Advice needed: New GPU or new core system [Archive]

Prime

12-12-05, 03:42 PM

Currently I'm running:
Athlon XP 2700
Radeon 9700
1GB Ram

I've really gotten into Battlefield 2, and I'm trying to give Quake4 a shot. I have to play both at 800x600 low details, and the framerate is still pathetic. I've got enough money scraped together to get a 6800GS, Athlon64 3700 & Motherboard. However, I would really like to spend some of that money on my other main interest, which is photography. If I do that, I'd really only be able to buy a new video card...probably an AGP 6800GT or X800XL. Do ya'll think a new video card would do the trick, or do I need to go ahead and splurge on the rest?

Thanks

Mole

12-12-05, 04:30 PM

I've got just about that same setup, only difference is AthlonXP 2500+ (Barton, 512kb cache) and a BFG 6800GT OC.

I can play FEAR at full details, 1024x768, and a small touch of AA and AF and it runs good. :) I've tried cranking it to 1280x1024 and it still runs acceptably, but I have to turn off AA and AF. Still looks great.

I think you'd be satisfied getting a 6800GT AGP. It's a pretty mean and powerful videocard, and won't burn too big a hole in your pocket... It does get pretty warm, though. Make sure your case has adequate airflow, especially having an AthlonXP, these CPU's run pretty warm too.

Don't know much about the X800XL, maybe someone here has experience with it.

None the less, new videocard is the way to go for you, I would say.

Prime

12-12-05, 04:50 PM

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping that would be the case. :) Now I can get the new lens I want as well!

Lollan

12-12-05, 04:55 PM

Looking great + No AA/AF = Does not compute.

I have to agree though, 6800 GT would be a good bet, X800 XL is pretty much the same in terms of performance, with the 6800 edging it out on most benchies IIRC, the 6800 GT should also be cheaper. I have an X800 XL and am very happy regardless. (Caught mine on sale for ~$230 a few months ago :D)

You may still experience a bit of slowness with BF2 cranked just because it's buggy as all get out.. I have heard good stories of people moving to 2048MB for that game, though.

Ailuros

12-12-05, 11:38 PM

CPU limitations can be avoided while using higher resolutions +AA/AF. Spending somewhere around $250 for the pre-mentioned either/or GPU will give you enough ooomph in recent games and you end up saving a lot of money.

Blighter

12-13-05, 03:15 AM

The sensation revealed when testing contemporary performance-mainstream graphics cards in the latest games is strange, but real: after being a year on the market, ATI RADEON X800 (http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/games-2005_25.html#) XL seems to be the most balanced performance-mainstream graphics card in terms of performance!
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/games-2005_25.html

That's a pretty good read :)

I've got a xp3200 and a x800xl, and newer games give me no problems. Get a new video card and oc that xp2700 a bit :)

BCRICH

12-13-05, 08:03 AM

I just built me a new system this weekend. With an Athlon 64 3200 - 939, BFG 7800 GT and a gig of dual channel memory. So far this thing plays everything on high detail without a problem. I tired out some 3Dmarks for fun. I think 2002 gave me a score of over 26,000 points. :lol: Although 2005 only gave me around 7,000. I remember trying to run 2005 on my old system and it was a slide show, I couldn't even finish it. Now it runs the demo perfectly and not too bad on the bench mark. I have not played fear yet, I'm hoping to get it for Christmas.

Mole

12-13-05, 03:59 PM

ArchAngelCD

12-15-05, 12:25 AM

I would also suggest a new video card. I think you should get the company you are most happy with. The 6800 GT will run you ~$300 and the X800XL will run you ~$260 so the prices are about the same. You might be able to find a X850 for just over $300 too. (I like ATI so I would but a Radeon but that's just my preference)

My 9800 Pro running on a 3.2GHz P4 is still working well enough so that I can wait a while. I don't think I'll upgrade my video until I buy a PCIe motherboard.

5_day_forecast

12-16-05, 01:25 AM

I vote video. I recently went from a 9700 pro to (a slight upgrade) a x700 pro. Even with this seemingly simple move, I got a HUGE improvement. Framerates improved enough so that its noticeable across the board, but the big advantage is in really graphically demanding games. With the 9700, I'm sure you're familiar with the slight pause any time textures load in a heavily taxing scene (like whenever a door opens in Doom 3). That's long gone now.

Despoiler

12-16-05, 09:11 AM

I am going to buck the trend here and go with option 3. The AGP days are very numbered and the AMD XP line is done at the 3200's. While your would see an immediate benefit to getting a new card or processor, I feel you should start buying parts for a AMD 64bit system that uses PCI-E. For the $200-$300 your going to spend on a new card you could get a Socket 939 board and an AMD 64 processor. Then you just have to spend another $230 for one of the 6800GS cards. Sure you will have to continue to limp along for a bit while you complete the refresh, but the system you will have when you are done will be far superior to the one your going to partially upgrade. It also will allow for further expansion on the same platforms instead of being the final hurrah for what amount to dead technologies.

Blighter

12-16-05, 11:05 AM

There's truth behind Despoiler's words.. If you get a new VGA now, and later upgrade your system, your gonna need another new VGA card (PCI-E) It all depens on whether or not you are planning on upgrading your system anytime soon.

