best value upgrade

[tindale]

Hello all, I've got the spec below, and want to know, pound for pound, what the best upgrade would be:

Athlon 64 3700+
Asrock Dual Sata2 mobo
2 x 1gb OCUK ram (pc3200)
AGP Ati X850 XT PE
1 x IDE and 1 x Sata HDD (nothing special here).
17" Hercules pro TFT
on board sound

go on then guys, where would you splash the cash?

 

[BillytheImpaler]

What do you want it to do better than it already does?

 

[UKTopGun]

I'd put it on the monitor and buy a new sound card.

 

[GhostRider]

Is it the 939 AGP and PCI-E motherboard. If so depending on what your budget and PSU is i'd think about getting an X1800 XT or a 7900 if your a gamer.

If you don't want to do this then maybe wait for the X2 price drop.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17595080&highlight=conroe+price+drop

 

[Rick_Barnes]

what do u really use the pc for?

 

[hp7909]

{snip}17" Hercules pro TFT{snip}

To...

• Samsung SM-920N 19" LCD Monitor - Silver/Black (MO-043-SA) £183.24 incl. VAT

 

[ACESHIGH]

If a gamer i would look at getting the X1800XT 256MB

 

[tindale]

In answer to the questions, the machine is mostly used for gaming, so I was thinking about graphics cards but don't know how the new generation compare to what I've got.

My mobo does indeed take PCI-E cards, but I'd need to upgrade from my 480W trueblue PSU, as its not ATX 2.

And as for what I want it to do better, there's no sensible answer, I just want it to be better

 

[dale1uk]

For gaming i'd get the x1800xt @£160 and get a sound card as onboard sound is usually very poor, even compared to a cheap £20 card, nevermind high end stuff.
It would be a cheap upgrade as you would get a good price for that agp X850. I sold my agp x850xt a few months back on a well known site and got £170

 

[tindale]

Whats the performance difference like from X850XT PE to X1800XT? Since they changed the numbering I've not paid enough attention

 

[dale1uk]

Its a very dig jump. My x850 was clocked past xt pe speeds and the difference was huge, and after selling your card the upgrade will cost very little leaving you with cash to upgrade other componants.

Edit: an agp x850 pro is currently on the bay @ £120 so it gives you an idea on what you'll get for yours

 

[tindale]

Thanks, time for the credit card. Sounds like the bay is the place to sell then, but I'm always keen to put stuff on here where possible.

 

[dale1uk]

You'll get a much better price on the bay for your card than on here. You'll not be dissapointed with the x1800xt

 

[Psycho Sonny]

because upgrading will cost you very little say £60 that sgould be an amzing jump pound for pound but to be honest you should get a new tft to show off your new cards excellence

 

[tindale]

Thats the other option, but I'm not sure I'll be able to afford both. God, its so confusing, all I want is everything, without spending any money on it. Its so unfair.....

Anyhow, will I need to get an ATX2 PSU to be able to run a PCI-e graphics card?

 

[dale1uk]

Your antec true blue 480w psu will be fine, its powerfull enough and has the pci-e connectores on it.

 

[UKTopGun]

Thats the other option, but I'm not sure I'll be able to afford both. God, its so confusing, all I want is everything, without spending any money on it. Its so unfair.....QUOTE]

Life's unfair

 

[tindale]

thanks everyone, having just looked at what some of these are going for on the bay I think I could make a profit here, and afford that new TFT after all

I'm surprised my PSU has a PCI-e connector as its a couple of years old, but pleasantly so. Lets go spend some money.....