip, 2.8-3.4Ghz clock speeds, 800Mhz FSB, HT support, 1Mb L2 cache no L3 cache, and single core. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Jan 11, 2006, 01:16 PM	Thread Starter #2
BDoN DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	lol well either this is an unopinionated board or no one cares to help. oh well.

Jan 11, 2006, 06:47 PM	#11
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	lol.....or it will cost him his first born if he decides to keep his machine to give to somebody else in the house __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Jan 11, 2006, 09:55 PM	#12
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	Can you wait a few months? Socket AM2 is coming for AMD. If you can't, I'd still recommend an AMD Athlon X2 setup on PCI-E. Just remember that the AMD Athlon FX-60 is the last processor speed bump on the socket 939 platform. If you want more breathing/upgrading room, then do wait for Socket AM2. On the Intel side of things, a new processor design (which is basically the marriage of Intel's NetBurst and Centrino microarchitectures with some unknown special ingredients) is supposed to arrive by the half way point of this year as well. Video card choice is up in the air since I don't know what your budget is. Both ATI and NVIDIA currently have great line-ups. X1900 series (I personally wouldn't touch the X1800 series) is just around the corner as well. Same with G71 as you've stated. In the end, we can probably help you out more if you can answer these basic questions: 1. When do you want to do this upgrade? 2. How much are you willing to spend? 3. What are you keeping from the current system? __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Jan 11, 2006, 10:22 PM	#13
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	PCI-Express is definately the way to go, as for the CPU, LGA socket still has a lot of life left in it from the intel camp, or yea, for AMD wait on the new socket. As for video cards, it depends what you plan to do with it, but I personally would wait for the g80 to hit and get a machine fully certified for the new direct X garbage and windows Vista [meaning, get a new CPU too, so you can do x64]

Jan 12, 2006, 12:47 AM	#17
g35x Hellhound Pilot Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deptford, New Jersey Posts: 1,100 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	3000 for under 3000 u can get a SLI mobo,athlon x2 or a dual core opteron,2 7800s...... __________________

Jan 12, 2006, 01:08 AM	Thread Starter #18
BDoN DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	k figured so but thought id ask

Jan 12, 2006, 01:18 AM	#19
Randomletters ))<>(( Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,418 Rep Power: 54	if you didnt really have the money to upgrade right now, Id wait until the 7800gs AGP debuts thay way youll definately be able to play your game on high and still keep all your other hardware. __________________ <----------- Sexy Budget Rig stats to the left.

Jan 12, 2006, 01:21 AM	#20
g35x Hellhound Pilot Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deptford, New Jersey Posts: 1,100 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	i dont think they're makeing agp 7800s.....prolly like the agp x1800xts.......misprint lol....if his budget is 3000 let him go SLI __________________

Jan 12, 2006, 05:17 AM	#24
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	according to anantech, it's just a 16pipe card, 375 core and 1Ghz RAM. unless there's something else behind that card, i don't think i would get one. my x800xt pe will still suit me just fine. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Jan 12, 2006, 06:34 AM	Thread Starter #25
BDoN DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	i probably wont do anything until closer to march anyways but i like doing ample research. if i hadnt, i would have went out and bought a bunch of stuff thats really about to be old news with new intel and huge gains by nvidia to be made this year. but at this point, im somewhat leanin toward waiting until the middle to last quater of the year to rebuild so that i try to grab some of the years best. i might just have to deal with the fact that i buy an agp card and basically waste money once i go and rebuild into a performing machine. maybe i can resell it too yay.