Upgrade processor or video card ?

[brarog]

Guys,

I currently have a Pentium II 450 MHz along with a diamond Viper 770 Ultra (TNT2) with 256MB of RAM. I was wondering what is my best upgrade option (value), a higher processor, susposedly the board will support up to 800MHz or a video card, I was thinking of a Geforce MX2 ?? Anyone done similiar upgrades ? Which should I do first CPU or video ?

TIA

Brad

 

[Belegost]

Would help everyone if we knew what you use the system for.

 

[borealiss]

video probably, assuming you do game. you're not going to see much of a difference with processor speeds in games when you change your cpu because that tnt2 will hold you back. a geforce2 mx will make a noticeable change right away.

 

[Wingznut]

What's your budget?... Maybe you could do both.

 

[kombatmud]

your whole system will see a performance increase w/ a new CPU only games will see a performance increase w/ a new video card. You might want to consider the kyro II that will be out in a month though, it seems like it will perform much better than the MX for a reasonably similar price. You should also make sure your motherboard can work with a coppermine core before buying a new chip. They may say it supports 800MHz, because it has an option for an 8x multiplier on a 100MHz FSB, however it may not support the coppermine core, and it would be a waste to spend money on a katmai chip right now ( I don't think they go past 600MHz anyway).
If I were you, I'd probably upgrade the CPU first, but that's based on what I use my computer for. Let us know what you primarily use your computer for, so we can make a better recommendation.

 

[brarog]

Sorry for the lack of info, it was late in the morning.
I use it mostly for games, actually just about only for games.
So I'm looking for the most bang for the buck to increase my gaming performance. The low resolutions and slow frame rates really suck.

Brad

 

[Noriaki]

I'd do your CPU now and try and save your pennies for a Hercules 3D Prophet 4500. It's going to priced slightly higher than the GF2MX, but it has performance near a GTS.

May 16th on the K2 from Herc.

 

[pudcox]

I would upgrade video card then wait for next Intel processor release and get the 800Mhz cpu you want even cheaper (just a few months off). I am running a baragin bin Geforce2 MX on a 700Mhz T'bird and there are not any games that I have frame rate problems with...plus the dual outputs are fun to play with

 

[limsandy]

Get a good video card!