Time for an overhaul help plz!

[CJCSum41]

Hey guys first time poster on here but I've been using Tom's hardware for a long time.

I'm looking to upgrade my OS and go with Vista 64-bit since the days of DX9 are running short.
I use my computer for multimedia and gaming purposes and currently this is my build.

Asus M2N32-SLi Deluxe Wi-Fi
AMD Athlon X2 Windsor 4200+ 2.2GHz
EVGA GeForce 7900GS KO GDDR3 256MB
Corsair DDR2 800 XMS2 2GB
WD 7200rpm 250GB
M-Audio Revolution 5.1 sound card
Xion 600w psu

Looking to spend $500 on the rebuild and I'd like to be able to play games like Fallout 3 on high settings and future titles.

Also is my MB worth keeping or should I look at doing a more expensive build from the ground up? Thanks!

 

[aevm]

First of all, you need 4 GB of RAM for a good experience with recent games, especially under Vista. Read this:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/07/08/is-more-memory-better/5

Your MB is still fine IMO. It won't support Phenom CPUs though, which means you can't do a meaningful CPU upgrade if you keep it.

Some possible solutions:
1. just buy a new video card (HD 4870 or 9800GX2)
2. buy two 8800GT cards and reuse your SLI motherboard
3. buy a P5Q Pro or GA-EP45-UD3P, an E8500, and two HD 4850 cards (total about $600)
4. buy a K9A2 Platinum, reuse your current CPU, add two HD 4850 cards (total about $450)

#1 and #2 are cheapest and require the least work
#3 has the nicest CPU; however, it costs more than others, and it runs Crossfire at x8+x8 i.e. not as well as possible
#4 still has your old CPU, but it will be better than #3 in games because the Crossfire would run without bottlenecks; you can get a Phenom later

Consider adding a WD6400AAKS disk too ($75 IIRC), it's very fast compared to older drives.

 

[Peaks]

Well for starters, to even get close to playing Fallout3 on full settings you need something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102795
Im trying to keep in your budget. I would probably go with 4870x2 myself.

And with Vista 64-bit i would get 4GB RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197

I would get another mobo too, stay with Asus and get a P5Q.

 

[antiacid]

aevm has good suggestions.

I personally have a similar setup but a 8800gt instead. I can play fallout 3 on high settings without problems. You might want to switch to a p5q pro and a q9450 / e8500 with a 4850 for very little money. That would give you the biggest increase in performance since an x2 4200 is going to limit you more than the video cards at that point.

Keep in mind that fallout 3 has a "recommended" setup that's like 2.4ghz lol

 

[CJCSum41]

Just so you know the M2N32-SLi Deluxe Wi-Fi can run a Phenom it just needs the latest bios upgrade.

I also figured I'd need to get 2 GB more of ram when upgrading to Vista.

I think you guys would be surprised my current setup can actually play Oblivion on max settings.

Are the Nvidia 9 series gpu's faster than the 8 series? Sorry I've been out of the loop awhile just getting back into it.

 

[aevm]

Good to know about the Phenom In that case you might as well keep the MB, I guess, and upgrade only the CPU and video card(s).

The 8800GT, 8800GTS, 8800GTX and 9800GTX are all pretty close.

Sometimes the 9800GTX beats them all:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/xfx_9800gtx/6.htm

and sometimes the 8800GTS 512MB beats the 9800GTX:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/xfx_9800gtx/9.htm

and sometimes the 8800GTS and 8800GTX both beat the 9800GTX
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/xfx_9800gtx/10.htm

The more recent 9800GTX+ is a little better than the 9800GTX shown in these charts.

The 9800GX2 will beat any 8-series card, of course. It's pretty much like two 8800GT cards put together.

 

[Proximon]

I have a very radical solution

Buy this very fast card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130387
... And get Far Cry 2 with it, a $45.00 savings.

The deal makes it a very good choice.

 

[CJCSum41]

^^ I was actually thinking about it lol and probably will.

Onto cpu's what would you guys suggest I'd probably be looking to spend around $100 which I could get a fast AMD dual-core or a lower end quad-core/tri-core what do you guys think?

 

[Proximon]

I don't think any of the X2s are adequate to be honest. Personally, I would only buy one of the higher Phenoms, and only if I was doing it because I had a board already that would support them.

The 9950 compares well to the mid-range Intel quads.

 

[aevm]

The 9850 and 9950 trade blows with the Q6600, from what I've read. I've got a Q6600 myself and it's way overkill for what I do.

You can see how various CPUs behave in games here:
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=770&p=5

I agree about upgrading to a Phenom, because another X2 won't be a serious upgrade from what you have already.

 

[CJCSum41]

Thanks guys you've been a big help.