What to upgrade

[andyzzdae38]

First off I'd like to say this is my first post!! Secondly I am a moderate gamer, just on the weekends mostly. I built my current rig around gaming, I figured if it can play F.E.A.R. it can do just about anything. I just bought Quake 4 and I am dropping frames like crazy, even on low at 1024x768 settings. I can play FEAR at medium, what's up with that? My question is what should I upgrade if anything.

My Specs:
AMD 3200+ OC'ed to 2300Mhz
Gigabyte K8NSC-939 Mobo
1 GB Corsair RAM
9600XT Video Card
80 GB WD SATA HDD

I don't want to spend over $200.
I should mention that due to my mbo I am limited to AGP, unless there is a way to upgrade to PCI-e for less than $200

 

[The_Abyss]

If you don't want to spend more than US $200 you're going to have to stick with an AGP card because of your motherboard.

How about a Nvidia 7600? that should be well within budget.

 

[andyzzdae38]

That would be really awsome, but I can't find it anyware.

Any help on where to look.

 

[The_Abyss]

It will be released next month I think. For a bit more the 7800GS is available (certainly in the UK anyway - don't know about the US).

 

[pauldh]

He has S939 now which screams mobo swap to me if he is willing to do the work. There was a Abit NF4 mobo for $48 AR from Zipzoom. He could do one like that and a 7600GT for $200 AR's. Recently it has been cheaper to buy an NF4 mobo and X850XT caliber card than buying an AGP X850XT. Same with the AGP and PCI-e X800XL.

Personally, I'd rather have a new NF4 mobo and a $135 PCI-e X850XT over any of the sub $200 AGP cards. Or go a tad over budget with a 7600GT. But Sticking to under $200 AGP I'd say:

X850 pro: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102017

X800 GTO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102609

There was a $140 X800 pro on Newegg (no rebates) but it's gone.

 

[cleeve]

Yep, Paul speaks the truth. Socket 939 PCIe mobo and a PCIe card makes the most sense.

 

[HotSauce]

Yeah I'd stay away from AGP if I were u. it's too outdated. I'm still on AGP lol but the PCIe upgrades are cheaper.. Also their's more of them as AGP's are getting phased out. I myself am waiting for the 7600 for AGP cause I don't have 200 bucks

 

[andyzzdae38]

I was thinking about either of these two cards

6600GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814170082

6800XT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150157

I will look at getting pci-e but I don't know if my budget will allow it.

By the way is an antec smart power 400 enough for a 6800.

 

[andyzzdae38]

If I go the PCI-e route this is probably what I would get

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131569

Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814131007

What do you guys think?

 

[Anoobis]

Fear the 6800XT. You want to upgrade, not get nearly the same performance.

If you're not willing to compromise with a new mobo and PCI-E card like the others have suggested, then you need to go as far as you can with your money on a new AGP card. Your choices will be 7800GS at the very high end, X800XL (if you can find one) or 6800GS (ditto) down to the X800GTO.

The smartpower 400 should be sufficient for any of the cards listed above.

I think the X800GTO should be the absolute lowest card you should considering.

 

[Scougs]

I was thinking about either of these two cards

6600GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814170082

6800XT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150157

I will look at getting pci-e but I don't know if my budget will allow it.

By the way is an antec smart power 400 enough for a 6800.

The X800GTO mentioned above is far better than either of the two cards you mentioned here. I have one of them and was able to flash it to X800XL specs. I would suggest changing your motherboard and going to PCIe if you can wait and save up your money. That wasn't an option for me because I have a socket 478 Pentium 4 system.

 

[andyzzdae38]

I found something new as I was browsing through Newegg.
It's a x800GTO from Sapphire.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102609

With a $30 Mail in rebate it's only $140.

Do you think I should go with this card or go to PCI-e for $200.17 with this setup

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131569

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814131007

 

[prozac26]

Yup, go the PCI-E route. It will be better for you, and you'll have a good upgrade path.

 

[melarcky]

GO with the PCI-E setup it will pay of for the future, trust me i would if could! plus the card you have chosen for the pci setup isnt bad at all! and is an upgreade from a 9600xt

 

[pauldh]

I put that AGP GTO in a link above, problem is it is out of stock. The 256MB AGP or PCI-e GTO would be much better than the 6600GT. Shoot, even this slower clocked $70 odd dollar 128MB X800 is a bit above those other two cards: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127176

X850XT isn't $135 anymore this week. If you want alot better performance over the $109 PCI-e X800GTO, stretch to a 7600GT. It's basically X850XT/6800U caliber, just behind a 7800GS AGP buy for a little over half the cost.



If you don't mind rebates, here's a nice combo coming in just under $200.

7600GT $145 AR : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130017

Abit NF4 $53 AR: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=240178

That mobo saves you $30 compared to the Asus.

 

[andyzzdae38]

Wow! Thanks for all the info Pauldh. Which mobo/video card would offer better performance for the money, assuming I miss the deadlines for the
rebates. The total for the abit/7600GT is $255 and the asus/X800GTO is just barely over $200. If I can get the rebates in time I would love to get the 7600GT. How well do these components overclock. I saved money building my comp buying a 3200+ instead of a 3500+ (I overclocked to 2300, 3500+ runds at 2200) Planning for the future is also an issue as I am going to college and won't be able to spend money on my computer.

 

[angry_ducky]

I was thinking about either of these two cards

6600GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814170082

6800XT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150157

I will look at getting pci-e but I don't know if my budget will allow it.

By the way is an antec smart power 400 enough for a 6800.

Both of those cards perform about the same, and neither is a worthwhile improvement over what you have now. As others have said, get a new motherboard, along with a PCI-E card. That ABIT+7600GT combo looks good.

 

[SciFiMan]

Your best bet would be a 6800GS AGP for about $180. You could get a X1600 Pro 512 for $135, which I have, and play FEAR okay with decent enough settings. I haven't tried Quake4 yet, but I also used to have a 9600 Pro. Depending on how long you want to keep your AGP system. Or a 7600 in AGP if you can find one. I wouldn't spend more than $200 on a card myself what with DX10 cards coming out by Christmas and AGP all but gone. Better to save for a PCI-e rebuild early next year.

 

[Anoobis]

Your best bet would be a 6800GS AGP for about $180.

No offense but $180 6800GSs are rather scarce. Some go for about $200 right now, most are about $220+.

For that price the OP is better off (way better off in fact) with the setup that Pauldh suggested.

To the OP, I bought the Abit KN8-SLI through ZipZoomFly along with Abit's rebate deal. I got my rebate within 2 weeks of sending it out. I also bought an eVga 7600GT from the Egg along with the rebate deal. I got that rebate within 4 weeks of sending it out. Just make sure to keep a copy of the rebate forms that have the contact info on them so you can follow up on your rebates if they take too long.

If you get that 7600GT, load up FarCry with the 1.3 patch and run it with HDR (yes you'll need to turn off AA but it's worth it). You won't regret it.