Buying New Hardware

[Ogianres]

And I'd like to ask you for help.
Iwant to upgrade my processor (AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 2.2GHz clock 1000MHz bus) and my video card (ATI Radeon X800GT 256 MB VRAM). I have a price cap of 600$ (give or take). I want to maximize my increase in processor power, while getting at least a 512 MB VRAM card and keeping coolant requirment at a minimum. I need something whose parent company doesn't make the newest drivers all of a sudden incompatible with a resolution/refresh rate it was previously able to support (1366x768 @ 60Hz if you're curious to know).
I've looked at the GeForce 8800 GTS, but otherwise I haven't really become attached to any particular company or brand.

[synkr0nized]

The processor will depend on what your motherboard supports (i.e. what socket). As you have an AMD chip, obviously don't bother looking at Intel processors - your motherboard won't be able to accommodate them.

Also, though most boards are PCIe now I believe, you'll also want to confirm if your video card slot is AGP or PCIe before looking at the relevant cards.

[I_Like_Swordchucks]

Originally Posted by synkr0nized

Also, though most boards are PCIe now I believe, you'll also want to confirm if your video card slot is AGP or PCIe before looking at the relevant cards.

The X800GT is inherently a PCIe card, so I'm pretty sure that question is answered.



As for your issue, fortunately AMD has a price cap on how high the processors go, so your only concern is what exactly your motherboard can support. If your mobo can support all the latest and greatest, I would go for the Phenom 9850 Black addition with an aftermarket cooler (like an OCZ Vendetta or something) so you can overclock it somewhat, and either a 9800 GTX (if your PSU can handle it) or an 8800 GTS 512MB.

It should run you slightly less than $600 all together, with an added bonus of being able to run something like Crysis all on high settings at that resolution.

The big thing is, though, what your motherboard model is and how much power you have in your PSU. I'm also curious as to how much RAM you have, because it would be nice if you had at least 2GB otherwise you'll be severely memory limited.

[Ogianres]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Swordchucks

The X800GT is inherently a PCIe card, so I'm pretty sure that question is answered.



As for your issue, fortunately AMD has a price cap on how high the processors go, so your only concern is what exactly your motherboard can support. If your mobo can support all the latest and greatest, I would go for the Phenom 9850 Black addition with an aftermarket cooler (like an OCZ Vendetta or something) so you can overclock it somewhat, and either a 9800 GTX (if your PSU can handle it) or an 8800 GTS 512MB.

It should run you slightly less than $600 all together, with an added bonus of being able to run something like Crysis all on high settings at that resolution.

The big thing is, though, what your motherboard model is and how much power you have in your PSU. I'm also curious as to how much RAM you have, because it would be nice if you had at least 2GB otherwise you'll be severely memory limited.

Well, I have 1 gig of RAM right now, and I've considered toning down my increase in processor or graphics card (although there's not much to tone down in the latter) in order to secure myself an extra gig. As far as my motherboard goes, it looks like I'm going to have to go with AMD, so I'll look at the Phenom, but I also don't really need it to run at more than out-of-the-box speeds anyways.

Anyways I need to open up the case and look at my PSU (not knowledge I have at hand). This computer had everything with it (except the Radeon) when we bought it three years ago, so I haven't looked at the inside much.

If processor, RAM, and video card all add up to >600$ (up to maybe 650), then I'd put priority on RAM and video card. If I felt like it I'm sure I could overclock my current processor instead of getting a new one.

[I_Like_Swordchucks]

Originally Posted by Ogianres

Well, I have 1 gig of RAM right now, and I've considered toning down my increase in processor or graphics card (although there's not much to tone down in the latter) in order to secure myself an extra gig. As far as my motherboard goes, it looks like I'm going to have to go with AMD, so I'll look at the Phenom, but I also don't really need it to run at more than out-of-the-box speeds anyways.

Anyways I need to open up the case and look at my PSU (not knowledge I have at hand). This computer had everything with it (except the Radeon) when we bought it three years ago, so I haven't looked at the inside much.

