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Suggestions please

U

urslow

n00b
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
15
Hi,
I currently have the following P-4 3 Ghz, ASUS P4 800, ASUS Radeon 9800 XT/Pro AGP video card, and 2 gigs of DDR 400 memory

I'd like to upgrade to something faster, but I'd like to keep as much of what I have as possible, or at least the video card.

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to a motherboard and chip, or should I just bite the bullet and upgrade it all, and go with PCI Express?


Thanks
 
Well if you're a gamer, the video card would be your best upgrade. But buying an AGP card at this point is a little silly. I suppose I'd recommend you upgrade your video card, mobo, and processor. Buy AMD on the cpu...if for no other reason than it would allow you to use your 2 gig of RAM.
 
I'm not a hard core gamer, but I do have 2 train sims that can bring a system to it's knees, and currently they run OK, but not the best. As for the AMD are we talking dual core or what. This is where I have been confused, with the new chips.

Thanks
 
Depends on what you do with your system, and how long you intend to use it. You'll get plenty of fanatics in here to tell you "buy-dual-core-all-the-way-no-matter-what"...and thats often the best choice. But not always.

Basically if any of these are true:

> If you run any app regularly thats multithreaded-- buy DC.
> if you *regularly* run two or more heavy-cpu apps simultaneously-- buy DC.
> if you want to "future proof" your machine-- buy DC.
> if your budget allows enough to buy the best processor regardless-- buy DC.

If none of these are true, and you have to choose between a slower dual-core chip and a faster single-core chip...you're better off single core. Just realize that apps are quickly becoming multithreaded, and if you don't go dual-core, you'll probably want to sell the cpu and buy a duallie in another year or two anyway.
 
Hard to believe no phanboi from one or the other camp hasn't posted here...wonder where they all are? (*looks around suspiciously*)
 
masher said:
Hard to believe no phanboi from one or the other camp hasn't posted here...wonder where they all are? (*looks around suspiciously*)
Click to expand...

Sorry i'm late...

GO TEAM DUAL CORE!!!!!!!

but seriously, masher has given some very sound advise on if Dual core is the route for you.
 
I guess the only thing that bothers me is that if I were to go DC, it would be like buying a new computer. If I could use my current AGP video card, it would be easier on my wallet, but if I'm going to lay out this much cash, then I want to get the best I can afford because I don't want to have to do this again for awhile.

I guess I'll start pricing boards and CPUs. I have a little time before I'll have the cash to do this, but I wanted to get a good idea as to what I want to buy.
 
Not sure if it's in your budget but here is about the cheapest dual core mobo and processor combo on tigerdirect. It'll allow you to keep your RAM at least, though you'll need to upgrade to a PCI-E video card. Perhaps if you put your old rig up in the FS/T section of the forums you'll get someone willing to trade you a decent PCI-E card for it.
 
That's alot cheaper than I expected it to be. I might even be able to go up a bit with the chip, at those prices, and still get a good card. Thanks for the tip.
I also have to decide between Nvidia, or ATI. I'm leaning to Nvidia, I have had problems with ATI's drivers.
 
Anther option for you would be to get a Asrock 939Dual-SATA2. It's a fairly inexpensive mobo ($72 at the egg) that allows you to use either AGP or PCI-e. That way, you could use your current video card until you were ready to upgrade. A Dual Core 3800+ could be had for around $320, so for under $400, your on your way to dual core goodness. I don't have this board myself, but there is a pretty long thread on it in the MOBO forum.
 
That's outstanding news!!!!! :D I appreciate your link. I just might go that route.

Thanks ;)
 
Please forgive my ignorance here, but would the DC 3800+ you mentioned, be the same as an X2 3800+? :confused:

I just don't know about all of these new processors, seems like they change every 5 minutes.
 
When looking at the name of an AMD chip the X2 indicates Dual Core.

I've never heard of a board that allows PCI-E and AGP except with the AGP toned down to the speed of a regular PCI slot. I always thought it was either one or the other.
 
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