Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > Upgrading, Need some help!

Upgrading, Need some help!

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - Upgrading, Need some help!

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
bestarr   10-10-2005 at 10:23:59 PM

I'm shopping around for upgrades for a Motherboard, CPU, Video Card, and RAM. I should say that I'm making these upgrades for gameplay, mostly World of Warcraft. I'm seeking as near-flawless gameplay as possible. I'll post these questions in all the appropriate forums, but I thought it would be best to list all my thoughts in each so a better opinion can be shared. Here's where I'm heading:

CPU
AMD 64 3000+ w/ chipset 939, to support a FSB > 800 MHz
I'm wondering if this will be enough. I'm considering
upgrading to a 3500+ if necessary. Thoughts?

Motherboard
A8N-SLI Deluxe, for the sli technology and a FSB > 800 MHz.
I'm pretty sure this is a fine choice.

Video Card
Some form of the nVidia 7800 GTX 256mb PCI Express
My trouble here is is one of my main problems. I'm
curious if this upgrade is really necessary or if I
could achieve the same end result by getting two
cheaper cards to be used with the sli technology.
If I should get two other cards I have no idea which
two I should get. This is almost strictly a question of
price vs power.

RAM
2x 512mb DDR 400
I think that's specific enough. I've some stuff about
dual channel floating around...is that anything I need
to even think about?

I was directed to post in this community by my local CompUSA techs. I hope you can help me with some good advice. I'm lost on which way I should go on these. Thanks so much!

Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
Crashman   10-12-2005 at 04:56:53 AM
- 0 +

I'd get some good quality RAM and an 3200+ with Venice core.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

Reply to Crashman
Gamer_369   10-12-2005 at 05:46:12 AM
- 0 +

Quote :

Video Card
Some form of the nVidia 7800 GTX 256mb PCI Express
My trouble here is is one of my main problems. I'm
curious if this upgrade is really necessary or if I
could achieve the same end result by getting two
cheaper cards to be used with the sli technology.
If I should get two other cards I have no idea which
two I should get. This is almost strictly a question of
price vs power.


Definately not. Two 6800 Ultra's perform marginally close with the 7800GTX, at best, but cost about a few hundred dollars more and consumes more heat.

In other words, the 7800 GTX performs just as well as 2 cards in SLI for a significantly lower price, plus you have the option in the future to always get a second 7800 GTX, and thus you would be somewhat "future-proof." Definately get the 7800 GTX. :)

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Gamer_369 on 10/11/05 11:58 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

Reply to Gamer_369
dhlucke   10-12-2005 at 08:40:09 AM
- 0 +

Get the 3200+ Venice Core, forget SLI and get a DFI NF4 Lanparty Ultra-D or something equally good, a 7800GTX, a gig of good ram, and enjoy.

<font color=red><b>Long live Dhanity and the minions scouring the depths of Wingdingium!</b>

XxxxX
(='.'=)
(" )_(" ) Bow down before King Bunny

Reply to dhlucke
bestarr   10-12-2005 at 09:10:52 PM
- 0 +

That's the second person to tell me to consider forgetting SLI. What's the reasoning behind that? From what I've heard it'll give me a good advantage if I ever want to upgrade to duals?

Reply to bestarr
mpasternak   10-12-2005 at 09:30:35 PM
- 0 +

LET ME BE the third to say forget SLI

SLI "DOES" work at what it does. but require 2 identical card (even the bios verions has to match on those card) which will right there cost you 2 x the cost. and that also only gives approximately a 10 - 15% boost in performance over 1 card for double the price. to top it all off, SLI only works in games that have profiles in the drivers. which isnt all. the cost to gain isn't there.

on the other hand, going with 1 7800GTX in your situation would cost less and the performance boost wiill be on ALL games not just supported ones.

Reply to mpasternak
Gamer_369   10-12-2005 at 11:16:07 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

and that also only gives approximately a 10 - 15% boost in performance


At higher resolutions the boost can be greater.

Nonetheless, though, a 7800 GTX card performs just as fast if not faster.

Quote :

SLI only works in games that have profiles in the drivers. which isnt all.


You can set drivers to games though, resulting in "availability for all games" (according to nV). Go to their site and it tells you how to do so.

But again, buy the 7800 GTX.

Reply to Gamer_369
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > Upgrading, Need some help!
Go to:

There are 820 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.384 seconds
Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
How do I win badges?