Cheap upgrade for 9500Pro?

[AMDThunder]

Saw the post for the 9800Pro for 70 bucks. Anything else that'll work for that much or less?

For those who haven't read my other posts lately, I'm buidlng a whole new rig in Feb. that won't pertain to this one at all. My mobo seems to have bit the big one. Currently have a 2200+ and a dead A7V8X, with 2X512 Corsair ram, and a 9500 Pro. Found a socket 939 3200+ for around $70, and looking at a couple of mobos (agp) in the $50-$60 range. Problem is finding a decent agp mobo. Lots of pcie boards, but then I have to upgrade my vid card. Don't mind doing that, but needs to be cheap. Like $150 all together, if it's even possible. I'm probably better off using my 9500Pro and grabbing the 3200+ and a cheap agp board, but I thought I'd ask.

Please no suggestions to save my pennies and get X. This old rig only needs to last me about 4 months, then it'll be my backup, and allow me to 2-box in EQ once again. Nothing more.

 

[cleeve]

Used 9700 PRO or 9800 PRO on ebay is your best bet if you want to keep it cheap.

 

[pauldh]

You could go with the mobo Cleeve, GW, and I have, the Asrock 939 Dual SATA 2. It has native AGP 8X and PCI-e 16X, so you can use the 9500 pro, but not get stuck paying the AGP premium when you need a faster card. Just go PCI-e instead.
Here's an open box for $30: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157081R

Or the new version:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157097

Anyway, that's what I would do as in PCI-e $90 gets you a X800GTO, $110 gets you a 7600GT. That price in AGP gets you a 6600GT at best.

 

[pauldh]

One other option if you didn't buy the 3200+ already, is this 3400+ NF4U combo...CPU and mobo for $99.($30 more than the 3200+ alone). Add a cpu fan because it's OEM, and the remainder of your budget goes to a PCI-e card like the X800GTO or better yet, 7600GT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103023

 

[rodney_ws]

He said his budget was $150... you think that after he buys that $99 combo and then a CPU fan he'll be able to afford a 7600 GT?

 

[TSIMonster]

No, but he could get the sempron 2800+ AM2 cpu for $40, the ECS board in my sig for $60 and have $50 to help save towards a good GFX card. The ATI Xpress1100 onboard graphics should be enough to hold em up til he can afford a better vga card IMO. (The 1100 could play halo and unreal2004 on medium settings probable close to the 9500)

 

[AMDThunder]

That's a pretty sweet combo deal, but I'm a bit skeptical when it comes to ECS boards. Then there's the issue of being forced to upgrade my vid card, which I don't think I can do and stay in budget. Did a little more looking around after I posted last night, and it looks like I may have to stay with my 9500 Pro until I build my new rig in Feb. Found a good combo deal last night on an agp board and 3200+, but I think it expired.

A question about the Asrock boards. I know they come with both pcie and agp, but I heard it wasn't a true agp. Something about a bridge? Anyone clarify for me how that works?

 

[AMDThunder]

Ok, here's what I'm thinking:

ASRock K8Upgrade-NF3 Socket 754 NVIDIA nForce3 250 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
OR
ABIT NF8-V2 Socket 754 NVIDIA nForce3 250 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
With the
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 2.0GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket 754 Processor - OEM
Heatsink/fan
COOLER MASTER CK8-8JD2B-0L 80mm Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail

With the Asrock board: $111.96 Shipped
With the Abit board: $123.09 Shipped

Socket 939 option
EPoX EP-9NDA3I Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce3 250 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
With the
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 2.0GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail

$135.89 Shipped

Not a huge differnce in the prices. Since this will be a back up pc in a few short months, what's ya'lls opinion? I'm thinking cheapest possible with the Asrock board. Your opinion matters!

Edit: Mwave has the Abit NF8-V2 with the Sempron 3400+ Palermo for around $105 shipped. (I have a $10 off coupon!)

 

[pauldh]

He said his budget was $150... you think that after he buys that $99 combo and then a CPU fan he'll be able to afford a 7600 GT?

I read his $150 altogether comment to mean for the mobo and video card, not including the $70 for the A64 3200+. If he wants a cpu + mobo + video card for $150...he'll have to make huge sacrifices, probably sticking with the 9500 pro.