QUICK Question...

J

Jitsu

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 5, 2004
Messages
280
If I were to be throwing 400 dollars into an upgrade, what part of my current system should I replace? Info in sig below.

I like to game.
I like to have small programs running when I game.
Currently my system does that but I could have better graphic settings in game (higher resolution etc,) a little less choop and a higher fram rate.

I'm thinking graphic card, but if my CPU is lacking...
 
Ram and a dual core cpu, 3800 maybe ?

get another gig of ram and another cpu is what I would do.
 
I have about the same config only the 3800+ (single)

I put one extra Gig of Ram so now I have 2 GB ram...works realy nice and you can adjust windows to keep some kernel in ram, no pagefile etc....so your windows runs a little bit faster.

But for CPU I wouldn't do much unless it becomes very cheap cause for $150,- you have a very fast Intel CPU which makes even the s939 X2 Range from AMD looks like beginning boyscouts. http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2802&p=4

I have a xfx6600GT but even second hand they ask $100 so an SLI upgrade is also not attractive for me. So better buy a 7600/7900 etc... GT version. I am thinking about the XFX7600GTxxx around $160,- here.
 
Well I do have 2gb of ram, forgot to edit my sig last night... was too high and got sidetracked I guess.

So, a graphics card or a processor?

Or should I just look into overclocking and a processor that will work well with that...
 
I think a dual-core processor would be the best decision. Get an Opteron or a used X2 while you still can. :)

Then in a few months, pick up some DX10 card, or else save up for a whole new system.

Unless you ONLY game on this computer, go dual-core. The rest of your rig is quite respectable.
 
You have a very capable vidcard already. Go for a dual core CPU, but make sure its at least the same clockspeed as your current CPU (or overclock it to the same speed or higher). This will give you a better overall performance boost, but to see an increase in games, you'll have to push the chip higher than your current clock speed. I'd pick up an Opteron 165 or 170 and OC it to 2.6 or 2.8Ghz :D
 
This kind of discussion is also in another thread: "Is Socket 939 obsolete yet? Trying to find a way to upgrade"

Switching platform is much more expensive so upgrading to Dualcore on the s939 still seems the most logical thing to do so you don't have to buy all the other stuff like mobo, DDR2 ram etc.

I still see the prices for the X2 AMD as a barrier but I won't settle for example a X2 3800+ which is a downgrade in the singlecore performance. So I think "This will be my last and only upgrade of th s939 so I wonna aim high at the s939 X2 4800+ (running at the same core clockspeed of 2,4Ghz 3800+ single).

For me it's better to wait and see how the prices develope in the beginning of 2007 when prices drop anywayz and certainly with the new Intel offensive which only has just begun.
AMD will also have to have a defence and also bringing there own new CPU''s which will bring the X2 down in the pricewar.

I just read that the x2 5000 (only socket AM2 I am afraid) nearly reaches the expensive FX-62 in performance even with halve the cache which is of less of a factor than expected.
 
Havn't had a look at the Opteron yet....tnx for the tip!

AMD Opteron 165 (S939, 2x1.8GHz, 2MB, 400MHz Bus, 110W, Boxed) € 145,62
AMD Opteron 170 (S939, 2x2.0GHz, 2MB, 400MHz Bus, 110W, Boxed) € 176,03
AMD Opteron 175 (S939, 2x2.2GHz, 2MB, 400MHz Bus, 110W, Boxed) € 221,94
AMD Opteron 180 (S939, 2x2.4 GHz, 2MB, 400MHz Bus, 110W, Box... € 281,59
AMD Opteron 185 ( S939, 2x2.6Ghz, 2MB, 400MHz Bus, 110W, Boxed) € 447,-


AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (S939, 2x2.0GHz, 512KB, 400MHz Bus, 8... € 145,84
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (S939, 2x2.0GHz, 512KB, 400MHz Bus, 8... € 158,90
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester (S939, 2x2.2GHz, 512KB, 40... € 176,95
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester (S939, 2x2.2GHz, 512KB, 40... € 181,36
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Toledo (S939, 2x2.4GHz, 1MB, 400MHz B... € 184,89
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Manchester (S939, 2x2.4GHz, 512KB, 40... € 216,28
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo (S939, 2x2.2GHz, 1MB, 400MHz B... € 222,50
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo (S939, 2x2.2GHz, 1MB, 400MHz B... € 226,69
AMD Athlon 64 FX-60 (S939, 2x2.6GHz, 1MB, 400MHz Bus, 110W,... € 591,57
AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 (S939, 2.8Ghz, 1MB, 400MHz Bus, 104W, Bo... € 814,-
AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 San Diego (S939, 2.6GHz, 1MB, 400MHz Bus,... € 915,11

Can't see the diffirence between the Opteron and the Athlon so what is?
 
Opterons are server chips, and as such, go through more stringent testing. They used to be cheaper than their athlon counterparts while offering more cache and required less voltage. That appealed to overclockers because it meant they could OC them like crazy -- and they did. Then AMD was forced to reverse the prices. Now there isn't much difference between the two. The opterons come with the nice heatpipe stock hsf while the 3800+/4200+ X2's dont... meaning, you'll have to get a better, 3rd party hsf if you want to OC them much.

More cache isn't as beneficial as higher clockspeed with these CPUs.
 
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