~100 dollars to spend, what to upgrade, 1.4tbird, or amd760 motherboard

[erikiksaz]

My system as of now:

1.4 tbird
512 megs pc2100 ddr
Epox 8k7a+ (amd760)
Geforce 3

What would give the best performance gains? AMD 2100xp? Or an Epox nforce 2 mobo?

 

[tbates757]

I think upgrade to the Epox nForce2 mobo, it's more of a long term investment I think. Then upgrade processor

 

[AnAndAustin]

I think SktA is ever reaching it's limits and retirement soinvesting $100+ in a new mobo (like nForce2) is prob not the way to go unless you really need good quality integrated components. If you want a new mobo I'd suggest the SiS as low cost, very stable alternatives although they are unlikely to handle 333FSB and are very lacking in tweaking or o/c'ing options. Otherwise do consider VIA, KT333 esp with 8235 south are very good and cheap, esp if you ensure they can take 333FSB CPUs too ... otherwise KT400 is a very safe bet and always comes with 8235, 333FSB and other benefits. AMD760 is pretty old but they were very stable mobos so if you can stick the likes of the XP2400+ or XP2600+ I'd definitely stick with it even if you 'only' put an XP2000+ to XP2200+ in there for the mo.

512MB is more than enough for almost everybody and PC2100 DDR is excellent for 266FSB CPUs so there's no need at all to upgrade there, in fact even the Athlon 1.4ghz is close to XP1600+ perf which is no bad thing at all BUT considering the low cost of the XP's upgrading wouldn't hurt at all. Then there's your GF3, getting old but still more than capable of handling ALL current games very well indeed.

So in summary your PC is fine, you could go for the likes of an XP2000+ because they're so cheap, but do check what your mobo can handle. Another good option is something like the GF4TI as they start from about $100 but at stock speed the 4200 isn't a whole lot faster than a GF3TI500 esp on an Athlon @ 1.4ghz so perhaps a $200ish Rad9500PRO would be the option but again it would be slightly wasteful if you keep your Athlon 1.4ghz for anything more than the short term. I wouldn't think a mobo upgrade nor RAM upgrade would be at all cost effective unless you currently lack the ability to run XP's. Here's 2 good links showing diff gfx cards with diff AthlonXP speeds ...

AnAndTech with many games

AnAndTech focusing on UT2003

And for a rough guide here's 3Dmark:

ATHLON 1.4ghz:
GF3 - 8100, 119, 44, 120, 64, 124, 57, 58
GF4TI4200 - 10500, 147, 46, 196, 108, 135, 61, 71
Rad9500/9700 - 11000, 137, 43, 213, 113, 134, 56, 96

ATHLONXP2000+:
GF3 - 9000, 137, 55, 133, 74, 140, 67, 51
GF4TI4200 - 12200, 178, 55, 225, 122, 151, 68, 87
Rad9500/9700 - 13700, 170, 58, 267, 141, 169, 74, 109

Obviously do bear in mind you don't buy a Rad9500PRO - 9700PRO to play games without AA nor AF at 1024x768x32! It would seem that a 4200 would be a decent upgrade and an XP CPU would be good too so long as your mobo can take one.

 

[ProviaFan]

Save the money for a new system later on, or if you absolutely must spend it now, either get a new peripheral or upgrade one of your existing ones. Most upgrades that you could do to the parts you listed would simply cause your software to be bottlenecked on other parts, so you wouldn't notice that much more performance. If you absolutely have to upgrade one of your core components, try a new hard drive, such as a Western Digital "Special Edition" drive; that would probably increase apparent performance in loading applications and just the smoothness of the system in general. Of course, if all you do is play games constantly, it won't help, but if you actually use your computer for something useful, you'll notice a big difference (especially if your current hard drive is older, perhaps a 7200rpm 30gb drive or something).

 

[MrCraphead]

Yeah, it really depends on what you use your computer for. If you play games, I would probably look to upgrade either the CPU, or maybe the video card. I don't know how you are on storage space, but a new HD would also work as well.

 

[Toro 45]

Your computer specs really don't look to bad other than the Mag Monitor 15 Incher(from you computer profile)

Thats what you should be looking at for the upgrade,even if you only have $100. I saw a deal on the KDS 17inch(Flat) for $69-$79 after rebate at Office Depot.If you can spend a bit more there's alaways good deals floating around for 19 inchers.

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: Toro 45
Your computer specs really don't look to bad other than the Mag Monitor 15 Incher(from you computer profile)

Thats what you should be looking at for the upgrade,even if you only have $100. I saw a deal on the KDS 17inch(Flat) for $69-$79 after rebate at Office Depot.If you can spend a bit more there's alaways good deals floating around for 19 inchers.

Woops, forgot to update the page Either way, thanks for the input guys. I guess i'll be holding off the upgrade bug until i actually need it.

 

[Lint21]

Just to add a little more input, I have almost the exact same system for my main machine. I recently found out that the 8k7a can support a Tbred 2400+ (check the forums at amdmb.com). So my plan for now is to upgrade to that proc and a Radeon 9500 Pro. That should last for a while, then eventually I'll make a big upgrade to either Hammer or a HT-enabled Intel proc. That will be a more painful upgrade, requiring a new mobo and RAM, so the 2400+ and 9500 Pro are a stopgap that let me get more out of the technology that I already have.

 

[sandorski]

CPU. AMD chipset mobos are plenty fast, a new cpu will make the biggest difference.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Great news Lint21, and an XP2400+ with Rad9500PRO will be awesome and one heck of a stop gap! Yummy ...

