So I'm looking to do one final upgrade to the current machine I'm running with before eventually building a new system. The computer runs fine, but the games are starting to drag (i.e. Q4, CS:S, WoW, etc.). This computer will be a hand-me-down once I build a new machine, so I'd like it to basically be as good as it can get.
Here's the current setup:
Motherboard: Intel D845GBV
Processor: Intel P4 2.5GHz
RAM: 1GB DDR PC2100
Video: ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB
I'm only looking to upgrade the video card, so here's what I've found so far.
eVGA GeForce 6800XT 128MB ($150)
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA47140
eVGA GeForce 7800GS CO 256MB ($280)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130274
Diamond Radeon X1600PRO 512MB ($175)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814103005
Crucial Radeon X1600PRO 512MB ($200)
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.Asp?IMODULE=CTVX1600PROAGP512MB
So those are my options so far. I'm not sure if the 7800GS would really be worth it because I've heard that my CPU/Mobo will probably be the bottleneck so I wouldn't be able to get everything out of that card anyway. Might make more sense just to buy the 6800XT.
And the two X1600 cards, well, I've only read about the Diamond one here on Tom's Hardware. I happened to come across the Crucial one today, so I thought I'd throw it up there in case anyone knows anything good or bad about that card.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. And if you know of any other cards that might be better, I'd be happy to hear about them. Thanks everyone!
Here's the current setup:
Motherboard: Intel D845GBV
Processor: Intel P4 2.5GHz
RAM: 1GB DDR PC2100
Video: ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB
I'm only looking to upgrade the video card, so here's what I've found so far.
eVGA GeForce 6800XT 128MB ($150)
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA47140
eVGA GeForce 7800GS CO 256MB ($280)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130274
Diamond Radeon X1600PRO 512MB ($175)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814103005
Crucial Radeon X1600PRO 512MB ($200)
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.Asp?IMODULE=CTVX1600PROAGP512MB
So those are my options so far. I'm not sure if the 7800GS would really be worth it because I've heard that my CPU/Mobo will probably be the bottleneck so I wouldn't be able to get everything out of that card anyway. Might make more sense just to buy the 6800XT.
And the two X1600 cards, well, I've only read about the Diamond one here on Tom's Hardware. I happened to come across the Crucial one today, so I thought I'd throw it up there in case anyone knows anything good or bad about that card.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. And if you know of any other cards that might be better, I'd be happy to hear about them. Thanks everyone!