update GPU, CPU or both?

[valmojado]

I want to enjoy the latest games in all their glory (hi-res, 32-bit colour/textures, anti-aliasing etc) and therefore need to update my current setup:

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-6VXE7, UDMA 66
CPU: Pentium III 800 Mhz
Memory: 256Mb
Graphics Card: Riva TNT2 M64 32Mb

I'm thinking about splashing out on Leadtek Ti4400 as it looks like the prices are set to come down soon (I hope).

The questions:

Am I going to get the kind of performance I want with the slow(ish) CPU?

Is the motherboard/CPU going to be a serious limiting factor? (I'm thinking about a complete upgrade next year)

Any advice will be much appreciated.

Chris<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by valmojado on 08/27/02 06:29 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[valmojado]

After reading other posts it's obvious my previous post belongs in a beginners' forum, any recomendations?

Chris.

I use my PC for programming only ;0)

 

[grassapa]

ok valmojado...your nickname isnt very funny and its a bit "racist". pls change it... i get it....

real philosophy of life: "do onto others what you dont want them do onto you"

 

[DesperateDan]

Definately upgrade the graphics card, I would go for a radeon 8500 LE or a geforce 4 ti 4200 rather than the 4400, simply because the performance WILL be limited by the cpu and the 2 cards I have suggested are imo good value for money. Newer games, if they take full advantage of gpu hardware acceleration could be fine on that cpu, for example the xbox only has a 733mhz p3.

 

[grassapa]

well the xbox's architecture is very different. so xbox's p3 733 doesnt equal a PC's p3 733. xbox is more powerful

real philosophy of life: "do onto others what you dont want them do onto you"

 

[valmojado]

I'm a bit lost about the comment on my nickname. It's the name of the street where I live in Madrid (and the name of a town in the province of Toledo). I'd never really thought about any other possible interpretations....just out of interest....what exactly were you thinking?

 

[valmojado]

Although more expensive, is the 4400 going to be more future proof?

 

[grassapa]

Ok Im sorry I didnt know you were talkin about Valmojado province in Toledo. My interpretation was:
Val = Val Smith
mojado = beautiful ray of sunshine (illegal mexicans)

NOO i dont like val smith, i just thought it was not cool a comment like that

anyways, about ur problem. if you are going to get a new computer in 1 year, the ti4400 might be too much. unless you want to use the ti4400 for your next new computer. the max i would go is ti4200. i was in the same scenario as you are, and i went for the RAdeon 8500. its cheaper and functions well (for me at least). I am also thinking of gettin a whole new computer next year too.



real philosophy of life: "do onto others what you dont want them do onto you"<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by grassapa on 08/28/02 05:12 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[chuck232]

For that comp, a Ti200 would be enough, but since R8500 aren't that much more, that's the best choice. Now if you're gonna upgrade to a XP1800+ or more/P4 2GHz+ soon, then the Ti4400 may become useful.

<i>Past mistakes may make you look stupid, but avoiding future ones will make you look smart!</i>

 

[grassapa]

i think valmojado wouldnt buy a 1800+ or 2ghz a year later... would u val?

real philosophy of life: "do onto others what you dont want them do onto you"

 

[clembot]

Yeah, having a nice video card with an 800 mhz pentuim 3 is like driving a porsche with the parking brake on.

 

[grassapa]

yea it will be nice to have all the money in the world too....

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My computer is so fast it proves the theory of relativity wrong...

 

[Crashman]

Just upgrading to a REAL TNT2 from an M64 version would give you a big boost! But anyway, you really don't need to go as high as the 4400 to get a significant improvement, but I won't stop you from doing so if you choose.

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

 

[valmojado]

Thanks to all for the advice.

I don't want to open up the whole ti4200/Radeon 8500 debate again, but my question is, which will run best on my particular system? Also looks like the 64M version of ti4200 beats the 128M in most benchmarks...but how long before developers starting aiming at that range of cards?

Will the fact that my MOBO is AGP x2 make a big difference to the choice (previous posts indicate not)?

As regards complete system upgrade....my wife has pointed out that spending 700 euros so that (quoting myself) "the games will look really cool" is hard to justify when we're planning on renovating our kitchen....tough call

Looks like its the 64M TI4200.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by valmojado on 08/30/02 08:50 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[bront]

If you're thinking of doing a complete upgrade next year, as long as there is no burning need for a new GPU now, wait and upgrade everything togeather. You'll get more bang for you buck, and you can build a complete system from scratch.

If ignorance is bliss, then why is everyone so miserable?

 

[Oracle]

The name's Van Smith, not Val (if you refer to Van Smith, from the winding down site Vansharware.com).


<font color=red>Words heard on a plane's recovered blackbox, "DON'T TOUCH THIS BUTTON YOU STUPID ASSHO................................."</font color=red>

 

[grassapa]

2 options:
do what bront told you...just hold urself tight and save up all that money u gonna need...
OR
if you want something cheap just so u can play current games decently, go for the R8500LE its cheaper. it runs current games well. Try to find deals on that card, there are lots of them out there...

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My computer is so fast it proves the theory of relativity wrong...