Prime

12-16-05, 12:08 PM

Thanks for all of the replies, guys. After looking at it from every possible angle, I just bought a used 6800GT for $200. I'm going to try and get that to last for another year. After agonizing over this for a couple of weeks, I just can't justify spending the extra money on a new system right now. Next Christmas, I won't really have a choice, so it'll be an easy decision. :)

Blighter

12-16-05, 03:05 PM

Cool, gongrats :)

ArchAngelCD

12-16-05, 05:12 PM

Where did you get a 6800 GT for $200 and what brand is it?

Mole

12-16-05, 09:30 PM

I want to know that too! And how is the 6800GT running?

sj_hurst

12-16-05, 09:46 PM

He said he bought it USED, guys. So maybe he bought it off Ebay or a friend.

Prime

12-16-05, 11:19 PM

Bought it used from a guy on Nvnews forums. Just bought it tonight, so I haven't received it yet. It's a Leadtek with a zalman flower cooler on it. He says it's very quiet, which is important to me.

Blighter

12-17-05, 03:35 AM

I have a Zalman cooler on my X800XL, on 5V, you can't hear it.

Prime

12-17-05, 03:41 AM

Great! That's what I was hoping for. :)

Mole

12-17-05, 04:56 AM

I wanna get one of them Arctic Silencer (http://www.arctic-cooling.com/vga2.php?idx=40) coolers for my 6800GT... Are they worth it?

I heard to get the best performance out of em, you have to do some sanding to even it out, otherwise it doesn't sit level across the GPU/RAM chips.

Blighter

12-17-05, 07:48 AM

I used to like Arctic Silencers, but after owning two of them for different cards, i must say i like the Zalman VF700-CU better... The bearings on both my Silencers got broken after only 1-2 months of use.. It appeards there's a bug on the whole Silencer line-up, the bearings go bad when the cooler doesn't get full 12V. Well guess what, Silencers come equipped with a powercord that fits the VGA card's fan socket, and most cards today have automatic fan speed control, varying the voltage between 5V-12V. I asked my local enthusiast computer store about what the fooking bullshit is that, they said that they won't comment because they are waiting for occicial statement from arctic cooling.. Great. With the Zalman cooler, it plugs to power supply, and you can choose between 5V or 12V.

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=149&code=013

Emig5m

12-17-05, 08:42 AM

I think with how fast new videocards come out, any added upgrade to a card is just a waste of money you could use toward a new videocard. Whatcha gonna do, overclock your card by 10MHz more over the stock HSF unit and gain just about no noticable real world worthwhile performance? Then again, the cards I buy come stock with a pretty hefty HSF unit already on it.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4427/ultra7hb.jpg

:naughty:

No seriously, a worthwhile cooling upgrade over stock would have to be water cooling IMO. And at that, I think I'd only do it if the cooling hardware would be able to be used on future videocard purchases. Otherwise, I'd rather put the $50 away towards a new card....

Blighter

12-17-05, 10:14 AM

Nah, you missed the point. People want better coolers because they are so quiet compared to the original ones, and also more efficient. 20-30 bucks ain't that big of an investment to make if you want silence and plan to keep the card for a while.

Prime

12-17-05, 01:51 PM

Blighter

12-18-05, 05:03 AM

I'd say yes, I have mine on 5V and the temperature is lower than on the original cooler. (I'm running at 37-40C on the core on idle) I don't know how hot 6800's run tho.. But if the air ventilation ain't totally borked inside your case, i'd say it's more than adequate :) You can't hear the damn thing at 5V. Give it a shot, if you think it runs too hot change it to 12V, it's still more silent than the standard cooler! :)

Let us know how it goes with the new card!

Prime

12-24-05, 02:43 AM

Got it today...installed and working fine. What settings should I be able to use in BF2 & Q4? I've set both on 1280x960, and while playable, they seem a little sluggish (although BF2 seems to need another gig of ram).

sj_hurst

12-24-05, 11:11 AM

Agreed...Video card fans have gotten LOUD, and I don't like that at all. I could care less about better cooling as long as it at least does the job, but I do care about minimizing the noise as much as possible.

Blighter, the cooler on my card is the Zalman VF700-CU as well. Do you think it will be adequate on 5V?

Agreed x2. Some 'advances' in video cards have been kinda rediculous.

the good..
1) faster
2) improved IQ

the not so good..
1) bigger & bigger
2) louder
3) more power hungry (needing 1 or more molex power)
4) high prices, tho this one is fairly consistent
5) SLi as an upgrade path (instead, just wait 6 mos and buy a single card for less $ w/ double the speed). imho, of course

Blighter

12-24-05, 12:42 PM

Agreed x2. Some 'advances' in video cards have been kinda rediculous.

the good..
1) faster
2) improved IQ

the not so good..
1) bigger & bigger
2) louder
3) more power hungry (needing 1 or more molex power)
4) high prices, tho this one is fairly consistent
5) SLi as an upgrade path (instead, just wait 6 mos and buy a single card for less $ w/ double the speed). imho, of course
X800XL PCI-E doesn't require external power :)