need quick help before i order a proc and vid card agp

If you 're gona buy a processor thats 200mhz more than the one you used, then why not overclock it.

Don't forget that Opterons are still an option. Mine's running at 3.13 on air and I've never had heat problems.

One thing about the GeCube card before you buy it:

The card comes with a very nice cooler. It is a combo heat sink/TEC solution. However...... the guys at GeCube don't do a very good job of mounting them at all. If you get this card, please please please make sure that you tighten the screws on the back before running this card. Also, you may want to look into getting some low profile RAM sinks for the card, as the stock cooler does nothing to keep them cool.

Just remember that if you do get the RAM sinks, that when you remove the cooler to connect them, that you clean the GPU and the heat sink and reapply the thermal paste of your choice. Make sure that you order the low profile heat sinks....the one's from Zalman will not fit under the cooler. I think Aerocool made some nice low profile sinks, but I can't be sure. Just check out newegg, and VGA cooling accessories. They are very cheap and can save a lot of headaches.

It's a great card if you can control the heat! Mine kept coming loose so often that I replaced the stock cooler with the Zalman Fatality GPU cooler and now I really have to monitor my temps. In Oblivion, I have to play at 640x480 or the card will overheat very quickly.

The bad thing is.....if you remove the stock cooler, you have to pretty much void your warranty because of the way they power the TEC on the PCB. It's hot glued to a power header on the board.

If you are someone who doesn't like to perform monthly maintenance on your PC, you might want to go with the x1950 Pro. The cooler on the XT is very nice, but you have to keep your eye on it. It's just too heavy, and ends up seperating from the GPU over time.

Sorry for the long post, I just want you to know what you will be getting into with that GFX card

I wouldn't spend a nickel on an AGP card. My 7600GT's PCI-E's just murder
my old 6800O/C. Even in single mode I'm 35% faster. Spending big money on AGP right now is like beating a dead horse.: You can do it, but it ain't gonna take ya nowhere!

I'm not saying it's a bad card; I'm saying it's a poor investment.