Poll: Which to upgrade first: CPU or video card?

[yllus]

Recently came into some money - just enough to warrant the upgrade of either my CPU or video card, actually - but not both! Currently I'm running a Celeron 466, 192MB RAM, TNT2 M64 32MB at home.

Initially I was dead set on the CPU buy - a P3-750 seems to be in the sweet spot right now, and on this BX motherboard I can crank it to near a Ghz...then I stopped into Undernet's #neochat where other AT members converse and was told a video card (Kyro II? Radeon LE?) would be better in upping speed in games and in general...I'm not so sure. So hence the poll, gimme your insights! Basically I'd like to crank Max Payne up to 1024x768 if possible at a decent framerate, and remember, "chuck the entire system" is not an option!

 

[mithrandir2001]

Difficult...

You really need to replace both to get good gaming performance, but neither component is terribly bad, so it is hard to make a decision. I like the idea of a CPU upgrade because it affects everything, not just games. But a TNT2 M64 just isn't going to wow you in a DX8 game. I say go for the P3-750 and live with the TNT2...using lower resolutions/textures in Max Payne until you can afford a video card upgrade.

 

[VBboy]

Definitely dump that stinky old TNT videocard first! The videocard is a VANTA, which is the TNT2 without the second texture-mapping unit, I believe.. it's very slow.

 

[anthrax]

Depends what u do with it...the video card should be changed first...... then the cpu preferbaly by staying away from P3...but I guess your budget is very limited..

 

[soulm4tter]

You are gonna need both to do what you want to do. There is no way around it. Grab a PIII 750 now and start saving for a video card.

 

[MCS]

I think video card first.

A Geforce 2 class card scales quite well with lower CPU speeds.

 

[Nakaji]

I say go for a CPU upgrade, it'll affect you more.

My fried has a P3 550, and hes using a TNT1 (yes thats a 'one'), and he still plays CS fine.

 

[InFecTed]

Get a video card, with a tnt m64 no point to upgrade the cpu, even your celery is probably limited by the tnt.
Radeon LE, GF2 GTS or better is the way to go.

 

[spaceman]

Get both,a cheap celery(667+)/slotket/ and a geforce 2 mx....kyro radeon le etc.
Both can be had for uncer $100 bucks if you look around

 

[Athlon4all]

I say go video if gaming performance is more important than over system speed, but if system speed is more important than get CPU.

 

[Cattlegod]

www.accessmicro.com

get a motherboard bundle amd 1.33 gig processor with 256 megs ram, probably come to about 300 ish shipped with ram, mobo, and processor (266 fsb). the difference will be amazing.

 

[TravisBickle]

I know nothing about Max Payne yet but that celeron is on a 66MHz FSB bus and that affects modern games a lot.
I wouldn't count on a 1000 PIII overclock, but if it's cheap, go ahead. on its own you'd be confined to 640x480 I think with the M64 memory bus.

 

[yllus]

Argh, having no clear consensus is killing me now. Here's some prices, all in Canadian dollars:

ATI Radeon LE AGP 4X Radeon LE 32 Megs DDRam OEM = $121
Intel Pentium 3 750MHz (E) 100MHz Bus 256k OEM (Slot 1) = $167
PowerColor PG CMX2S-TV AGP 4X Geforce2 MX 32 Megs SDRam Retail (VO) = $117

I like TV-out a lot so I'm even tempted to take the GF2 MX over the LE for that feature. Anyone have some more input?

 

[flight23]

Try to sell your computer for $350 if you can
then buy the barebones system from overstock for $70 after $40 off coupon (and a mouse or something)
Spend $30 to get the SB Live MP3 5.1 from staples
Spend $79 to get the Athlon 1 Ghz from newegg
another $71 to get the Radeon LE from newegg
Delta DVD from Circuit city or 8x CDRW from Staples for about $20 each after rebates
$30 for some generic RAM (256mb)
$85 on a HD from staples or something after coupon.

Total: $385 or so

 

[mithrandir2001]

If you were considering a GTS or even better, a GF2 PRO, then I would lean toward the video card. However, you are considering a Radeon LE or GF2 MX, which are fairly lightweight cards. I'd rather opt for a CPU upgrade that would provide 50% more FSB bandwidth, 61% more clock and 100% more cache.

However, if the CPU costs $167 Cdn, you might be able to get a GTS for the same price. In that case, the decision really blurs.

The "ideal" would be to get a GF2 MX AND a CeleronII-566 that you would overclock to 850MHz. If you can use a P3, you should be able to use a CeleronII. Just make sure you can provide it 1.7V (which you would need anyway for a P3). Actually, I like this idea the best.

While people mean well, I don't think you can afford to sell your system and build another. What people forget are rebates (you might not get the money back), customs taxes and shipping costs.

 

[flight23]

Although it is a pain to sell and rebuild.. right now based on what he has and what people would pay for it I think it may be worth it.
As for rebates on all of those things there is $110 in rebates, all of which are handled by Rebates HQ which has yet to give me a single problem on over $1000 of rebates from them.
Their tracking system is great, and if you photocopy and keep track of your items then you will get your rebate 99% of the time.

But, I agree.. that route isnt for everyone, but given the huge upgrade you would end up with it may be worth considering.

 

[TravisBickle]

now I know the price I change my mind. don't get such a slow processor for that price or you'd be kicking yourself. I mean it. it's a slot processor too
do you realize for that money you could almost get a Duron and board new. at least as good without overclocking it!

 

[Auric]

You did not say what your budget was but it seems you have at least $170 CDN before taxes. Go with the Celeron 566@874 and LE TVO for the best bang for ze bucks. Max Payne will get decent framerates at 1024x768 with mid-range quality. If you cannot get a TVO then settle for the GF2MX but those prices seem high. Avoid retail boxes and get used if necessary and maybe you can sell your old parts for a few dollars too.