Need upgrading advice

[Frostie]

I'm planning to upgrade my PC as my old 6800 GS died and I want to play some games again. I currently have:


Asus 7200 GS (backup card)
AMD 64 3200+ @2.4Ghz (S939)
Twinmos 1 GB Ram (2x512 PC3200)
MSI K8N Neo4-FI Nforce 4 (S939) mobo

My budget is around 180$ total, and I don't mind buying second hand-products which still work fine. I thought upgrading to the following would do:


7200 GS -> 8600 GTS (=60$ second handed)
3200+ -> X2 4400+ (=80$ second handed, S939)
Another 2x512 Ram, which gives me 2 GB ram. Dual channel won't work anymore this way, which will probably slow down my PC for a bit. (=40$)

The main problem is my motherboard which is still S939 and not AM2 or S775 for intel processors. So, my questions are:


Do you guys think I will be able to play new games fairly well at 1280x1024, for example CoD4/Crysis/Gears of War/Lost Planet or not at all? What should I change? I don't like Ati graphics cards, so please keep 'em Nvidia-based.

Also, how many 3dmark'06 you guys I think is possible to achieve with my upgraded PC? I could get about 2500 on my 6800 GS.

[=98=]

It's not worth buying a new CPU. AMD and skt939 is dead.

An 8600gts is an epic waste of money, and the only cards i can recommend around that price are the GeForce 9600gt and Radeon 3850 (don't dismiss is because of some stupid reason, it's a good card).

Even if you did upgrade the RAM and graphics card, and old socket 939 CPU would bottleneck it, so you wouldn't see it's true performance.

2gb of RAM would help, but really, you need a whole new setup :(

[Scinto]

180$ or 180€?

[Vash2051]

If thats the limits of your price range I don't see anything wrong with it. A 9600GT might be cheap but its still out of his practical price range. I think those will do you just fine. But don't spend 80 on the processor it has to be cheaper than that.

[Frostie]

Hmm. I think I might go for the 9600 GT instead. Do you guys think there will be another, somewhat cheaper but still good performing 9xxx card anywhere soon? Like in the 80-130€ range?

BTW I meant € instead of $. It doesn't really matter after all, I'm not going to import anything oversea (I'm located in the Netherlands), but probably buy second hand since it's much cheaper and still good.

[chaos555]

I wouldn't buy second hand, you could easily pay more than you wanted in the long run. Buying new could be more expensive now, and you also can get warranty if it breaks, and simply get a new one for free, been there done that. With a second hand card, you have got nothing except a broken card and more money to dish out on another one.
Search around for a new one, different websites will vary in prices, the 9600GT would be your best bet, although it is the cost of your total asking price, you should consider it.

[Vash2051]

The 9600GT is definitely a good buy for the price. Just shop around and do your research before making a purchase. Look out for new releases etc that could drop the price. The 9800GX2 is supposedly a March 11th (don't quote me) launch but will unlikely drop the price of the 9600GT.

[jake_]

I'm planning to upgrade my PC as my old 6800 GS died and I want to play some games again. I currently have:


Asus 7200 GS (backup card)
AMD 64 3200+ @2.4Ghz (S939)
Twinmos 1 GB Ram (2x512 PC3200)
MSI K8N Neo4-FI Nforce 4 (S939) mobo

My budget is around 180$ total, and I don't mind buying second hand-products which still work fine. I thought upgrading to the following would do:


7200 GS -> 8600 GTS (=60$ second handed)
3200+ -> X2 4400+ (=80$ second handed, S939)
Another 2x512 Ram, which gives me 2 GB ram. Dual channel won't work anymore this way, which will probably slow down my PC for a bit. (=40$)

The main problem is my motherboard which is still S939 and not AM2 or S775 for intel processors. So, my questions are:


Do you guys think I will be able to play new games fairly well at 1280x1024, for example CoD4/Crysis/Gears of War/Lost Planet or not at all? What should I change? I don't like Ati graphics cards, so please keep 'em Nvidia-based.

Also, how many 3dmark'06 you guys I think is possible to achieve with my upgraded PC? I could get about 2500 on my 6800 GS.


I'd say don't be in a rush to get back to playing games again. Save up your money until you get can really make some good improvements.