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Upgradeing from a 9700Pro

R

rausrh

n00b
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
12
Tell me if I'm being smart/stupid, or if you have a better idea...

I plan on upgrading to a nice video card now, even though my current processor will bottleneck it. Next year or so I will upgrade my processor/MB/memory which will allow the video card to use it's full potential.

I plan on upgrading my 9700Pro to a X1950XT. To do this I will have to buy a cheapo PCI-E socket 754 motherboard. My power supply does not have a PCI-E 6-pin connector, so I am hoping to buy a adaptor dongle for it.

I'd like to keep the upgrade costs around $300.

Can I get away with powering the X1950XT from my 400W PS?
Are there other options I should consider?

Thanks.

New Motherboard
New X1950XT
 
Doesn't really make sense to me:

- you're going to buy a new motherboard now, then next year, buy another motherboard? Just to save money? Meanwhile the x1950XT will probably drop $100 in value in the meantime?

I'd either buy a 939 motherboard + CPU now, or just wait til next year and do it all at once. Doesn't make sense to buy two motherboards.

$300 better spent, imo:

939 motherboard + Athlon 3700+ ($130)
7900GS ($140)
new power supply ($30)

Overclock both the card and CPU, and you won't have to upgrade next year again.
 
Wait for the R600. It will be far more than twice as powerful, and it would be cool to go from ATI's 1st gen DX 9 card to their 1st gen DX 10 card. Assuming you have the money of course.



EDIT: An X1950XT is so much better than a 7900GS, I think you'd best stick with that if you get a new MoBo. Really if you don't want to spend a lot of money right now, get a cheep 7800GS.
 
Obi_Kwiet said:
EDIT: An X1950XT is so much better than a 7900GS, I think you'd best stick with that if you get a new MoBo. Really if you don't want to spend a lot of money right now, get a cheep 7800GS.
Click to expand...

Not sure about that - an overclocked the 7900GS is about 15-20% faster than an x1950pro, so it's probably only 10% slower than an x1950XT. Certainly it's not worth over double the money.

tesin_hdr.gif
 
I can't afford to buy latest and greatest video card in any given year, so waiting for the R600 will have me waiting longer than I want.

I don't think it's fair to compare a OC'd card to a straight card. I mean shouldn't you compare it to other OC'd cards?

If I go with a 939 set up like that I feel like I'll be one step ahead in two years. If I get the X1950XT now and then say a C2D board in a year or so I'll be two steps ahead with the added cost of the cheapo($36) motherboard. I guess it's a choice: Do I be CPU weak now, or GPU weak later?
 
rausrh said:
I don't think it's fair to compare a OC'd card to a straight card. I mean shouldn't you compare it to other OC'd cards?

If I go with a 939 set up like that I feel like I'll be one step ahead in two years. If I get the X1950XT now and then say a C2D board in a year or so I'll be two steps ahead with the added cost of the cheapo($36) motherboard. I guess it's a choice: Do I be CPU weak now, or GPU weak later?
Click to expand...

Few cards overclock as well as a 7900GS, certainly not an x1950XT or x1950pro.

It's always better to be CPU weak than GPU weak, but the x1950XT just seems like a bit of a waste of money right now - it's almost as expensive as the 8800GTS.

Hell, you could buy an x1950pro AGP, and 5 minutes later you're upgraded - avoid two rebuilds with one shot.
 
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