will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

[penetrator27]

Hi,

I am just about to upgrade my system which is an old socket A rig running a xp2500+ barton oc @ 2.11ghz & XFX6600 plays Bf2 800 x 600 Medium everything (not bad for an ancient PC eh?)

I have had a look around at possible upgrade to athlon 64 K8 platform but I am left wondering would my money be better spent on a decent agp graphics card?

or will my cpu be my achilies heel/ bottleneck?

I have about 120pounds/$200 to spend & I want to get up to 1024x800 resolution, Medium everything playing BF2.

What do you reckon?

Athlon 64 Venice is a cheap O/C'er or should I go graphics card maybe 6800 or gt?

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

Save your money. You'd be wasting you money buying another AGP card for that system, and if you went with a new CPU and MOBO you'd wan't to go PCI-e, and you wouldn't have the money to get a PCI-e card at the same time.

Save up another $200 or so, and you'll be set.

[penetrator27]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

I might be able to raise $200 by selling off my old parts on ebay

[BadToad]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

Lil-Jimmy's right. PCI-E is the future. As for making 200 bucks off your old stuff on ebay, heck, anything is possible on ebay! It is amazing the prices people are paying for socket-A stuff right now.

[penetrator27]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

yeah thats probly cause they stopped making it

I had a brainwave though, with AGP being a dead platform now this means hardware prices will fall & I can grab a bargain.

I could max my Pc out @ 2.5ghz o/c 2800xp+ & a 6800gt AGP card for the same money. The only thing that new gen offers is more onboard cache mem & DDR mem controller. (oh & support for software that does not exist yet! )

Hell, I might even stick with it. Long live the Athlon XP! ......lol

[TokenBrit]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

Typically an AGP graphics card is much more expensive than it's PCI-E equivalent.

[imported_Wreck]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

Hi,

I am just about to upgrade my system which is an old socket A rig running a xp2500+ barton oc @ 2.11ghz & XFX6600 plays Bf2 800 x 600 Medium everything (not bad for an ancient PC eh?)

I have had a look around at possible upgrade to athlon 64 K8 platform but I am left wondering would my money be better spent on a decent agp graphics card?

or will my cpu be my achilies heel/ bottleneck?

I have about 120pounds/$200 to spend & I want to get up to 1024x800 resolution, Medium everything playing BF2.

What do you reckon?

Athlon 64 Venice is a cheap O/C'er or should I go graphics card maybe 6800 or gt?

Save up about 400 pounds, or give us a budget. I'm sure we can put you together a conroe, 939, or AM2 rig that you'll be happy with.

[penetrator27]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

I cannot justify spending 400 pounds on computer parts that will be worth half that one year down the road. (although it is tempting)

So what mobo/proc combo would you recomend of A64 single core gen?

I was thinking 3400/3500 on an E3 stepping + Asus SLi Mobo, dont know if the delux is better?

[abtomat74]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

Get the 3200+ and save $50 there.

SLI? With the budget you're talking about, you'll never afford SLI. SLI is watsed on cards below the top level. Another $50 saved buying non-SLI mobo.

also, Athlon 64's are on average 25% faster than the identical model# socket A's. xp3200 25% slower than AMD64 3200 for example.

[penetrator27]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

yeah I can afford an SLI board 50gbp from ebay but i will not run two cards on it
are they better than non SLI? will any NF4 board do?

[imported_Wreck]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

I cannot justify spending 400 pounds on computer parts that will be worth half that one year down the road. (although it is tempting)

So what mobo/proc combo would you recomend of A64 single core gen?

I was thinking 3400/3500 on an E3 stepping + Asus SLi Mobo, dont know if the delux is better?

Well if you get a processor, motherboard, and video card you may also need a new PSU to support them.

[penetrator27]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

already on the case :) nice thermaltake i spotted

[abtomat74]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

My point about not buying an SLI mobo is that surely that same company will make an identical single card mobo for less money. There is no point buying an SLI mobo if you never intend to use it. Unless it costs less than or equal to the identical single card version.

Generally, the PSU's that come with cases are pretty weak. They might be good for a mid line card, but that's about it. Really expensive cases are an exception, but then you overpay anyway for flashy lights and the 80's Transformers look.

For the same money, buy a cheap case and seperate PSU that is much more powerful than a combined product.
Show us the case or a link to it.
.
.
.
Yes, any s939 board will do fine. MSI, ASUS, Abit, DFi, whatever.

[penetrator27]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

I think U misunderstood "already on the case" I meant I was looking into it.

I have bought a thermaltake purepower 480

http://www.xcase.co.uk/acatalog/_THERMALTAKE_W0011_PSU_480W_XASER_SILENT.html

Only prob is it was designed for K7 is it ok just to get an adapter to fit K8?

[abtomat74]

Re: will my CPU limit choice of graphics card?

I think U misunderstood "already on the case" I meant I was looking into it.

I have bought a thermaltake purepower 480

http://www.xcase.co.uk/acatalog/_THERMALTAKE_W0011_PSU_480W_XASER_SILENT.html

Only prob is it was designed for K7 is it ok just to get an adapter to fit K8?

I did misunderstand.

I would not buy an adapter unless you had to, as-in you already have the PSU. So why not just buy the proper PSU to begin with?

Also, even though that is a new PSU, I am quite surprised that it only has 18amps on its single/only 12v rail. You should look for a single rail output of at least 25-30, or a dual rail output of at least 18amps on EACH 12v rail for a combined 29+amps.

Doing so will ensure your NEXT video card will have enough juice.