I need to make a choice...

[terrik]

Right now in my system I have an AMD Venice 3000+ for a CPU and a Radeon x800 XL for a video card.

I can only choose one component to upgrade, and I am torn.

I assume that my video card is the bottleneck in my system, as opposed to the CPU?

I was considering either a San Diego 3700+ or an nForce 7900GT/Radeon x1800XT.

Which component would be most efficient to upgrade, video card or CPU?

Thanks all.

 

[terrik]

2GB in dual channel.

 

[Vascular]

Agreed video card if you are playing games.

Processor if you are multitasking or encoding.

 

[terrik]

I do game a lot, and the only reason I am upgrading is because I have a friend who is upgrading and he wants to buy either my video card or CPU.

My setup does play most of my current games well (WOW, Dawn of War, RoN, etc...), but its the future that concerns me.

When I play FEAR at medium settings on 1280x1024 it gets choppy at times. I can't play at a lower resolution as 1280x1024 is my native resolution, and I shouldn't have to play on LOW settings since I enjoy good graphics...

So this is more of a future proof, assuming the newer FPSs will have performance requirements similar to a game like FEAR.

I'll probably settle on the video card though, as the CPU probably never utilizes to 100% during gaming...(I assume)

Thanks much.