Upgrade check

[BirdKiller]

My current specifications:

Pentium 4 2.8Ghz
2GB of DDR400 RAM
Nvidia 7800GT 256MB

My upgrade list:

Abit Intel P35 chipset motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813127031

$90

XFX Nvidia 8600GT 512MB

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814150247

$100

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115030

$175

2GB DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820208283

$38

Total Cost: $398

I want to know if there's any problems or improvements that could be made. By improvements, I mean a cheaper dealer or an alternative product that at least costs the same. This is a transitional upgrade.

[=98=]

That 8600gt is probably a downgrade. Either go for the Radeon 3850, or if you can afford a bit more, the 8800gt.

[BirdKiller]

"transitional" upgrade ; )

[=98=]

The 3850 is roughly the same price and will be a lot better.

[megawhompertoo]

as suggested, an 8600 would be a downgrade.

get an hd3850 for budget, and hd3870 (if you can score a deal) for budget + performance, or an 8800gt for ultimate budget/performance. the 8800gt is significantly faster, but sometimes you can find the hd3870 for heavily discounted prices (got mine for $190 after cash back).

pentium d's got a bad rap. i was running a pd 915 for about a year and it was hot and inefficient but it got the job done once overclocked to 3.6-3.8 ghz. doesn't compare to current e6600, but still...

edit, oops, just saw that's a p4, not a pd. you need some dual coreage for enjoyment. e6550 is a decent choice.

[sgt.collins]

would it be possible to just get another 7800 and sli it?

[Sniper1432]

would it be possible to just get another 7800 and sli it?

if you're planning on upgrading, you don't want go backwards in technology.

[solofowaffles]

if you're planning on upgrading, you don't want go backwards in technology.

thats funny coming for the guy who got a 6400 instead of a core 2.

[looqas]

I would wait for the E8200 to appear on the shelves if you are not in a particular hurry to get a new comp. In that way you'll get for roughly the same price a better processor.

Plus I have to agree with those guys saying that 8600GT will not be much of an improvement. Just save a bit longer and after a while buy the better option.

[cloakster]

I also agree with Alex, the 7800GT is better than the 8600GT.

Either spend more money now to get a good comp thats much better than your old one or save up and wait until Intel releases their new line-up of CPUs.

You will be very unhappy when you pay $400 and get performance that is the same if not lower than currently.