Now or Later?

[Leageth]

I built a gaming PC around march od last year. It turned out great and I'm still using it. However, I somehow managed to build it right before every new technolgy became mainstream (SATA II, 1ghz FSB, duel core, duel channel, PCI-E) so if I want to make even the slightlest upgrade I'd have to replace several things in order for everything to be compatable.

What I'm looking to upgrade is the video card, which I can't really do without getting a mobo with PCI-E (I don't want a agp 8x card).

I'm currently running a

AMD Athlon 64 3200 + (800mhz fsb version, socket 769)
k8v mobo
1gb RAM
1 120 gb hdd (which is stupid considering I have raid )
9600xt



So my question is this. Should I completely replace my system and go with a socket 939 mobo and processor? This would allow me to get PCI-E so I can upgrade my video card. I'd also have the faster FSB, and SATA II, and the ability to upgrade far into the future.


But my problem is that I've only had this computer for a year and I'm not sure I could sell the parts for much, if anything. So would replacing the computer now be a waste of money? I'm considering replacing only the mobo with a PCI-E compatable mobo, then getting a 7800gt video card. I would also get a second hdd for the raid setup (which I would do no matter what I end up doing. The oly difference would be that I'd get 1 SATA 150 hdd instead of 2 SATA II hdd's.)

So what do you think? Replace my entire comp and play it safe. Or upgrade what I only need (PCI-E compatability) and risk not being able to upgrade much in the future by sticking to socket 739 and old technology?

[RazorDX]

Socket 769? Do you mean 754? You can get PCI-Express with a socket 754, there are plenty of options. Unless you get a 7800GT/GTX or anything like that, you can still get the same exact thing for AGP8X without any performance difference whatsoever. If you are looking at a 7800 series or X1x00s, then you can find a new motherboard.

But for the FSB you'd need a new socket 939 motherboard... but don't buy one. You'd be making the same mistake again. AMD's new processors are all Socket 940 based, or else some new socket. The 939s are being phased out.

SATA II isn't even noticably faster than SATA right now, so theres no point to that. For gaming, duel core isn't benificial at all really.

I also managed to find a Socket 754 motherboard that has dual channel, so the only benefits of the upgrade are dual core and 200mhz more bus speed. The processor speed remains the same, and the 754s have twice the L2 cache of the 939s up until the San Diego core.

[Leageth]

Thanks! You just made me feel really good about not wasting 1000 dollars.

I had no idea 939's were being phased out, so I'm glad I didn't make that mistake. And I do plan on getting a 7800gt so I think I will upgrade my mobo for a PCI-E mobo.

So heres what I'll do

1 new hdd
7800gt vid card
K8N4-E Deluxe mobo for the PCI-E


I guess my only remaining question is this, and its completely offtopic


I currently have 1gb RAM (2x 512) and I'm considering upgrading to 2gb. Should I go with 2x1gb or just add another pair of 512's? And does duel channel technology work with 4 sticks of RAM (since duel channel usually goes in the 1/3, 2/3 or whatever slots. I havn't seen any mobos that let you do 1/2/3/4.)

[LoC]

i think it depends on your motherboard, if it supports double dual channel RAM sets. oh, and if i were you i wouldnt even bother upgrading for two more years b/c then AMD's will support DDR2 and DDR2 will be mainstream. as well, the HDD speed will increase by a bit, i assume. if u want a better video card, the motherboard will cost you $110 + $300 for a 7800GT. and in 2 yrs the video cards will be FAR superior. get one of the fastest AGP cards you can and try to hold out, at least thats what i would do.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by LoC and if i were you i wouldnt even bother upgrading for two more years b/c then AMD's will support DDR2 and DDR2 will be mainstream.

Unless they've changed their minds, AMD has stated that they're going to pass on DDR2 and go straight to DDR3.

Cricket

[jayb1234]

Here is a board with both 754 and 939 sockets and 4 ram slots with PCI-E x16, that you could use your old processor on. Not from a real good manufacturer though. If your budget is tight it might be OK untill you can afford a better one.

[Leageth]

Ok, I don't plan on upgrading for another couple of years so I can't decide whether or not to go with a fast agp card (6800 is best agp I believe) or upgrade my mobo as well and go with the 7800gt. Since I won't be upgrading for awhile I want a card that will stand the test of time a little better, which is the 7800gt.

But do you guys think that buying a new mobo is such as waste of money that I should stick with a lower end card?


EDIT:: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814170057 Thats the only AGP8x 6800gt I found on newegg. NEver bought that brand before. Is it any good? I usually stick with asus.

[fudtone]

Thats a crazy price and there not in stock...

Heres the card you want
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121206
Whoops hay guess what... there not in stock either... Sorry

ZipZoomFly Has them but the cost seems to be going up...

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=324574

[Leageth]

Ewwwwwww, 6800xt is slower and has fewer pipelines

EDIT:: and its 128mb

I think I'll stick to the gt.

[Leageth]

anyone know how long it takes for newegg to stock? The card I want is out of stock.