$500 budget

[zleuth]

I've just got my X-mas bonus, and I need to do an upgrade this winter. Need to do it for $500 U.S. or less.
I'm thinking a new CPU and Graphics card, but am on the fence as to which ones to get.

My largest limiting factor for the CPU is that I have an AMD 939 board, and processors of that type are hard to find these days as AMD had stopped manufacturing them a while back(stocks are drying up).

Here's the quick specs on my current gaming rig. It isn't important that I get SLI even though I am capable of it, 'cause the board I got has the northbridge in a funny place right between the 2 PCIE slots.

mainboard: ECS Elitegroup KN1 SLI Extreme /socket 939
CPU: AMD 64 3700 @2.2ghz
Video card: (2x) nvidia 6800 GS in SLI
Memory: 2 gigs (4x 512)
Monitor: Dell 24inch 1920x1200 **I'd love to run games at native res**

I'm thinking I'll get one of those 8800 GT's... but which one?

Minus a Video card, this is what I got so far
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersio...?WishListNumber=6331072&WishListTitle=Quickie

If I do this, I'll sell my current MOBO, Twin 6800's, Mem and CPU for cheap

 

[gwarren007]

Since the Ecs board is Pcie, and you have two video cards....

Pull one of the video cards from the Ecs and use it untill you get the new cards that will come out in the first part of the new year.
92.99 (Free ship) Abit IP35V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127034
84.99 (free ship) E2180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116052
46.99 (free ship) G-Skill ddr2800 2gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098
74.95 (free ship) Antec case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129031
64.99 (free ship) 250gb Wd Hd
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113
add your choice of dvd burner (~35.00)
~400.00
That will put a smile on your face.
And overclock the E2180 to a 266fsb.


p.s. Sell the 939 and get the 8800gt and a 550 corsair ps.

 

[ashmedai]

Options:

8800GT/GTS ($200-400) + Power supply (Corsair? $100ish)
Intel multicore ($200ish) + motherboard ($100ish) + DDR2 ($100ish)

The new video card should create a drastic change (depends on your games obviously, but you say you're having trouble running 1920x1200...that shouldn't be a problem anymore except things like maybe Crysis).

Replacing the CPU & related changes should be a rather nice upgrade, but not as phenomenal. It's not that hard to find 939 chips, but the options are a little meh, so I would take the leftover money from the video upgrade and save it to do the CPU upgrade later. Q6600s are about $250 right now, and DDR2 is $100 for 2GB or sometimes even 4GB. If you go with the video card, you should be getting a huge boost now, and maybe can do the other in a few months.

I'm thinking I'll get one of those 8800 GT's... but which one?

EVGA by preference. Their warranty policy is "life means life," which basically means that they'll replace your card pretty much no questions asked so long as you've got the invoice to show it's yours (which you can upload with your registration immediately after purchase and never worry about again) and the card is still physically intact.

The prices on these are all up and down between $200-300. I would hang on and see if there are any nice sales between the 25th - 1st. If you happen to see a cheap 8800GTS 512MB, that wouldn't hurt either. Either will absolutely smash your 6800s.

 

[gwarren007]

Dell and Best buy has had the 8800gt and 8800gt OC for 208.00- 240 and the corsair 550vx is 100.00. If you can sell the Ecs for 240.00 plus the 100.00 left over from then original 500.00 you're there.

Build the intel core now with the motherboard that will support the 45nm. since the e2180 is 85.00 you will be able to sell and get much of that back when you get the new processor.

 

[Dangman]

Here's what I would get:

Intel Pentium Dual Core E2140 CPU - $69
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 Motherboard - $85
Super Talent T8UB2GC5 2GB DDR2 800 RAM - $35
EVGA GeForce 8800GT 512MB PCI-E Video Card - $270
Corsair 450VX 450W PSU - $77
---
Total: $536 Plus tax and shipping

What power supply do you have? If it's a good quality one, you may be able to drop the Corsair PSU above and save some money that way. Also, if you have a Best Buy near you, check to see if they have the BFG 8800GT in stock for $252.

Anyway, the build above would be a significant upgrade over your current setup. If you OC the E1260, you'll get a few FPS increases.

 

[Abu Som3a]

Buy the E2140 from ewiz.com to cut shipping costs. You can also buy the oem version along with a cheap cooler to achieve a more guaranteed 3.2GHz OC.
Edit: Newegg also has free shipping...
Also buy the 450VX from buy.com for a cheaper price and free shipping.

 

[zleuth]

Yeah, power supply I've got should be fine, it's an Antec TruePower 550 certified for SLI, and it isn't even sweating now with 2 PCIE cards under it. A single 8800GT shouldn't be too hard. If it comes down to it, I do have a supplemental 300W PSU sitting around that someone gave me that I can use if need be. I'm liking the idea of going with an Intel build as well... Not sure if it's even worth the trouble of trying to sell my existing hardware for the few extra bucks.