C2D budget build

OK have 2 options, after responses on another post and seraching the forums:

Either upgrade current GFX to X1950 AGP approx. 100 and I know it's basically dead money, but my PC does everything I want to currently.
Would current 6800GT hold back any performance increase. I play online games mostly so tend to use 1024x768 res only to keep the speed up - not bother about playing at silly res.

Or budget C2D build PCIE, so I can upgrade CPU in future when funds allow:
Mobo - seems P35 chipset gets good votes here - any of these recommended over the others ?? all similar price (60-65) - all from SCAN to save postage
Abit IP-35E, iP35 Express, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 667/800, SATA II, ATX
Asus P5K SE, iP35, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 1066/667/800MHz, SATA II, ATX
Gigabyte GA-P35-S3L, iP35 Express, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 1066/667/800 MHz, SATA II, ATX

RAM (45)
2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-12

CPU (32)
Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2140, S775, 1.6 GHz, 800MHz FSB, Allendale Core, 2x 512KB Cache, OEM (32 pre-order)

Cooler (15)
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro - P4 up to 4.4GHz - S775 Dual Core / Core2Duo Ready

GFX
256MB Power Color Radeon X1950 Pro AC2 PCI-E (x16) Mem1300MHz GDDR3 GPU 600MHz 36Pipes CrossFire (78 & DX9)
512MB Asus 8800GT PCI-E 2.0 (x16), 1800 MHz, GDDR3, GPU 600 MHz, 2 x Dual Link DVI-I, Fan (171 & DX9)
or maybe an ebay 7900, X850 or something for the time being .....

Any other ideas ???

My advice is to avoid just upgrading the graphics card: you'll regret it in a few months time when you're in the same situation.

If you can save up a little more, you could get the C2D e4300 for about £20 more than the old Pentium D you've selected. That's not much, when you consider the e4300 is supposed to overclock easily and well, which would mean a better price/performance ratio in the end.

The pci-e x1950pro looks like a good budget-conscious card, considering dx10 has yet to really take off.

Check out the bargain forum, a 4300 can be delivered for £47 OEM. Should give you a nice increase in performance for not alot of cash. I also got a board from overclockers b-grade section on the cheap, its always a risk but if it comes off you can save a fortune.

Umm that's not a Pentuim D it used to be called the CoreDuo and now is called the Pentium Dual-Core, it's the same thing as the core2duo but with half the Cache memory and they do overclock well.
although so do e4300 and they are better to start with . . .

I'd consider swaping the ACf7p for a Akasa AK-965 it's basically the same but a few quid cheaper ;)
The Power Color x1950pro would be a good card for a dx9 other idea would be try ebay and see if you can get a 7900GT or x1950pro cheap on the grounds that you may have to replace it in 2 years (I personally think dx9 should still be going that long)

One other thing I must point out on the p35 motherboards, only 1 IDE slot, so if you're useing more than 2 hard & dvd drives atm you'll have to drop some.
A sata dvdr/w is only £18 ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pob255

Umm that's not a Pentuim D it used to be called the CoreDuo and now is called the Pentium Dual-Core, it's the same thing as the core2duo but with half the Cache memory and they do overclock well.
although so do e4300 and they are better to start with . . .

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Oops!:confused:

thanks all.

PCIE sounds the way to go then ........

and P35 mobo seems the way to go ???????

i've just built a similar system (2160, 2gb xms 6400, abit ip35) and aside from a dual boot issue i have no complaints. it clocks to 2.7 without breaking sweat and i just need a better GPU now (currently on an x800 GT all in wonder)

might not be the best system in the world, but its more than enough for me