Upgrade question?

[hetzer]

My present system
CPU: Pentium 4 3.2GHz [1Mb F2 cache] Prescott 800MHz FSB
Mainboard: MSI i875P Neo-FISR pcb2 (MS-6758)
RAM: 2Gbs Corsair TwinX 2048-3200C2PT Dual Channel DDR400 SDRAM
GRAPHICS CARD: Creative Geforce FX 5950 Ultra 256Mb DDR RAM
Monitor: IIyama 22inch Monitor HA202DT
Sound Card: Creative Audigy 2

Would I get any USABLE and OBVIOUS improvements in performance and gameplay etc if I junked my FX5950 (which is weakest link in the chain) for an AGP Nvidia FX 6800?

Bearing in mind “Jasper Stonyheart” the friendly local supplier, still wants about £200 for a 256Mb card despite them being yesterday's news!!

[lcplsickoll]

Re: Upgrade question?

You'll be able to up the quality settings. What type of fps rates are you currently getting? Chances are you'll be able to match your fps rates at higher settings, or better them at the same settings.

[hetzer]

Re: Upgrade question?

Using FRAPS I get from 17 to 32FPS at 1024x768 rez and refresh 100Hz. This is with all settings on HIGH except antialiasing which is set to ZERO!
FPS goes as low as 17 but always in scenic panning shots! IE not while I am inside the character and actually playing! While playing (shooting, dying, driving tank etc) the fps is in the low 20s usually!

[lcplsickoll]

Re: Upgrade question?

You'll be able to get around 60fps with the same settings and the new card. You'll also be able to use AA if you want. I can't even play the game under 30 fps. Drives me crazy.

[hetzer]

Re: Upgrade question?

Sounds like a plan then! I agree playing "sub 30" is trying but then so is shelling out vast sums of mula for already obsolete hardware!!! Decisions! Decisions!!!
Still ............. its off to the ATM for a balance check .................. Pass the valium Jeeves!

[HicRic]

Re: Upgrade question?

A nice 6800 isn't really obsolete hardware, it's just older than a 7800. You'd see a very nice improvement for sure, the rest of your hardware is great!

[ODD-BALL]

Re: Upgrade question?

u talking base 6800, ultra, gt?

[hetzer]

Re: Upgrade question?

u talking base 6800, ultra, gt?

Interesting point! At the moment my supplier has only the Asus V9999 GeForce 6800 Gamers Edition 256MB in stock. His other AGP Geforce 6800s are all 128Mb which is no use!

This seems to be a super 6800 with the standard 12 rendering pipelines but 256Mbs of GDDR3 memory!! A sort of hybrid 6800+

see here

http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews/review_print.php?dXJsX3Jldmlld19JRD04NDY=

[hetzer]

Re: Upgrade question?

Gone and mail ordered a XFX 6800 GT as a compromise! Just could not go to £300+ (inc VAT & delivery) for a series 6800 ULTRA card!
I was surprised how many suppliers I had to try before I got what I wanted! Nothing local of course. The local boys compete against each other selling cheapo quality stuff, expensive! I suppose the repair business is a consideration! How they can make a living when people are buying entire systems from the big boys for less than an overclocked 7800GTX!!
High end AGP cards are becoming relatively scarce in UK these days. PCI express is the way to go I am sniffily informed when enquiring!
...... “all the manufacturers are now pushing PCI-Express which is the natural replacement for AGP!” .... to quote one.
There are still loads of 128Mb 6600 and lower spec AGP cards but the high end punter is being steered into PCIexpress!
Nice if you can go for new CPU, Mainboard, & DDR2 RAM as well! Oh! Yea! probably have to add a 500watt PSU and CPU cooler in as well!
Having gone that far SLI 7800s is the profligate lunatics obvious next purchase!!!

[hetzer]

Re: Upgrade question?

Well my gast is well and truly flabbered!! My nvidia 6800GT came today! Saturday morning 9AM bright and early, just one day after ordering and carried by the usually haphazard hands of our wonderful GPO as was!!
Getting Bf2 FPS in the 70s, average in the 40s and high 30s and so far has not dropped below 32!! All settings on HIGH at 1024x768 and AA at x4!!
COOL!!!

SO all it has taken me to get Bf2 to play perfectly is 2 gigs of twinx DDR RAM and a new nvidia 6800GT!!!
A SMALL PRICE TO PAY!!