Need graphics advice - AGP

Save and do a full upgrade I say.

Agreed. No since putting more money into old tech for a minimal improvement.

Okay ty, and what do you think of these parts then?

Duo Core Processor 3.0ghz
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz LGA 775 Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6850

$279.99
New Egg

- I heard the 2.66 is $100 cheaper and easily able to overclock it to around 3.1-3.2

Asus P5N-E SLI Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$179.99
($149.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate)

2x 1gig sticks 800mhz
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/ite...
$89.99($49.99 after rebate)


XFX GeForce 8800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$209

CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
($109.99, $99, after rebate)



I heard its better to get the 2.66 core dual and overclock it and save the $100 but i'm not sure.

You can actually get an E2180 and OC it to 3.33ghz easily(multiplier 10 x 333 FSB) on the stock Intel Cooler. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I would not waste money on SLI either. A Gigabyte P35-DS3L can be had for less than $100. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

The memory is a little cheaper at Newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

The vid card and PSU are excellent!

Thankyou for the advice  

if you aren't in a hurry to upgrade your PC, i suggest you wait till march. Thats when the Penryn Processors would be available. And they offer a tremendous bang for buck. Here is a list of the complete Penryn lineup.

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=75711

As you can see, the Penryns make the present C2Ds look like rubbish.

Also SLI is too expensive...go for the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L. Its the very best non SLI at the moment. If you wait till march, this board would be dirt cheap... moreover a better motherboard will come along by that time.

Regarding the GPU, you might as well spend ten bucks more and get a Radeon HD 3870 (512mb). Its MILES ahead of the 8800GT 256mb. Here are the GPU benchmarks....... http://www.legitreviews.com/article/607/8/

Again, if you wait a little longer you will get a great GPU for a great price.

Cheers!

Hrm in that review it looks like the xfx gets higher frames than the Radeon HD 3870 unless it's crossfired.

Also I usually don't play games in higher than 1280 1024, but thats also do in part to my system stuttering as is.

For longer term use, I was looking at the XFX PGeForce 8800GT Extreme 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express, which is 640mhz core clocked
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
whats your opinions on this one

Why does everyone hate on sli just cause they dont have it......

With 2GB ram and a 3.0GHz P4, I would not hesitate to pop a new AGP in there. But not that overpriced 7600GS. If you are in the USA, Something like the HD2600XT would be a massive upgrade and they can be found for $120 shipped (newegg). Investigate the driver issues and see if you are comforatable with that route

I have friends with 680i boards, 4gb ram, and various dual card set ups. All agree it is lots of money for relatively few more FPS. The only one who is happy has dual 8800 GTX's and a 30" monitor. Still struggles in Crysis though.

They were the guinea pigs that save me a lot of wasted money.