1st time post - long time visitor - Time for an upgrade?

[txrider]

Just built my dad a new PC, after just building my GF's dad a new PC, and all this new stuff is making my PC feel old.

I have a 939 Athlon 64 3800+ 2.41GHz w/ 3GB of ram (PC3200) and a motherboard that can't utilize my 3.0GB sata drive and PCIe2.0 video card.

So for under $200 bucks shipped (I know, shouldn't even be a question w/ the rigs around here), I can get a AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz, 2GB of DDR2 800, all on a board that could use my 3.0gb sata drive and PCIe2.0 video card.

Seem worth it to you guys? :lol:

I think I just talked myself into it, as long as I can use my current XP serial # on the new board.

The stuff..

Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157127

CPU (I have a nice heatsink already)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103242

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

Overall opinions?

Thanks for all the useful info on here!

 

[doormatderek]

That is pretty much my setup dude. I have a 4850 to go with it and it can handle EVERYTHING i throw at it at 1440x900. I do have 4 gigs of RAM though on XP 32bit, I KNOW, and I love it. I would recommend going with 4gigs and a slightly faster dual core if possible. On Newegg the x2 6000 at 3.1 ghz is the same price as the 5400, at $69, i'd go for that if possible.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103272
Im waiting to upgrade my cpu once AMD has a decent quad over 3ghz.

 

[Newf]

I think that you won't notice any difference.
The clock speed between your OC'd 3800 and what you'll get from the 5400 isn't much. The ram won't matter. Your hard drive won't use all the bandwidth that SATA 150 offers, let alone 3.0.
Current single videocards don't need more bandwidth than PCI-E 1 offers.
I know it sounds tempting, but you are wasting your money.
Either get a fast new Intel 3GHz+ system or just keep what you have.

 

[doormatderek]

I did the same thing. Spent about $200 and am very happy. You could do the same with an Intel combo however. What vidcard you have?

 

[txrider]

Thanks for the link to that CPU, it's cheaper than the one I was considering. I have a EVGA 9600GT:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130334

Newf, didn't think about my machine already not reaching any bottlenecks. My goal is to be able to run my games at higher resolutions and maintain my current graphics level/framerate. You don't think the previous upgrades would accomplish this?

 

[doormatderek]

honestly that vidcard is gonna hold you back, or not

 

[Newf]

Thanks for the link to that CPU, it's cheaper than the one I was considering. I have a EVGA 9600GT:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130334

Newf, didn't think about my machine already not reaching any bottlenecks. My goal is to be able to run my games at higher resolutions and maintain my current graphics level/framerate. You don't think the previous upgrades would accomplish this?

Nope.

 

[txrider]

K, thanks for the input guys. I'll stick where I am and build a new machine sometime in the future.