This weekend my XFX 7800GT was destroyed (littleun scraped up the "gold fingers" by knocking the computer over, prompting the card to fall out!), so currently I do not have a PC (typing this on an iMac T.T). I do not want to buy a shoddy replacement card to hold me over, and with Crysis right around the corner it seems like an appropiate time to upgrade.
However my system is currently an AMD 64 3200 and a socket 939 mobo with 1GB of DDR400 ram (how much would I be able to ask for on Craigslist for these?). As a result I know if I buy a 8800GT or another card of that caliber it will be severely bottle necked. Plus my other hardware is old as is. So I am in a fickle in that I cannot decide what I want to do.
I am not interested in buying a quad core cpu and I am some what stingy. I use my PC for strictly for gaming (well atleast when it comes to power intensive tasks) so I know buying a ridiculously powerful processor is some what overkill. What I really want to do is buy a very cheap processor overclock it to hell and back so that I can save as much money as possible. However how long will this keep me playing games? And is this even a good idea to begin with?
I heard the E2160 and 80 with a P35 mobo is a nice option as it overclocks very well and furthermore the mobo has a nice upgrade path infront of it still. But what about the AMD 5000 BE? I heard that can OC very well as well.
I am most likely going to pair w/e I buy with a 8800GT. However if there is some way my 7800GT could be fixed for free/REALLY cheap I'd be open to that, as I wasn't quite ready to buy a new video card.
With new memory, cpu and gfx card I am wondering if I need a new PSU. Currently I have a 430 watt Thermaltank. Will this be enough? Especially considering I will be OCing.
I would like to keep this under 600$. I was thinking of something around $50 for ram $260ish the video card $80ish CPU $80ish MOBO $60ish PSU New case possibly
Advice and recommendations on parts or anything is vitally needed. I want to order everything sometime this week hopefully.
I want to buy a mobo with a good upgrade path if possible. I am not made of money so keeping this on the cheap is important. Thanks.
Message edited by saltshaker on 11-06-2007 at 02:39:26 AM
2x1 GB DDR2-800 (6400) (can find this for around $50-75, look for rebates)
8800GT (at the 'egg, this bottoms out at $310 in stock)
E2160 or E2180 ($83 and $90 retail)
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L ($91, no firewire)
Have you considered the E4500? I read on another forum that some store (I can't remember the name, I'm not from the US so I'm not familiar) was selling it for $US 100, for overclocking/gaming it would be a bit better than the E2180, and only costs a little more.
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