system upgrade questions?

[harshbarj]

My system is nearly 2 years old now and some games just don't run all that well. I'm looking to upgrade and have about $600.

My current system

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (the first version and not the 90nm)
msi neo4-f s939
1.5gb pc3200 (2x512 + 2x256)
ati x1900gt 256mb (upgraded 4 months ago)
wd raptor 74gb 10,000rpm sata
wd 120gb ata 100
thermaltake silent purepower 480w
NEC dvd-rw 16x pata

I was planning on keeping the video card + all drives and the case. I have a new 600w psu coming as one day I want another x1900gt for a crossfire setup. So all I need is a cpu, motherboard, and ram. I'm not sure just what to get.

 

[alcattle]

for AMD this might fit the budget
ASRock ALiveXFire-eSATA2 Socket AM2 ATI CrossFire
with this CPU
Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2.0GHz
That puts you at $190 before tax/shipping
add a couple sticks of RAM leaves you about $400

 

[foz]

In your situation I would ether keep your current cpu+mobo and throw in a 8800GTS because the GTS will in most cases outperform a 1900GT crossfire setup without all the hassle.(Ebay the 1900GT) This alone will dramatically improve your gaming performance.(If in the future you want to do SLI then get the 640MB version for sure)Your cpu is not that bad. You can then save that money left over to later upgrade your cpu when the new AMD stuff comes out in a few months. (if you even want to stay with AMD)

OR:

Use all your $600 now and switch over to an Intel system
Intel e6400- ~$220~ (you go cheaper here and overclock)

Then for future Crossfire system:
DFI LANPARTY UT ICFX3200-T2R/G ~$229~
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136032
Or for future SLI system:
ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus ~$189~
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131153
(could go cheaper here if you don't need a duel graphics card setup, IE a Gigabyte DS3 for ~$125~)

Add 2 gigs of DDR2 800 ram~$170~:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231098

If you are going to change CPUs then it needs to be a big enough of a performance jump to make it worthwhile. Right now Intel has the advantage. If you are a diehard AMD fan then you should get the GTS now and wait to see if the new AMD stuff can compete.

 

[akhilles]

I have no idea which socket of cpu & mobo you're going to upgrade to or whether you're going to overclock the new parts.

Most of the Intel P965/975 mobos are Crossfire ready. The nForce 650i/680i are SLI ready.

Agreed with Fox on the c2d parts:

6400 & up for stock speed or down for overclocking
GA-965P-S3 or DS3 or P5B Deluxe
G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ

Total before tax & ship: 495 - 600 USD

 

[harshbarj]

I should have been clearer in my first post. I know I need 2gb of ram so right off the top ~$200 is already spoken for. I also would like to overclock as I have had great luck with my 3500. Also the video card I have I am keeping as it's more than I really need (I still have a a64 3000(754) with a 9800pro and it's able to play nearly everything I do now) . The problems I'm having are related to low ram and slow cpu. Games like bf2 take a long time to load and simcity 4 bogs down after a while.

As I have to switch the motherboard and ram I can go either amd or intel. Sadly because of amd's move to ddr2 I have to abandon my pc3200 I’ve used in 4 builds now(started in an athlon xp 2600).