Upgrading from AIW 9800SE and AMD 2500+ to ...

[koocha]

Hi

I've got an AIW 9800SE softmodded to a 9800 (woo).

It's a bit slow when combined with my Athlon 2500+ @ 3200+ these days. for example, I'm having to run Quake 4 at 640x480

So, time to take advantage of SCANs finance! Yeah!

I'm looking at spending maybe £400, but that'll have to cover:

CPU, Mobo, HSF and G-card.

Any suggestions on how I should spend my money?

I'm not too much into over clocking but I would like to go the SLI/Crosssfire route.

Thanks

Tim

[sawyen]

not overclocking? its a shame then.. cs A64s and Optys overclocks like *snap*

If I had 400 quid? Here's wat I'll get.. (mind the prices, havent checked them in a while)

CPU: Opty 146 OEM (£110ish)
HSF: Zalman CNPS9500 LED (£38ish)
Mobo: ASUS A8N SLI Premium (£100ish) / Abit AN8 SLI (also £100ish)
GFX: 6800GS XXX Edition (£170ish) / X800GTO2 (£170ish)

Then clock the 146 to 2.8Ghz, and the GS to 520/1200 and u'll get somewhere like an FX-57 with a 6800Ultra.. Unlock the 16 pipes in GTO2 + clock to clock with an XTPE, then u get a mighty X800XTPE for a fraction of the price..

[MSIC]

Can't argue with that. Well, i could, but i'd be wrong. Do what he said.

[kempez]

Good choice

Maybe I'd get a thermalright coler but apart from that - nout wrong

Pleeeeaaaaase OC the opty if you get one

[koocha]

So would you recommend going the ATI or NVIDIA route?

[MSIC]

Both of the above cards seem to represent about the best bang for buck that each company makes, so whichever you go for you will be getting a good deal.
I'm sure you could find various charts that show one card beating the other in certain benchmarks, but not in others, so find a game that you think you will be playing the most, and go with that.

Saying that, i'd buy nVidia as i am familiar with their drivers, but it's hardly a dealbreaker.

[koocha]

I haven't owned a nVidia card since my Geforce 2 Ultra. That was £350 well spent!

May go back to nVidia. After all, Unreal Tournament recommends it!