Performance vs. Cost; Which is the better benefit?

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Dark2Light2

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 17, 2005
Messages
76
Currently I own a pretty decent computer, however my 2841 3DMark score begs to differ.

Thus, its time to upgrade.

Currently im working on piecing together new components to upgrade the system, however id like the best performance items first that would give me the biggest noticable difference.

Here is what im working with currently.

AMD 3500+ Processor
Nvidia 7800GT Video Card
Nvidia Nforce4 SLI mobo
450w xclio PSU
1.5 gb of corsair valueplus ram

Ive already upgraded my case to a Antec 900 which I really like, as well as upgraded my HD to a seagate 500gig sata.

I was wondering if it would be more beneficial to get more ram first, the quad core with new mobo, or a new video card.


any help would be appreciated
 
You have to actually find a balance between the two... that, is key. What do you need to improve on?

Gaming? If so, get the vidcard/PSU first. What games can you not play right now?

Overall computing? If so, get the CPU/Mobo/RAM first. What do you do that makes you think your computer is slow?

I'm guessing thats a 3D Mark 06 score, since my 7800GT gets in the 8-9K range in 3D Mark 05.

Whats your budget, and what's included in that budget?
What size monitor do you have?
 
Well, right now im just doing alot of encoding and burning, while waiting for the new gen games to finally come out.

The games I have now, run fine, but I know I wont be able to run crysis and the like.

I have a 22 inch monitor right now, which is a 1680 by 1050 resolution.

Yea, its the 06 score.

I guess budget would be under a grand for the rest of my stuff, considering I dont need any software, monitor, case, or such.

I guess the budget includes:

PSU
Motherboard
Ram
Video Card
CPU
DVDRW (I need a second to do disc to disc burning)
 
Honestly, since your system runs fine right now, wait until the new NVIDIA cards come out. The high end replacements should be out during Q1'08, along with Wofldale and Yorkfield CPUs from intel, and more mainstream Phenom/Barcelona chips from AMD. If you can't wait that long, the GTS replacement is due out in November, around the same time Crysis comes out.
 
I agree, its a long time since i used 3DMark to make a buying decision, its a poor indicator of game performance.
If your games work fine, theres no problem.
If they dont then upgrade.
You dont need to upgrade before new games come out and buying earlier is likely to cost you more/get you inferior parts.
 
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