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Updating AM2 system for gaming, worth it?

Forum Homebuilt Systems : General Homebuilt - Updating AM2 system for gaming, worth it?

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deuce812   05-03-2008 at 09:33:51 PM

Hello all,

After playing a few newer games my 7900GT is starting to artifact really bad.

Currently I have 3800+ X2 on a EPOX EP-MF4 Ultra board w/ 2 GB RAM.

I was thinking of using part of my "stimulus" check to upgrade my video card but may as well do the processor as well to eliminate some of the bottleneck.

I was thinking a 6000/6400+ X2 and 8800GTS. I can get the combo on newegg for around $350-370. Would it be worth the price or should I just go with a cheaper dx10 card? I have vista business (64 bit?) so I may install for dx10 in the future. Any recommendations on video cards?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

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mihirkula   05-03-2008 at 10:03:35 PM
- 0 +

Wait for the new Radeon 4850/4870 mate...it beats the cr@p outta any existing cards.

------------------------------ Intel E6750 * Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L * Galaxy 8800GT 512mb 620MHz* Corsair VX450 * 2GB Transcend 667* 2x120GB Seagate SATA * Altec Lansing ATP3*
 Reply to mihirkula
deuce812   05-03-2008 at 10:36:38 PM
- 0 +

Do you think an AM2 on an older nforce2 board would be able to keep up w/ the new cards (limited bottlenecking)? I did a little reading and it sounds like these won't be out for a few months yet...hmmm...

Reply to deuce812
EXT64   05-03-2008 at 11:02:38 PM
- 0 +

Yes. Personally I'd grab the X2 5400/5600 Brisbane chips, but if you don't mind the heat those will be fine. That definitely is worth the price.

Now to the hard part, predicting. I can't remember exactly what I read recently, but if the 4850/4870 X1s are going to be out <2 months, I'd wait. Longer, I'd grab the GTS. Either way you'll be in good shape, however, I have a feeling the 4850 will be better than a GTS.

NForce 2? My 939 has NForce 4. Anyway, a 4850/4870 will still run fine. I think all that bottlenecking stuff is a little overhyped. Just don't expect it to score as many 3DMarks as an Intel Quad @ 4 GHz.

------------------------------ New Build : Intel Core i5 750 > Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4P > 2x2GB GSkill 1600MHz CL7 1.65V > Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB >
Antec 300 Illusion > Asus 4850 512MB w/AM Cooler > Corsair 650HX > CM Hyper 212 Plus > Other: PII 940/Gigabyte 790GX/4850 1G
 Reply to EXT64
deuce812   05-04-2008 at 02:20:38 AM
- 0 +

Ya, I was going to see if I could get away with overclocking the 3800+ but after using nvidia's control panel I can't get it above 2150 MHZ w/o BSOD or lock up instantly. Unless using the BIOS makes it that much more stable, over clocking is not going to be an option.

 

I'm a little torn if I want to wait for the ATI or not. I have found decent 8800GTS's for ~ 200 lately.

 

I may end up going with one of those and a 5600+. I hope I won't be kicking myself if the 4850 crushes the 8800 but as of now absolutely everything is unplayable due to artifacting (long slender textures going across the screen from certain points, the only way to get rid of them is to minimize and go back in). Thanks for the input!

 

Any others would be appreciated :D

 

Thanks

 


EDIT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127325 <----looking at that guy.


Message edited by deuce812 on 05-04-2008 at 03:04:40 AM
Reply to deuce812
EXT64   05-04-2008 at 04:05:34 PM
- 0 +

Well, I saw a site claiming May 08 :ouch:

http://lly316.blogspot.com/2008/04 [...] d4870.html

I can't vouch for its accuracy, though, but maybe it will come out sooner than we are expecting. That would be a nice change from the ATI/AMD camp.

I always use the BIOS when OCing, though, I don't know if it will help. Make sure your ram speed and HT link speed don't get too high if you do.

Though, with how cheap those X2s are (I got my 5400+ Brisbane for only $87!!) it may be best to get one of them and OC it to 3GHz+.

I understand your plight. I hate waiting. To be honest, I don't know what I'd do in your situation. Right now I've got a 2900XT (not the best, but quite good nonetheless) and little money, so I am in no rush for a new graphics card.

------------------------------ New Build : Intel Core i5 750 > Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4P > 2x2GB GSkill 1600MHz CL7 1.65V > Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB >
Antec 300 Illusion > Asus 4850 512MB w/AM Cooler > Corsair 650HX > CM Hyper 212 Plus > Other: PII 940/Gigabyte 790GX/4850 1G
 Reply to EXT64
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