$400 To Spend...

[djnsmith7]

So, I'll have $400 to spend on more equipment on Tuesday...

My system specs are below...I'd love to get an Opteron 170, but I don't OC & don't really want to get into it...I don't need the headache...(Wish I knew an OC'ng expert here in the Bay Area...I'd seriously consider the 170)...

So, I'm torn between an X2-4200+ & another BFG 7800 GT OC (SLI)...

In terms of percentage, how much of an increase would I see from an A64 3200+ to an X2-4200+?

Your thoughts?...

 

[Stas]

X2-4200+

 

[bamacre]

I think your system is fine. Save your money, or spend it on something more important.

 

[dev0lution]

Depends on what you want to do?

I'd personally go for the X2 over the additional 7800GT since you'd get a decent boost in most usages, especially daily multitasking.

Adding another card may let you turn up the eyecandy a bit, but again - depends on what you play. You could be limited by the 3200+ at stock speeds in some games. I was a bit underwhelmed with the responsiveness of the 3200+ running multiple apps coming off of a P4 3.4, so moving up to a 4000+ made more sense for me than a new card. Still want a dual core though

 

[djnsmith7]

Originally posted by: dev0lution
Depends on what you want to do?

I'd personally go for the X2 over the additional 7800GT since you'd get a decent boost in most usages, especially daily multitasking.

Adding another card may let you turn up the eyecandy a bit, but again - depends on what you play. You could be limited by the 3200+ at stock speeds in some games. I was a bit underwhelmed with the responsiveness of the 3200+ running multiple apps coming off of a P4 3.4, so moving up to a 4000+ made more sense for me than a new card. Still want a dual core though

Yea, good point, but I already have the eye candy full blast on everything...This 7800 GT OC card hasn't disappointed me yet...I would like a faster loading time in BF2...I wonder if the X2-4200+ would decrease the loading time...?

 

[royalk4]

isn't a lot of the loading time in BF2 not PC related but instead related to the server taht you are trying to enter?

 

[djnsmith7]

Originally posted by: royalk4
isn't a lot of the loading time in BF2 not PC related but instead related to the server taht you are trying to enter?

Not entirely & I can speak from experience...BF2 used to take a bit longer to load w/ my X800XL...It's definitely faster now w/ the 7800 GT OC...2 GB of RAM in DC also helped a bit...I was running 1.75 GB SC before...

I'm just curious how much effect a faster Dual Core CPU would help...

 

[bladefd]

What cpu/videocard you currently got right now ? it depends on what you got.

 

[Mrvile]

The two GTs might be bottlenecked by your proc. I say upgrade the proc.

 

[Sqube]

If you have to upgrade something, upgrade the processor. If you double up on the video cards, your processor will bottleneck the rest of your system.

 

[fobis]

don't upgrade at all if you don't play games that much. save your money.
if you really MUST ugprade something, upgrade the CPU. why upgrade the video when there's going to be a single card better than 2x7800GT in probably less than a year?
but, i would wait til the AM2 stuff comes out. s939 may drop by then...

 

[wilsont06]

you already have a good setup and can last for the next 6 months. why don't you spend it on your girl? valentine's day is coming up buy her something!

 

[djnsmith7]

Originally posted by: wilsont06
you already have a good setup and can last for the next 6 months. why don't you spend it on your girl? valentine's day is coming up buy her something!

There are several ways I could respond to that...But I'll keep it simple & say this...Tuesday is MY day...lol...& I'm getting an upgrade...Period...But thx for lookin out...

I might even go w/ the 4400+...

 

[djnsmith7]

Update: I got the X2-4400+ & I'm glad I did...I'm too tired to install it tonight, but I will shortly...Thx for all the input & suggestions...

In terms of my video cards, I've decided to keep the 7800 GT OC for now & sell it once the 7800GTX's drop significantly in price. Then I'll go w/ dual GTX's & sell my 7800 GT...

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: djnsmith7
So, I'll have $400 to spend on more equipment on Tuesday...


In terms of percentage, how much of an increase would I see from an A64 3200+ to an X2-4200+?

Your thoughts?...

In single threaded applications like games instead of a gain in speed you will probably see a performance drop by a slightly noticeable amount.



ADD A POLL
I say save your money and upgrade when that $400 will provide a bigger punch to your system. (like a DX10 video card)

 

[djnsmith7]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: djnsmith7
So, I'll have $400 to spend on more equipment on Tuesday...


In terms of percentage, how much of an increase would I see from an A64 3200+ to an X2-4200+?

Your thoughts?...

