Ad

News

Kingston offers 2 GB notebook memory modules

Kingston expanded its "Value RAM" mainstream notebook memory with 2 GB modules. The SO-DIMMs are available in 533 MHz (CAS 4, 5) and 667 MHz (CAS 4, 5) versions. Read more

New version of Adobe Acrobat headed for November

Adobe announced a new version of its document management software Acrobat. Version 8 introduces the ability to connect to a virtual meeting room for real-time Web conferencing. Read more

Asustek claims world's first PhysX add-in card, but it's probably #2

Asustek on 9 May introduced the PhysX P1 add-on accelerator card, which allows gamers to upgrade their existing system with Ageia's new PhysX processing unit (PPU). Read more

Memory upgrade enhances performance of Fujitsu's FinePix S3 Pro digital SLR camera

Fujifilm has begun offering a buffer upgrade for its 12.3-megapixel digital SLR camera FinePix S3 Pro. Read more

Latest Reviews & Articles

Roundup: Six Core 2 Motherboards Under $100

Roundup: Six Core 2 Motherboards Under $100

As Intel’s Core i7 architecture starts moving down from the high-end, value seekers can build high-performance LGA775 systems cheaply. Low-cost motherboards compete for the value crown with added features, performance, and overclocking capabilities. Read more

Radeon 4870: Does It Matter Who Made Yours?

Radeon 4870: Does It Matter Who Made Yours?

Once you’ve found the GPU that best fits your needs, does it really matter which vendor sells you the card? We take a look at AMD's reference 4870, Sapphire's, and Palit's to get a better sense for what differentiates graphics cards. Read more

Highpoint Takes On Adaptec's SAS Controller

Highpoint Takes On Adaptec's SAS Controller

Professional hardware can be expensive, but are cost effective business products really an alternative? We compared Highpoint’s new RocketRAID 2640X4 SAS RAID controller with Adaptec’s 5405 entry level card. Read more

GeForce GTX 295 Performance: Previewed

GeForce GTX 295 Performance: Previewed

After a frustrating second half of 2008, Nvidia is looking to start the new year off by reclaiming its single-card performance crown. We got our hands on an engineering sample GeForce GTX 295 to give you a taste of what you can expect in two weeks. Read more

All the Reviews & Articles
  Tom's Hardware Forums » Homebuilt Systems » General Homebuilt » Which upgrade would make the most difference?
 

Which upgrade would make the most difference?




Word :   Username :  
 
Bottom
Author
 Thread : Which upgrade would make the most difference?
 
Profile: newbie
More Information

Hi guys

I have the following rig at present:-

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 cpu
Asus P5N32-E SLi motherboard
2Gb OCZ Special Ops PC2 900MHz RAM
160Gb Raptor hard drive
640Mb Gainward Bliss GeForce 8800GTS graphics card (single card)
OCZ 700W PSU
Antec 900 Ultimate Gamer case

Trying to decide whether an upgrade to 4Gb of RAM, or a second 8800GTS in SLi would make the most difference? A third option would be to sell the 8800GTS on eBay and put the cash toward a single GTX or Ultra.

What would you guys recommend?

Thanks

Graham

Related Product

Register or log in to remove.

Profile: enthusiast
More Information

Unless you have a 64-bit OS going 4GB of ram is a waste of cash since Windows will not see it (it's the limitations of a 32-bit OS). So i'd say stay with your current 2GB. As for the card, do you find that 640GB 8800GTS you currently have as insuffient? Those are great cards and dumping another $320 or so on another will just slighlty increase your FPS but such an investment is not worth the cash (i'm still one of those guys not truely sold on SLI). If you can wait, Nvidia is currently planning on bringing out the 9series cards between mid November to early December. Just have a feeling 3 months down the line your gonna be kicking yourself for going through all the trouble of selling your GTS, buying a GTX then drooling over the new 9series cards which will supposedly sport over one TeraFLOPS of shader processing power, DX10.1 (rumors saying current 8800 cards will not support this new DX10, waiting for Nvidia to confirm that), and DDR4 memory. This card WILL be released this year. Now they are rumors that a 8900 series card will hit the market but this is unconfirmed. With all these new Nvidia cards coming out that will most likely be around the same price range of that 8800GTX your looking to get i'd wait a bit bud and see what's what. Just one builder's opinion.


Message edited by wingsofzion on 08-19-2007 at 12:43:19 PM
I'm proud of myself,because i'm from IRAN
Profile: Forum Veteran
More Information

If u want vista 64bit ,then go for 4GB

If u arent sattisfied with your 8800GTS ,then : 1_If u play @ very high resolution ,get another 8800gts ,

2_if u play @ resolutions like 1600x1200 and lower, then get 8800GTX or wait for next gen cards


---------------
Q6600@3.4,SAPPHIRE HD 4870X2,OCZ 4GB DDR2 800 RAM 4-4-4-15,ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA X38,SEAGATE 500GB 7200RPM 32MB,TT V1 CPU Cooler,TT ARMOR SILVER ALUMNIUM With 25cm FAN,OCZ MODXSTREAM 900W,LG W2452V 1920x1200
Profile: newbie
More Information

Thanks guys, sound advice. I didn't know 4Gb of RAM was for 64bit O/S only.

I'm not dissatisfied with my GTS. The only reason I was thinking about upgrading at all was in preparation for games like Bioshock and eventually Crysis (which I realise ideally needs Vista anyway which is a bit of a shame). I'm just not sure how much of a pounding a GTS will take with new games like this.

I think I'll take your advice and stick with what I've got until the 9x cards come out and Vista is a bit better.

Cheers

Graham

WR2
Profile: Faithful Poster
More Information

GreyKnight wrote :

... games like Bioshock and eventually Crysis (which I realise ideally needs Vista anyway which is a bit of a shame). I'm just not sure how much of a pounding a GTS will take with new games like this.

 

I think I'll take your advice and stick with what I've got until the 9x cards come out and Vista is a bit better.

BioShock and Crysis Crysis (system requirements) will run (in DX9 mode) on WinXP.
You'll be glad you took that good advice. You'll have a much better idea on if/how you want to go about upgrading once the games are actually released.

Profile: newbie
More Information

Save your money for now, buy one of the quad core 45nm cpu's when they come out. Eventually you will want to make the leap to vista 64 and 4-8 gb too. I have a similar setup to you but have 4gb in 64 bit, going from 2 to 4 gb doesn't make much diff, Yet.

I will prob wait till 9800 prices settle down n spring before upgrading from my 8800gtx.

I have been itching to go to raid0 raptors from my single, but such a hassle.


  Tom's Hardware Forums » Homebuilt Systems » General Homebuilt » Which upgrade would make the most difference?

Go to:
 

Google Ads