old rig upgrade advice ??

[ThePimPsTeR]

old rig - Xp2500 Barton, 1Gb RAM, 6800GT, 2 x SATA HD drives, decent Chieftec case, 400W PSU, 19" FP native 1280x1024
Games - CSSource, BF2, BF2142 - Crysis looks to be th thing for me soon, only normally play low res > 1024x768 - not worried about silly res max FPS, once it's playable.


are there still any mobos available that have AGP and PCIE sockets ?? suitable to o/c cheap C2duo cpu to a half decent speed.
Then in future maybe I would get a new mobo/cpu combinations.

Have no problem buying new DDR2 RAM as it is so cheap nowadays.

HD, case, drives etc to remain.

6800GT AGP - would like to keep really if I would get playable rates on BF2142 etc with the better CPU, otherwise looking at another 100-something for PCIE.
Want to stay lowbudget really.

any advice ???

EDIT - my laptop does most things I want anyway so could get rid of anything sellable first......

[DanceswithUnix]

Your video card is on par with a 7600GT so a PCie straight replacement is not that expensive. Given that modern games are getting more shader heavy, it might be good to try and upgrade that anyway.

[staffsMike]

There's one or two Asrock boards which offer AGP/PCIe DDR/DDR2 to make upgrading more gradual, can't remember specific models but it may be worth a look.

PCIe card's worth looking at are

DX9
ATi X1950pro/xt
7900gs

DX10
Soon to be released 8800GT (£130ish)
8600GT is ok but not as good as the DX9 cards.

[MSIC]

i had one of the ASRock mobo's with AGP PCI-Express slots, but it was socket 939 only.
My advice is to sell for what you can get on ebay (although you might be a bit heartbroken - 6800GT for mabe £40 if you are lucky??) and then buy something like a 7600GS (which will get you playing in the shorter term) for £43:
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
Or alternatively a better card (and better than your current) is an X1950GT:
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
for £75.

I think it's really the only way, and change your motherboard, CPU and RAM all at the same time. Sorry, it won't be as cheap as you wanted it i'm sure!

[ThePimPsTeR]

Thanks for replies.

Really wondered if CPU/mobo/RAM change would improve things a bit if I keep the 6800GT on ASROCK AGP/PCIE board or similar ??
The I can upgrade mobo/GPU in future to something more else.

Agreed, GPU would probably X1950 or wait for 8800GT.
Not too worried about resale value - only paid 90 for GPU and 70 something for CPU ages ago.
Might wait for Crysis demo as evrything I want to do it copes with TBH.

[excalibur2]

old rig - Xp2500 Barton, 1Gb RAM, 6800GT, 2 x SATA HD drives, decent Chieftec case, 400W PSU, 19" FP native 1280x1024
Games - CSSource, BF2, BF2142 - Crysis looks to be th thing for me soon, only normally play low res > 1024x768 - not worried about silly res max FPS, once it's playable.


are there still any mobos available that have AGP and PCIE sockets ?? suitable to o/c cheap C2duo cpu to a half decent speed.
Then in future maybe I would get a new mobo/cpu combinations.

Have no problem buying new DDR2 RAM as it is so cheap nowadays.

HD, case, drives etc to remain.

6800GT AGP - would like to keep really if I would get playable rates on BF2142 etc with the better CPU, otherwise looking at another 100-something for PCIE.
Want to stay lowbudget really.

any advice ???

EDIT - my laptop does most things I want anyway so could get rid of anything sellable first......

My 2nd computer in my sig might interest you, the board takes AGP and DDR ram, did have a E2140 cpu in originally, but the board is limited by the memory so higher the cpu clock the faster it will go so swopped for the E4300................but the e2140 would overclock to 2.2ghz.................board and E2140 for about £70.

[ThePimPsTeR]

thanks for the info excalibur - that board is AGP only so would limit me a bit.


ASROCK 4COREDual-VSTA - anyone know eher I can get one or experience of it ???
Website claims it supports 8600/8800 cards - I thought some people were saying it has a low-speed PCIE slot and new 8800GT card would not work - confused !!!!!!

[ThePimPsTeR]

OK I know its OCUK but only place I can find mobo in stock - how does this sound - think it will be a 1/2 decent performance increase with my 6800GT for a stopgap.
Future would be better CPU & GPU.

Intel Core 2 Duo E2160 £41.99 (£49.34)
Asrock 4CoreDual-SATA2 £36.99 (£43.46)
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz £31.99 (£37.59)
Sub Total : £110.97
Shipping : £8.25
VAT at 17.5% VAT : £20.86
Total : £140.08

[MSIC]

Blimey! You've really surprised me with how cheap you do achieve your goal for.
It might not be brilliant immediately for performace, but 10 out of 10 for what you have found! I think that'll do the perfect job for my brother too.
Core 2 Duo for £50..... shocking.

[staffsMike]

No complaints about ocuk here.

Good deal but if you want a GREAT deal..

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

ok it's only 1 year warranty and you need an after market cooler but dear lord! free delivery for us to

[MSIC]

Smacks forhead and gasps with shock!