In single threaded applications like games instead of a gain in speed you will probably see a performance drop by a slightly noticeable amount.



ADD A POLL
I say save your money and upgrade when that $400 will provide a bigger punch to your system. (like a DX10 video card)

I don't think you & I will ever see eye to eye...

 

[Twsmit]

I would opt for saving your money, or buying a value component to your system, pick up some new speakers, a nice set of headphones something like that. If it has to be between the x2 and the video card the X2 will help in everything and is probably the best choice, but the SLI is useful if you really need the extra FPS and eye candy (which it doesnt appear you need right now). I would probably go with the X2 if forced to choose, but honestly your computer falls into the "good enough" category and I would pick up something like speakers that will last a few years instead of a graphics card or CPU that will be outdated in 6 months.



EDIT: If you want to learn how to overclock I suggest reading up on some of the hardware forums. With your current rig would could easily hit 2.2ghz with no ill effect and probably no extra voltage etc... REALLy easily (n00bie friendly easily)

FSB =220
HT multiplier = 4x
RAM divider = 166 or 183 if your motherboard supports (which i dont think it does)

that will give you 2.2ghz and put your ram on a divider so its not overclocked. Its a very very conservative setting, but it will give you a taste of OCing without any major risks.

Go pick up some new speakers, learn to OC and you will get extra performance for free

 

[lytalbayre]

Your monitor is widescreen, but in games I would assume it only supports 1280x1024 graphics resolution, as such, I don't think you would benefit overly much with SLI.

I agree with those who recommended the X2. You will see performance increase!!!!!

By the way, if you want help overclocking, I'm in the Bay Area (Berkeley/El Cerrito).

Good luck!!

 

[Sentinel]

Originally posted by: bamacre
I think your system is fine. Save your money, or spend it on something more important.

Put in a savings account. @2% interest you will have 730 dollars in 30 years haha.

 

[djnsmith7]

Originally posted by: Twsmit
I would opt for saving your money, or buying a value component to your system, pick up some new speakers, a nice set of headphones something like that. If it has to be between the x2 and the video card the X2 will help in everything and is probably the best choice, but the SLI is useful if you really need the extra FPS and eye candy (which it doesnt appear you need right now). I would probably go with the X2 if forced to choose, but honestly your computer falls into the "good enough" category and I would pick up something like speakers that will last a few years instead of a graphics card or CPU that will be outdated in 6 months.



EDIT: If you want to learn how to overclock I suggest reading up on some of the hardware forums. With your current rig would could easily hit 2.2ghz with no ill effect and probably no extra voltage etc... REALLy easily (n00bie friendly easily)

FSB =220
HT multiplier = 4x
RAM divider = 166 or 183 if your motherboard supports (which i dont think it does)

that will give you 2.2ghz and put your ram on a divider so its not overclocked. Its a very very conservative setting, but it will give you a taste of OCing without any major risks.

Go pick up some new speakers, learn to OC and you will get extra performance for free

I would truly love to learn how to OC just to be able to say I know how to do it...But I learn much better from hands-on learning, not trying to figure out 20 lines of confusing code...Unfortunately, I don't have any friends who are knowledgeable enough that are local to show me how to do it...That's why I've stayed away from OC'ng...

 

[Bobthelost]

And that's why we have the thread in the overclocking forum to teach us how to do it.

 

[duragezic]

If that appears like 20 lines of "code" to you, then just forget overclocking, but really, he pretty much told you everything. There's plenty of hands on anyway, you're gonna wanna mess around a little and tweak things after you get an initial overclock.

 

[djnsmith7]

Originally posted by: duragezic
If that appears like 20 lines of "code" to you, then just forget overclocking, but really, he pretty much told you everything. There's plenty of hands on anyway, you're gonna wanna mess around a little and tweak things after you get an initial overclock.

I can appreciate your efforts & motivation to encourage my interest, but for now, I'll continue to run things at stock settings...

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: fobis
don't upgrade at all if you don't play games that much. save your money.
if you really MUST ugprade something, upgrade the CPU. why upgrade the video when there's going to be a single card better than 2x7800GT in probably less than a year?
but, i would wait til the AM2 stuff comes out. s939 may drop by then...

There already has been for awhile now the x1900Xt or XTX

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: djnsmith7
Update: I got the X2-4400+ & I'm glad I did...I'm too tired to install it tonight, but I will shortly...Thx for all the input & suggestions...

learn to read all the posts people. 24 hours later you're posting recommendations on what to get when he already decided

OP, go back and return what you bought and save up for M2