Where's my "bottleneck"?

[bourgeoisdude]

What I got:

ASROCK 939 Dual SATA mobo
2X1GB sticks of PC3200 RAM operating at DDR400 dual channel mode
AMD ATHLON 64 X2 4400+
Dual-layer DVD burner (not important)
WDC-WD800JB ATA100 hard drive
Inno3D nvidia GeForce 6600 AGP

EDIT: Unsure if relevant but I'm using an Antec TruePower 550Wat power supply that I bought for my old PC a year and a half ago
I am not overclocking and WILL NOT overclock mostly because I want my PC to last ages even if it isn't bleeding edge.

I disabled my page file altogether and never run over 1.2GB of memory usage. I play mostly online games that are a year or two behind (eg Command and Conquer Generals ZH). I realize I messed up getting a 6600 without the "GT" behind it, but I seem ok. Do you think my hard drive or my video card that are bottlenecks? With $200 what should I do (note this mobo has PCI x16 AND AGP slots on it)?

 

[zoridon]

your bottleneck is your vid card, and if your hard drive if not over half full your fine. If your vid card can handle what your playing now keep it and save your $200 and wait. soon enough the 7800gt will hit the $200 range about when your vid card catches up with your game choices and you will get a huge performance increase for your $200 versus a medium increase now. this will meet your wish to have a system that will last a good long time.

 

[bourgeoisdude]

Thanks much for the quick reply!

 

[pickxx]

Your bottleneck is having a $450cpu and a $140 cpu.....if you would hav gotten the 7800GT and a 3700+ you culd be ROARing along.....graphics card first for games....your dual core cpu isn' doing a damn thing to help your games.

The 7800GT wont hit $200 soon....

The 6800GT which is about 18monhs older hasn't hit $200 on a regualr basis withut rebates and sketchy brands...lol

If i were you i would get the 6800GS, it performs like the 6800GT but costs about $100 less.

 

[bourgeoisdude]

As I said i messed up wih the vid card...let me step back. In my defence, at the time I HAD an old Socket A ECS mobo system with an Athlon 2600+ processor. Only had AGP 4X. Bought the GeForce 6600 to replace my old GeForce 4 Ti 4200 vid card. Then I discovered a problem where SiS and GeForce 6600 cards don't get along. I built a new PC. I wanted to use the existing vid card from my old PC until I could buy a good PCI x16 card (hence the ASROCK mobo). I never *needed* an upgrade PC. Remember I do some important things on it too just games on the side. I do want great vid card but don't need one...I suppose I just answered my own question Thanks for the tips though.

 

[deaddawg]

If games are on the side, a new HD wouldn't hurt.

Perhaps a 250GB or 300GB SATA2 with NCQ would suit you well, since you have a SATA2 port on your board.

But I would try for a new GFX card as well, 6800GS is an obvious choice for price/performance.