If processor, RAM, and video card all add up to >600$ (up to maybe 650), then I'd put priority on RAM and video card.

Then don't get the black edition, get the regular edition Phenom, be happy with the stock cooler, and use the left over $50 to invest in some RAM.

Just in case though, figure out your motherboard specs and make sure it can handle Phenom. Not all older motherboards have quad-core support. You might be limited to an Athlon X2 6400+ or something (which is still very decent).

[Lightnix]

Just to echo the rest of the hardware community in general, the 9800 GTX really isn't worth the price premium over either the 8800 GTS 512MB or 8800 GTX (at least here in the UK - £50 is enough to get 4GB of RAM or even a moderately decent motherboard after all) - it's really just an 8800 GTS 512MB with an extra SLi connector and a 25MHz clockspeed boost.

That being said, you don't need an amazingly fast card to run at 1366x768, and an 8800 GT would probably be more than sufficient.

I'd say, tell us the make and model of your PSU, the 12v amperage would be a nice tidbit of information as well.

Also, VERY important this, is the board socket AM2 or 939? If you don't know, I'd urge you to download a program called CPU-Z and have a look. Unfortunately, if it's a 939 board you're basically at a dead end when it comes to upgrading as it only supports DDR (expensive) and 939 CPUs (old).

[I_Like_Swordchucks]

Originally Posted by Lightnix

Just to echo the rest of the hardware community in general, the 9800 GTX really isn't worth the price premium over either the 8800 GTS 512MB or 8800 GTX (at least here in the UK - £50 is enough to get 4GB of RAM or even a moderately decent motherboard after all) - it's really just an 8800 GTS 512MB with an extra SLi connector and a 25MHz clockspeed boost.

Um... I'd just like to point out that very little here is actually accurate.

The failure of the 9800GTX was that it isn't excessively superior to the 8800GTX the way the 8800GTX was to the 7800GTX. Its more of a sidestep. The price, however, is generally agreed by the hardware community in general to be its best selling point.

The 9800GTX is CHEAPER than the 8800GTX, so whatever price premium exists in the UK, does not exist in North America. Its a slightly better performer, and cheaper to manufacture, and can be found easily for $300.

The 8800GTS 512MB is found on average for $259.99, which makes it basically only about $40 cheaper except for rebates and sales. Yes the 9800GTX only has a 25 clock speed increase, but the memory bandwidth is far superior (970 vs 1100) and is unachievable by the 8800. Also, the 8800GTS is basically at near its overclocking limit, while the 9800GTX can be up-clocked even further.

For his resolution, no he probably wouldn't notice much of a difference, but you'd never know when he'd buy a new monitor and it would really suck to be bandwidth limited when and if he did.

So I don't know where you got 'not worth the price premium' because I regularly read at least a dozen hardware review sites, and EVERY single one of them said that the price-performance was the biggest thing in the card's favor. If he wants to save $40-50 and go for the GTS, its not a bad decision, but to say that the 9800GTX isn't worth the money shows that you really aren't that in tune with the "hardware community in general".

[Lightnix]

A quick few comparisons on NewEgg do show that American price ratios do seem a fair bit different to over here. Being the 8800 GTS 512MB and to a lesser extent 8800 GTX are both cheaper than the 9800 GTX here, and that the 3870 X2 is a fair bit more powerful and can be had for just that little bit more, it's just a poor choice for us.

That being said, the 8800 GTS 512MB has been known to it pretty high clock speeds with a volt mod (air, too), after all, the 8800 GTS and 9800 GTX are both using the same chip (G92).

I mean, just for kicks, a google search brought me: http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==

So I'm not entirely sure how unattainable those memory speeds are. It would appear that was done on stock cooling and volts for that card.

However, a quick look shows me a $75-odd (non-rebate $225 - $199 with rebate on a pre-oc 8800 gts vs. $300 on average for most 9800 GTX cards, these prices being from NewEgg ) price difference between the 9800 GTX and 8800 GTS, which is still a bit of a jump for an overclock and an SLi connector. Of course opinion on what constitutes a 'price jump' may vary...