Which should I upgrade - RAM or Graphics?

CF93

CF93

CF93

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Hi.

Opinions on which item I would benefit most from upgrading please - RAM or graphics card:

A64 3400+ processor
512Mb Crucial Ballistix RAM
GeForce FX5700 AGP
Asus K8N motherboard

I've got the chance of upgrading either one for about the same money - RAM to a 2x1Gb (even though this mobo doesn't support dual channel :( ) or an ATi 1950Pro. Once I've picked I won't have the readies to do the other for quite a while, so I need to make the right decision now!

I play stuff like HL2, Doom3 etc

I'd appreciate a quick reply as these bits as on the MM and I don't want to risk losing out!

Thanks!
 
Your best performance boost would come from a mixture of the 2 upgrades. Get 1GB of RAM and the best graphics card you can afford with the change.

You'l see a much better improvement from this balanced upgrade than either of the options you put forward.

Ninja EDIT: You can get the 2x512MB of RAM for £50 and if the price of an x1950pro is anything to go by that leaves you with £80 to spend on a graphics card. A 7600 of some sort would be an excellent upgrade from what you have for that money.
 
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What Dureth says is worth while, because both the RAM and GPU are important in gaming. If you put more power into the GPU than RAM then you are going to bottleneck the system and likewise the other way around.

1GB of RAM would be good and how much would you have left?
 
mishima said:
Order yourself a Connect3D X1950 Pro 256MB with the money left over :)
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Thanks, but I meant £120 as in that would have to cover both graphics and ram if I went down the route of getting both...

I guess I could opt for another 512Mb of RAM to make a gig and then get better graphics.

I'm just really tempted to get the 1950Pro I've seen....
 
Mishima, saw one on the members market.

LanceCrossFire - thanks, but I can't afford to do that. I'm getting this rig cheap but I've got a little bit of cash left over so I thought I might upgrade it a little if I could. I wish I could have got the shiny new C2D setup my mate that owns this rig has tbh, but there's no way I can afford it right now.
 
GeCube...

Can't find any details on their site about the spec of the card though, so have asked the seller.

But might need to split the cash between RAM and GPU and if so I'll have to say goodbye to that one :(
 
CF93 said:
GeCube...

Can't find any details on their site about the spec of the card though, so have asked the seller.

But might need to split the cash between RAM and GPU and if so I'll have to say goodbye to that one :(
Click to expand...

bundle.jpg


I bought a gecube when I upgraded, doesn't even have the spec listed on the actual box or manual you know. Anyway, I ended up having to send it back cause it kept on freezing up in games. I think I know where you are getting it from, you should be fine with it. Mine was probably just a one off etc.

Is it the 512MB version?
 
The graphics would be so cripplied with only 512MB of RAM. Get another 512MB stick for £27 and spend the rest on a 7600gt for £84. Both of those are from OCUK and it leaves you enough for the postage too. The 7600GT is still a very good card and you'l have a nicer overall experience with both upgrades together.
 
LanceCrossfire said:
tbh, and this is my opinion, i wouldnt pour money into that machine i'd maybe save up and do a new build... just my 2 pence...
Click to expand...

i kinda agree with you...

maybe the OP might want to get a 512mb in the 2nd-hand market before making a total platform change..
 
Thanks.

Think that ram would work well alongside the 512Mb I've already got - it's 512Mb Crucial Ballistix @ 2-2-2-8 timings.

Guys - appreciate the idea of a full upgrade, but that's just not something I can afford right now. This rig is a full upgrade as it is - well, except the graphics card which is the same as the one I've got - hence looking to spend a little on a newer model. (current system in sig!) Like I said, I wish I could afford a shiny new Core2Duo, 8800 graphics etc etc, but it's just not going to happen.
 
Yes the RAM will run together fine although it will run at the slower memory's timings. However the boost from having 1GB vs 512MB more than makes up for the sacrifice in a tiny amount of memory bandwidth.
 
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