Bottleneck?

[MastaFlyMason]

I want to upgrade my computer, but I am not sure what to upgrade next. What is the bottleneck on my computer?

AMD Athlon 64 X2 AM2 5000+ Black Edition @ 3.2GHz
6GB OCZ Fatal1ty Edition DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Memory
eVGA 8800GS 384MB
Western Digital 250GB SATA 7200RPM hard drive

I'm thinking either processor or video card, correct? My motherboard supports crossfire, should I look into that?

 

[HardwareGuru]

I would go at least a 9800GT video upgrade from where you are at. What's the size of your monitor? 22" Look at these guys depending on your budget. Your CPU is fine. What is your budget?


MSI N9800GT-T2D512-OC GeForce 9800 GT 512MB for $115($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127381


SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB for $160 for $160($20 MIR) w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770


MSI N260GTX-T2D896 OC GeForce GTX 260 896MB for $230 ($40 MIR) w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127361


Oh, BTW, upgrade your 250gig HDD to this:

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB for $75 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

 

[engiNURD]

8800GS to a 9800GT? not much of an improvement compared to an HD4850. Make it more worthwhile and go with the 4850.

 

[HardwareGuru]

It still is. Coming from an 8800GS with only 384MB, 96 stream processors, 12 ROPs and 192 bit memory bus to a 9800GT with 512MB Ram, 112 stream processors, 16 ROPs and 256 bit memory bus. Also, the 8800GS which is the same as the 9600GSO is still slower than an HD3850 512MB, 8800GTS 320MB, 8800GT 256MB, 8800GTS 640Mb, HD 2900 series, 9600GT and HD 3870 video cards. These cards are all slower than a 8800GT 512MB/9800GT 512MB. On top of that, the MSI 9800GTs core clock/memory clock is increased over the reference model for even extra performance.

 

[engiNURD]

ok, fine. Still, the card is a year old. I'd ditch it for the much newer one, lol.

@OP:
so what games do you play and what's your budget?
Also, what resolution/settings do you play at?

this is all assuming you want better gaming performance... but you haven't stated what you really wanted out of this upgrade. What did you want? What do you do with your system?

 

[HardwareGuru]

Haha. Although I listed that card, at this time, I wouldn't get that either. LoL. I listed that just in case his budget was tight.

ok, fine. Still, the card is a year old. I'd ditch it for the much newer one, lol.