To CPU or GPU, that is the question...

Curio · 21 Mar 2008 at 14:01

So I'm going to spend some of my bonus on an upgrade. I simply have to get a new HD as my ancient 80GB IDE drive with 2MB cache is struggling. That leaves me with enough for a CPU or a new video card. Either an X2 6000+ CPU or a 9600GT / HD3870 card.

Looking at my current rig (in sig), which would you go for? I'm currently leaning towards a new CPU - I play a lot of SupCom (which loves raw CPU power) and I only game at 1280x1024 res which my current card is fine with. However, I would like a 512MB video card so I can play with higher texture settings in other games - LOTR-online and UT3 mainly. Also, my X2 4200 is a lousy overclocker...

One other thing - this is the last upgrade I'll be able to perform for a while.

So I want to order today.....my mouse finger is hovering over the CPU....any thoughts before I throw away my hard-earned money?

Monkeynut · 21 Mar 2008 at 14:10

I'd say videocard. That 7900 is on it's last legs game-wise. I'd go with a 9600GT, they seem good.

eggnoodle · 21 Mar 2008 at 15:17

is that a socket 939 cpu that you currently have? or AM2 socket? (just checking in-case you are contemplating getting the socket 6000+ cpu and your mobo is infact a socket 939 (6000+ = am2 will not fit in s939)

I vote new card !

Vonny · 21 Mar 2008 at 15:20

Yeah, if its got to be one or the other, the graphics is the way to go, for now

pastymuncher · 21 Mar 2008 at 15:22

Yep, graphics for now and you could also clock the X2 4200 to get some extra "free" performance.

-iceblade^ · 21 Mar 2008 at 15:23

Card. the CPU may well need a mobo upgrade...

Curio · 21 Mar 2008 at 15:57

Sorry, forget to say, it is an AM2 board so no worries on that front.

So, all votes for video card, huh? X2 4200 not too much of a bottleneck at 1280x1024? It won't overclock at all - and I've tried every trick in the book

pastymuncher · 21 Mar 2008 at 18:57

Curio said:
Sorry, forget to say, it is an AM2 board so no worries on that front.

So, all votes for video card, huh? X2 4200 not too much of a bottleneck at 1280x1024? It won't overclock at all - and I've tried every trick in the book

What motherboard do you have? Strange to have a cpu that won't clock at all.

ACESHIGH · 21 Mar 2008 at 19:47

Yep, id be upgrading the GPU to a 3870XT. Will deinitely give you better gaming opportunities.

Curio · 21 Mar 2008 at 20:55

pastymuncher said:
What motherboard do you have? Strange to have a cpu that won't clock at all.

It's a Gigabyte AM2 nForce 570 SLI (think that's right) and yeah, it's strange. Anything above 2.2GHz and it fails Prime, a little bit higher and Windows won't even load. Tried messing with the RAM speed/timings and they make little or no difference. Tried all the other usual tweaks as well. It's had me scratching my head for a while - just gave up in the end.

Oh, and Gigabyte 9600GT ordered