RAM or Video?

[kiss my RICE]

Hey, here is my current gaming rig:

Asus Deluxe AGP Motherboard
9800 XT 256MB AGP card
Athlon 3200+ 2.2ghz
1 Gigabyte of Corsair DDR2 Ram

Now, I'm limited to the AGP for now, but here are two things that I want, but I can only choose one. Which one will offer the most performance boost?

Powercolor Radeon x1600 512MB AGP Card.
or
1 gig Corsair Digital DDR2 RAM

The video card and the ram are susceptable to change...if you can find one that is better at a better price, please, please tell me. I'm very limited in funds as you can see.

Thanks!

[Stormy{CAN}]

Re: RAM or Video?

It is debateable whether the 1600 would be faster than your 9800XT. Have a look here,

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=36&card2=369

As for the ram, you need DDR not DDR2.

[kiss my RICE]

Re: RAM or Video?

Awwww crap....what card can I get for a 150$ budget? Any suggestions? I realy wanna run some of my BF2 settings on High.

[RAF92_Warhawk]

Re: RAM or Video?

This one is $150, if you count the rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102505

I have one and it runs all high with 4x AA. It rarely drops below 50 fps. :)

[kiss my RICE]

Re: RAM or Video?

Dude...I would love and worship you as a god, except that that card is PCI...dam. I only support AGP. Do you have an AGP version for a similiar price, for that kind of power, I'm willing to go over the 150 dollar pricetag...maybe even go to 160-170.

[mlkmnz]

Re: RAM or Video?

You'd be better upgrading your graphics card, but the one you have in mind is not worth it.

Buy one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SAPPHIRE-X80...QQcmdZViewItem

Its AGP, waaay better than your existing card, and a good deal. The same dude has other X800 variants for cheaper, but thats the best one he sells. That X800XT PE will give you better performance than a 6800GT for example.

[kiss my RICE]

Re: RAM or Video?

I'm thinking about making the leap to PCI, I found a motherboard that supports one PCI slot, for only 50 bucks:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131525

And then you add the other guy's Video card...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102505

And you end up with a powerpunch for only 200 big ones.
*sigh* goodbye iPOD, and I really wanted an MP3 player, but I'll get it later...dam.

[mlkmnz]

Re: RAM or Video?

I'm thinking about making the leap to PCI, I found a motherboard that supports one PCI slot, for only 50 bucks:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131525

And then you add the other guy's Video card...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102505

And you end up with a powerpunch for only 200 big ones.
*sigh* goodbye iPOD, and I really wanted an MP3 player, but I'll get it later...dam.

That motherboard is utter crap, I wouldnt go there aye. Just look at the reviews on Newegg. If something is cheap, its for a reason. Just get the card I linked and upgrade your PC in another year or two, it'll be fine till then, by which time Vista and Direct X10 will be commonplace and most everyone's current hardware will be obsolete.

[System]

Re: RAM or Video?

yeah you cant expect much really with 150. may as well just stick it out and go for your ipod prolly.

to go with a pci mb will cost a lot more than 200.. dont shlat yourself, computers arnt cheap if you want high quality.

either be prepared to fork it out or dont at all.

[kiss my RICE]

Re: RAM or Video?

Dude...I posted the stupid mobo because I don't have a freaking PCI-E slot! I need a new MOBO to even work your card, plus I found another one, the exact same card, on the exact same website, but for only 120 bucks...weird ain't it? Any cheap mobos I can buy, that work sorta well and have a PCIe X16 slot?

Also, what about this board, the reviews for it are all good:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813135011

[System]

Re: RAM or Video?

but you have an agp slot. im in the same situation. low on funds and i wanted a pci-e vid card and found out i cant get it. so i forked it out and got the 7800 card.

and your not hearing me out. if you and buy a new mobo with a pci-e slot, chances are youll have to buy everything as i doubt very much that youll be able to xfer hardware to your new computer. it will cost you more to start new.

and to buy new right now isnt even worth it. like they said, conro is coming out and direct x10. prices will drop on existing hardware making it easier for you to upgade. its just wasting your money right now.

[kiss my RICE]

Re: RAM or Video?

Ahhh screw it...I'll either get the X800 XT graphics card, or the X1600 graphics card...both are better than the 9800 XT, my current card.

[Andre2142]

Re: RAM or Video?

just cause its cheap doesnt mean its crap, i got my mobo for 60 bucks and man it does wonders, and its loaded with features, try to look for a cheap mobo on ebay and try to stick to name brands like ASUS, GIGABYTE,... urgh i forgot some names :P, anyways get mobo that fits ur needs and buy the card.

[^nUbl4z0r(!)]

Re: RAM or Video?

ECS makes crap mother boards...Look at an ASUS

[mlkmnz]

Re: RAM or Video?

ECS makes crap mother boards...Look at an ASUS

ASUS can make crap too, their low end stuff is really nasty. Basically, regardless of the brand, you get what you pay for. I wouldnt even look at a mobo under $80 at least, and I'm a tight-***.