 

[PCMarine]

Athlon XP 2100+ gets my vote

 

[erikiksaz]

Aye, but i've seen this:

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1528&p=10

Which only includes the kt266a as the newest motherboard, but, it's still whupping some ass. Since i was contemplating whether to go nforce 2, shouldnt the increase from kt266a ---> nforce 2 be even greater?

 

[OS]

buy one of those fry's XP2K+/ECS combos. If you use DDR, it works pretty well.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: erikiksaz
Aye, but i've seen this:

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1528&p=10

Which only includes the kt266a as the newest motherboard, but, it's still whupping some ass. Since i was contemplating whether to go nforce 2, shouldnt the increase from kt266a ---> nforce 2 be even greater?

It's true that newer mobos are faster, but for $100 the cpu would likely give a much better upgrade.

 

[PreDatoR]

Most Epox 8K7A's have issues with Athlon XP chips... i know i was one that i couldn't get y 1700+ to work on that board... many other have also had the same problems with it... I would upgrade the motherboard myself and the chip down the road... A Nforce2 board will support the upcoming barton chips so that may be the way to go for now. 3-4 months down the road grab a lower clocked barton and have fun

 

[CraigRT]

I would upgrade the board, then you can upgrade your CPU later
as your current board can only go so high with CPU's
Athlon 1.4 still has balls.
not bleeding edge.. but not slow.
that's comparable to a P4 1.8A... (at stock speeds)

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: Yield
I would upgrade the board, then you can upgrade your CPU later
as your current board can only go so high with CPU's
Athlon 1.4 still has balls.
not bleeding edge.. but not slow.
that's comparable to a P4 1.8A... (at stock speeds)

Aye, i wonder. If i saved the money and upgraded to a 9500pro (or something faster in the future), that would allow me to play games with all the goodies turned on right? I usually play games @ 1024x768, but without aniso filtering nor AA. Think that would be a good idea guys?

 

[MrCraphead]

I think if you did that, it would be your 1.4 chip that would be holding you back from optimum performace.

 

[AnAndAustin]

erikiksaz; "Since i was contemplating whether to go nforce 2, shouldnt the increase from kt266a ---> nforce 2 be even greater?"

There is actually virtually zero perf diff between KT266A, KT333 and KT400. The KT333 simply added the ability to run the RAM at 333mhz while keeping the FSB at 266mhz and also the divider for 333FSB although 333FSB was never guaranteed. KT400 added 333FSB, the ability to use PC3200 (400mhz), a divider for 400FSB (though no guarantee 400FSB will work), a faster north-south link, the 8235 south (completely reworking the PCI bus), ATA133, AGP8x and USB2 as standard. In terms of pure speed there is VERY little diff between these mobo chipsets. The nForce2 is only marginally faster and only then really at 333FSB with Dual Channel DDR in operation. The diff between KT266A and nForce2 is small and certainly not worth the cost. I'd only upgrade your KT266A if you need 333FSB (or similar hw support) or if you need the onboard goodies of the nForce.

You're not going to gain much going to a Rad9500PRO over a GF3 or GF4TI with an Athlon 1.4ghz, you'll really want at least an XP2000+. In any case with GF4TI and Rad9500PRO you'll want to always play with some AA & AF (full both with 9500PRO). It makes a big diff! I'd still say stick with what you've got and wait for Rad9500PRO and XP2400+ prices to fall.

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: AnAndAustin

You're not going to gain much going to a Rad9500PRO over a GF3 or GF4TI with an Athlon 1.4ghz, you'll really want at least an XP2000+. In any case with GF4TI and Rad9500PRO you'll want to always play with some AA & AF (full both with 9500PRO). It makes a big diff! I'd still say stick with what you've got and wait for Rad9500PRO and XP2400+ prices to fall.

Ahhhh, but if i wait for the XP2400+, i think i'll have to upgrade my PSU as well. I'm running an Antec 300w. I had an Enermax 431 wat PSU, but one day, when the system was running, i plugged a fan into it and the damned thing went BZZTT and shut down. Ever since then, i've taken it out and haven't tested it out.

And that XP2400+ still gives me bad feelings. I went to one of the AMD shows thinking that you had to be either over 18 or have a guardian with you to win, but was wrong. They ended up calling my name to receive the processor, but lo-and-behold, you have to be over 18--none of that guardian crap accepted.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Antec 300W should be fine, preferable to an unbranded 400W PSU. Anyway an XP2400+ should use less power than an XP2000+. I have an Enermax 431W PSU, hope that thing lasts out!

 

[hungrypete]

the cpu would be a more immediate performance gain... or you could be brave like me and get one of the 1600+ AGOIA from newegg ($60), from what info i can find most of them hit 2000+ speeds with normal cooling

 

[HannibalX]

$100 buys allota beer!

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: Trinitron
$100 buys allota beer!

Haha, if only i didn't make the promise to myself that i wouldn't drink nor smoke And track shore wouldn't like a beer belly.

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: hungrypete
the cpu would be a more immediate performance gain... or you could be brave like me and get one of the 1600+ AGOIA from newegg ($60), from what info i can find most of them hit 2000+ speeds with normal cooling

Okay, just learned that the 1600+ uses a 10.5 multiplier. I also found out that the 8k7a does not have a 1/5 multiplier, so i don't want to up the fsb too much, as i don't even know if my crucial pc2100 ram could take it (i bought it a looonnnng time ago, when prices were around $35 for 256ddr). I'll try testing out the ram by overclocking the fsb on this 1.4 (if that's even possible )