Worth Upgrading?

Jono · 28 Nov 2007 at 12:28

Not posting this in GH or wherever because i'm just interested in the latest/up-and-coming releases...

Anyway, here's what i currently have
AMD X2 3800
2GB of some kind of corsair(?) 3200 DDR (???)
Asus A8R32 MVP deluxe
Ati X1900 XTX
Win XP Pro (not sure I want vista)

Stuff like crysis demo ran... ish... with the stuff in that set to "high", But kinda jerky.
TF2/EP2 run fine of course,
ETQW looks a bit pants, and i'm not convinced it's terribly smooth

I want to be able to run Crysis looking rather nice, and I'm getting UT3.

What are my options for upgrading?
Don't want to spend any more than £800. I guess I'm looking at gfx/cpu/mem/mobo, really.

I don't need KB/Mouse/Monitors (although my 18" dell thing from about 4 years ago is looking a little old...) Speakers etc.. got everyhing (although my speakers are a bit turd. I have an Audigy 2 sound card, which seems to work - certainly better than the onboard thing. Whatever THAT is.

Don't want to spend any more than £800. I guess I'm looking at gfx/cpu/mem/mobo, really.

Voltage · 28 Nov 2007 at 12:29

looking at your objectives......then yes

helmet · 28 Nov 2007 at 12:32

I'm in exactly the same place as you... You have a slightly bettter CPU

.
Been thinking about upgrading for a few months now, but I don't see that much on the horizon worth upgrading for.

Sorry to hijack but I bet there is a few just like us.

PixelChef · 28 Nov 2007 at 12:44

How about these:

Just noticed you don't have vista so prob swap for a 2GB RAM setup instead

That 8800GT isn't in stock atm/yet, you could go with another or wait for that.

I have a very similar setup (see sig) and I can run UT3 on full @ 1680x1050, 62 fps constant, which is the FPS cap atm, would be higher without it. I can run Crysis with a "higher than very high" config at around 30 fps.

Jono · 28 Nov 2007 at 13:12

What's the difference in GT and GTX (which you have?) other than about £150?

Warbie · 28 Nov 2007 at 13:13

I'm waiting for hardware that can run Crysis at high settings AND with a decent framerate.

PixelChef · 28 Nov 2007 at 13:15

Jono said:
What's the difference in GT and GTX (which you have?) other than about £150?

Realy not much, the GTX is slightly faster. GTX isn't worth buying now the GT is here.

Jono · 28 Nov 2007 at 15:18

Would two GT8800s in SLI be worth it? If not, maybe I could get a nice new monitor... or maybe get a new monitor now, then another GT later for SLI goodness

PixelChef · 28 Nov 2007 at 15:22

From what i've heard SLi isn't worth it unless you are running an insane resolution. You only get about 20% (?) performance increase while you're paying twice as much.

Oh and you'll need a SLi mobo too which will cost even more.

Tunez · 28 Nov 2007 at 15:23

What is your PSU? Make sure it meets the minimum requirements for the GT. Does it also need two power connectors? I remember reading that... lol

PixelChef · 28 Nov 2007 at 15:25

Tunez said:
What is your PSU? Make sure it meets the minimum requirements for the GT. Does it also need two power connectors? I remember reading that... lol

Good point, you'll need a decent PSU.

Jono · 28 Nov 2007 at 15:51

I *think* my PSU should be able to handle it - i'll have a clamber around in the attic to find out what it is. Insane resolutions = never.... so I think I'll just stick with a single card.

Jono · 28 Nov 2007 at 19:58

Also, why that particular GT? why not ones that are in stock, and when's that released?

**
My PSU is an
Enermax Noisetaker EG701AX-VE(W)SFMA 600watt Power Supply

rubberduck · 28 Nov 2007 at 20:27

As suggested spend around £500 on a new cpu/ram/motherboard and a GT... Put the other £300 in the bank.... In 12 months flog the GT and get a new graphics card depending on how the next generation pans out. Don't bother with SLI!

Thats my opinion anyway.