Help Me Upgrade!

[Xtreme21]

Alright I really dont want to build a whole new system (waiting for DX10 stuff) I just need some upgrade advice. So here my whole system:

 

Pentium4 2.8c @ 3.2ghz

ASUS P4P800 Deluxe

OCZ 4 x 256MB Gold Rev2 (2.5-3-3-6)

Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer

BFG 6800NU 128mb (375/875)

PATA Maxtor 160GB 7200RPM 8MBcache

Ultra X-Connect 500w PSU

Generic CD-ROM 56x and DVDROM

 

What can I upgrade to improve performance?

 

Heh its been a whole year since i used these forums

[Bleeble]

Are you looking for gaming performance or just all-around performance? Either way, 2GB of memory should make a noticeable difference in games (BF2, WoW, etc) and desktop applications (Photoshop, video editing, heavy multitasking, etc).

 

If you want a boost in gaming performance, a 7800GT costs about $300 but will certainly give you a boost (even from taht 6800).

 

If you like high(er) quality sound in your games or you like to listen to music, pick up Creative's new X-Fi soundcard. The "XtremeMusic" version (i.e. the lowest price version that really doesn't have much to do with music unless you listen to it) is $113 at ZipZoomFly at the moment and it has free 2-day FedEx. Keep in mind that a new sound card still can't make a $5 pair of speakers sound good.

 

A new HDD might add performance, but there's no point unless you're filling that one already.

Edited December 22, 2005 by Bleeble

[BTSchnarfy]

I agree that more memory would give a boost to gaming performance. However, if you don't have enough for a good 2GB kit, a nice set of 1GB TCCD would be better than 4x256 (would allow you to OC farther than 3.2 provided you have adequate cooling). A better video card would also be a logical step, but the 7800 would not work. Since the mobo is AGP, a 6800GT/Ultra or X850 series would be the way to go in that dept. Lastly, I dunno how much of a boost a new HDD would provide. Unless it was a Raptor or one with 16MB cache, but that would be a last resort kind of a thing. My $.02

[Bleeble]

A better video card would also be a logical step, but the 7800 would not work.  Since the mobo is AGP, a 6800GT/Ultra or X850 series would be the way to go in that dept.

603285[/snapback]

Doh! I can't believe I said that. I knew he had an AGP mobo and I said it anyways... *sigh*

 

I was just saying that a hard drive like the Maxtor DiamondMax 10 could give a boost in performance. Its performance is actually surprisingly close to a Raptor's. It's a good choice if he needs more storage too (250GB @ $100). Does that mobo have SATA? I think that's the 875P chipset, so it should.

 

So, now that I think about it some more, memory is the best bet.

[Xtreme21]

Doh! I can't believe I said that. I knew he had an AGP mobo and I said it anyways... *sigh*

 

I was just saying that a hard drive like the Maxtor DiamondMax 10 could give a boost in performance. Its performance is actually surprisingly close to a Raptor's. It's a good choice if he needs more storage too (250GB @ $100). Does that mobo have SATA? I think that's the 875P chipset, so it should.

 

So, now that I think about it some more, memory is the best bet.

603294[/snapback]

 

Well its 865PE but does have 4 SATA jacks. As for the GFX dept. X850 really wouldnt do it because it lacks PS 3.0, though its performance is outstanding. I agree i just dont think 4 sticks of memory is very efficent. But all the 2GB kits I've seen have horrible timings. Anyways thanks for your help, more comments are wanted.

[romeo55]

Well its 865PE but does have 4 SATA jacks. As for the GFX dept. X850 really wouldnt do it because it lacks PS 3.0, though its performance is outstanding. I agree i just dont think 4 sticks of memory is very efficent. But all the 2GB kits I've seen have horrible timings. Anyways thanks for your help, more comments are wanted.

603308[/snapback]

 

yeah, the x850xt pe is the fastest agp card out right now, you'll get supurb performance with it (i have the x800 xt pe which performse a smidge less) but as for the sm 3.0 thing it really doesn't matter, some say its worth it, some say it isn't

 

On topic, What are you going to do with it? gaming? encoding?

[tnactim]

I would recommend get an Audigy 2 ZS sound card wise... You'll notice a difference from onboard to anything, but you won't notice much from an audigy 2 to an X-FI

[Bleeble]

I would recommend get an Audigy 2 ZS sound card wise... You'll notice a difference from onboard to anything, but you won't notice much from an audigy 2 to an X-FI

603310[/snapback]

I disagree. It depends on many factors. First, if you have crappy speakers/headphones, you won't even notice a difference between onboard and an X-Fi. But if you have good quality headphones or speakers, you obviously will. You may not notice a difference between the Audigy2 and the X-Fi with speakers (even good ones), but many people will agree that there is a very noticeable difference when using good headphones.

 

If you want some high speed memory (i.e. over DDR400), then it's going to cost you for lower timings. The Mushkin XP4000 is a $300 2GB kit that runs at 2-2-2 at high speeds. The only thing is I'm not sure if your mobo will supply as much voltage as it needs. If you're looking at DDR400 (run it on a divider or loosen the timings if you need), there's some nice stuff from G.Skill for about $205 (2x1024, 2-3-2-5 @ DDR400). Here's a link:

 

http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/productdetai...item=20-231-032

Edited December 23, 2005 by Bleeble