To GPU or CPU?

(Ao1SYS) #1

My system’s been lagging a bit in gaming performance lately and I’m thinking that it may be time for an upgrade. I’m unsure where my money would be better spent, a CPU/Motherboard upgrade or a shiny new graphics card.

Current system:

Asus A7V-266e
AMD 1800+
512 MB DDR 2100
ATI 8500 DV
Win XP
Klipsch 5.1 Ultra (had to mention that…)

If I go with the video card I’ll probably choose ATI’s AIW 9800 Pro 128 (and pocket Half Life 2 in the process). On the CPU/MB route I would most likely go with an AMD 2800+ or 3000+ (I’ll choose a motherboard at the last minute).

It’ll probably be late Dec. early Jan. before I can get around to the upgrade but I do intend to upgrade all of the above within the next 6 or 8 months. I’m at a loss to decide which route will get me the best gaming bang for my buck until I can upgrade the other half of the system.

Any opinions?

(Homer J) #2

What’s the equivalent Geforce of an ATI8500?

If it’s GF2/3 level then I would say go with the video card, if it is GF4ti level or higher then I would say that system is pretty well balanced and you may as well save the money and upgrade all at once, you’ll save money that way.

If you simply must upgrade right now then go for the vid card.

(^POTATO) #3

Sell the speakers, then buy a new video card and a new CPU. :banana:

(ND80) #4

I had a similar set up as you do and the upgrade from the 8500 to the 9800 Pro 128 made a huge difference. Having said that, I know others that upgraded their CPU to above what we have and it also made a significant improvement. I’d say first go with the video card and you will need that down the road as new games arrive that require much better cards than the 8500 (i.e. Doom 3)

(nate.h) #5

Absolutely a new video card. Get a Radeon 9700/9800, and it should run beautifully.

(Ao1SYS) #6

Heh. No way I’m selling the speakers! Hell, Klipsch just replaced my old version 5.1’s after they died even though the warranty was expired and they replaced them with brand new Ultra’s and a brand new warranty (just got 'em back a few days ago). Man I’m a Klipsch fan for life after that kind of treatment!

ND80, I think I’ll end up following your advice and go with the card. I guess the only thing that was holding me up is that if I did the cpu upgrade now that I could possibly end up with something new from ATI early next year. Like an AIW 9800 XT, have they mentioned any plans for such a card?

When is that next gen card from them supposed to hit the market anyway? It’d be sweet if I could hold off long enough for that to happen and maybe pick up an XT for the price of a 98 pro…at any rate, if my old card cant hack some of the new games in the meantime, I guess a better cpu isnt going to cut the mustard.

(McAfee) #7

I suggest a 9800 XT if you can afford it.

(ScreamZ) #8

if your gonna upgrade and you have some $$$$ then go for the gold. If not getting a GF FX 5900 for $216 or if ya wanna drop the $450+ on a Radeon XT like i did then go for it. But if your system is old you gonna end up bottle necking the card.

(Karin) #9

i recently bought a 9800 pro and i must say this card f**** rox! :smiley:
i payed a lot for it but its worth every single euro :drink:
amazing gfx quality!

i would definately go with a radeon if i was in your shoes, besides cpu prices drop more often than gfx cards so before xmas you will prolly get the cpu you wanted much cheaper than now :clap:

(dJ6i8bY) #10

If ur just getting a cpu upgrade then its fairly cheap… but if ur gonna go the full hog and get a new m/b , cpu then wait… the amd 64’s are out and should become buyer freindly around the start of the next year. The 8500 is inbetween a g3ti200 and a g3ti500. So its not a bad card @ all and it will run halflife 2 better looking than a g4ti4200 but a little bit slower. (i recon it will run halflife 2 just as good looking and faster than a 5600fx because 5600fx SUCKS at pixle shading had one) I recon ut best upgrade atm would be a grafix card as both companys have just released there upgrade modles so it will be a good few months before there new chips arive… and u will still get a good bit of proformance increas if u get a 9800. Just dont exspect miricals because there are still parts of ET that are cpu limited. My cuzin with a 2000xp and g4 ti4200 was maxing 60fps on 1 part… we tryed oc his card… it stayed the same so we oc his cpu to a 2400xp and it jumped up to about 70fps. If u have good case cooling and a good cpu cooler… u can probibly run ur 1800xp on 150fsb wich would give u around a 2100xp for free (i had one running like that for ages)

(ScreamZ) #11

I run wold at a solid 200 fps. just to see how far it dips in heavy battle and i think the lowest i dropped was to 170 fps. Even my lan rig that has a GeForce FX 5950 Ultra runs the same and keeps it up at 180 fps.

(Computertech) #12

I have the Radeon 9100 (also called the 8500), with a 2600+ cpu. It runs very well in 800x600 w/16 million colors. It matters how you play your games. It ran well with a 1500+ as well.
Another card that is a good “bang for the buck” is the Radeon 9600 XT (that’s with the 400mhz bus). It’s faster than then the 9500 Pro and FX5600 ultra for about $200.

(LodeRunner) #13

Or if you really want to blow some bux, you could buy an Opteron 146 or 2x Opteron 246. Kick ass CPU’s that can really crank with 32-bit apps. Or get an Athlon 64 FX-51, though the Opterons are faster.