Temp upgrade? Or wait for PCI-e?

[Kintoun]

So right now I'm running on a P4 1.6a/1GB/ATI8500 which can't OC at all anymore. I want to get a whole new system, but would prefer to wait for PCI-e to become more widely used. My roommate said he will give me his 5900FX Ultra.

Is there anyway I can make use of his card in a new cpu/mobo and still pull off 60FPS in HL2 @ 1600x1200 (use your best guess)? If not then I'll simply buy a new card. Budget isn't really an issue.

The main question is to wait, or not to wait? But I REALLY want to play HL2 at a minimum of 60FPS, but if it screws me for the future then I can force myself to wait.

Am I wasting my time chasing PCI-e when AGP is just as fast and will be around awhile?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Michael Younger]

Are you joking?

 

[geekcomputing]

your best bet is to wait man.

its easy.. buy hl 2.. (as much as steam sucks) and then pop in the 5900..

if its not to your liking then buy a new card.

just that easy.

 

[CleanSlate]

Are you joking?

I'd say wait for pci-e as well, however that's a bit harsh.

Right now there is no benefit to pci-e but in a few years the benefit will be great.

~Adam

 

[Kintoun]

Are you joking?

I assume you mean there's no way in hell that card can come close to 60FPS in HL2, =/ thought it was still worth asking.

your best bet is to wait man.

its easy.. buy hl 2.. (as much as steam sucks) and then pop in the 5900..

if its not to your liking then buy a new card.

just that easy.

As far as I can tell PCI-e boards don't have AGP slots, so I have to choose one or the other.

I'd say wait for pci-e as well, however that's a bit harsh.

Right now there is no benefit to pci-e but in a few years the benefit will be great.

~Adam

few yrs? wow. I will have upgraded long before then =/. I was reading AGP isn't even close to being fully utilized yet, but will PCI-e be that much more of an advantage?

 

[CleanSlate]

If you plan on rapidly upgrading your entire system, then go for the agp, it's the same performance.

~Adam

 

[RAutrey]

And the flip side is that if you want to keep your next system purchase for a while, go pci-e. AGP is dying a quick death.

 

[Kintoun]

My current mind state is waiting til AMD gets good PCI-e mobos, then getting a 6800U. Eventually I'll SLI when the 6800U drops significantly in price. I'll have a top card with just the 6800U, then eventually SLIing it, bringing my system back up to top of the line.

Costs me ~600+ for both cards (1st 400, 2nd 200 or so), and gives me a top end gaming machine that lasts really really long.

It pains me to wait, but I think this is the best choice, even pondering that a 5900U could get 60 FPS at 1600x1200 in HL2 was a joke. Prolly couldn't even get 25.

If I go this route, I can eventually upgrade getting a 200 CPU and a another 6800U to SLI. 400 to bring my comp back up to top of the line sounds great to me.

 

[tsuehpsyde]

HL2 isn't an extremely demanding game, but at 1600x1200 @ 60fps on the FX line MIGHT be possible....idunno, I have yet to see much come from that line at all, sad to say...maybe some OC'ing will help...but personally, I'd go PCI-E if I were you...I upgraded right before PCI-E hit and now I wish I had it But I'm ordering a 6800U tomorrow so it's not like im screwed, I just feel dated lol. Either one will be fine for now as long as you snatch a top-o-the-line card...then by the time you upgrade next, PCI-E will be fully taken advantage of....thats my POV anyway.

AGP = PCI-E in gaming speed (for now), but PCI-E is just nerd-sex which we all here like