Small upgrade

[Flibb]

I have around £200 to do an upgrade, currently running
Opeteron 146 at 2400MHz
2 x 1 GB Geil DDR (cant remember the clock on that)
Geforce 7600GT
500Gb Samsung Spinpoint HD

Trying to decide whether to find a new dual core CPU, and spend the rest on a graphics card, or spend it all on the graphics. Main use of the rig is gaming, want a bit more oomph for COD4. I dont want to spend huge amounts on the CPU as I will probably do a new build in 6-8 months

Cheers

[Hunain]

which motherboard are you using? and PSU? and what resolutions do you game on?

[Flibb]

450W CWT, dont see them any more but were a good brand when I got it
MOBO MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum

[Hunain]

For a cheap CPU i would recommend:
AMD AM2 Athlon 64 4400, it is a dual core, performs fair enough for the cheap price, ought to give you fair gaming performance for a cheap CPU, costs around £55 as well. Sorry for the earlier mistake.
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

As for the GPU, if you game on low resolutions, you would do fine with a 256 MB 8800GT,
256MB XFX 8800GT at around £117

But I would recommend you to check up on the ATI radeon 3870,
512MB SapphireHD 3870, costs around £146

Both these upgrades will stay in your bugdet and give you enough juice for the extra oomph for COD4 and more! You can find all these on Scan

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

*DO MAKE SURE THE CPU IS COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR BOARD, I THINK IT IS, BUT MAKE SURE PLEASE*

[Hunain]

oh, sorry, ur mobo is AMD socket, I was too excited to recommend the cheap dual core, forgot, hmm, let me check a CPU.

[Hunain]

Edited the original post, give it a look.

[Flibb]

cheers for the info will have a look. I am running a 22" CRT so its quiet flexible on res. Am currently running XP 32 bit, worth running 64?

[teachmech]

As your running an opteron you need a socket 939 cpu not the AM2 linked so now your choice is much more limited to

a) 3800 x2 at £38.02

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or

b) a dual core opteron (none in stock at the moment)

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

Hope this helps

[Hunain]

na an, dont use 64 unless you plan to use more than 2GB ram, 32 is fine. The cheap CPU is going to work fair, but I would suggest you look into the GPU, the 512MB 8800GT is a bit expensive, but the 512MB 3870 has positive reviews and the minor performance loss is made up by the low price, it will do you good. Do look around for better deals, maybe you can save a bit more. Do ask if you have more questions Anytime.

PS: Thanks for correcting me teachmech, I was doubtfull about the AM2 being supported with that board, thats why I asked Flibb to check.
As for you Flibb, yep, you are pretty much limited to the 3800 x2, its even cheaper, all the better? the lesser the options the easier the choice

[LegacyOne]

Spend all on the 8800GT 512MB as its pointless upgrading any thing else, then upgrade your PSU (which might be needed now) motherboard, CPU and RAM that way you have a good graphics card when the time comes....

[iranu]

I upgraded to a 8800GTS 512Mb (from X1800XT) but even still our systems are remarkably similar. See system. My opty 146 is at 3Ghz so I'm surprised that yours is running at 2.4Ghz. My bro has a 146 @ 2.6ghz on stock cooler with asus A8R-MVP so I'm sure there are Mhz untapped in yours.

I would have thought you could overclock the cpu a bit more. If you are on a budget then there are two ways I see possible for a best bang for buck upgrade,

a) Upgrade gfx card to say 8800GT 512mb or 3870 512mb now. Overclock your cpu a bit more. Then wait for new Intel E8*** to come out (20th Jan -mid Feb) and once cash becomes available look at the market for cheap processors whether that be second hand, retail newish E6750 or retail brand new E8200+ and overclock paring them with the 775 motherboard of your choice. (intel are best bang for buck atm and I can't see it changing unless you want to go for a cheap as possible solution which would be AM2).

Bare in mind that the latter half of 2008 will see a new socket from Intel; or

b) Upgrade mobo/cpu/ram now to a bang for buck (£60/£50/£40 2Gb DDR2 - ball park figures) but highly overclockable intel C2D and keep the 7600GT for a bit longer.

I am happily gaming and getting good fps i.e. satisfactory playable fps in Bioshock 45FPS minimum with average around 55 (using fraps). COD4 and UT3 are running nicely at 1680x1050 (20.1") too - I've not ran fraps with these yet.

Imho chucking a dual core X2 S939 into the current rig is misspent cash. I think it would be better to upgrade the graphics card first because this will give you a much better improvement in gaming straight away, which I think is what you are after. A dual core X2 S939 cpu (or C2D/DDR2) with a 7600GT won't make as much difference in modern games.

So it will depend on how much cash you have or want to spend over the next 6 months.

In a nutshell I'd try and get a better OC from your current cpu, buy a 8800gt/3870 (both 512mb) now (these can be had for £140 ish) and then save cash for the mobo/cpu/ram upgrade later.

What specs does your 450W CWT PSU have on the 12V rail?

[staffsMike]

Here's an alternative.

Hows aboot,

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK - Currently £38 on today only
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC) - £29exDEL
OcUK ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail - £93
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK - £45

Thats Around £205. Add £15 for an in stock HD3850 and delivery.. £220ish for a total upgrade. You will get good money here selling the DDR ram. Then rest will probably sell for a fair bit to.
The CPU will overclock to 2.6/2.8Ghz pretty easily I think.

If you are going to do a new build soon then maybe just get a new 8800GTS which will last a good while yet but will blow the whole budget.

The HD3780 is good but the HD3850 overclocks nicely and nips at it heels so is better for the money I think.

[Flibb]

CHeers all, have a new idea.
Upgrade my PSU, try and OC the Opteron 146 a bit, spend the rest on a graphics card

[Thorsson]

You may get away with your existing PSU for now, and what you don't want to do is buy cheap and then have to upgrade again when you get a new mobo/CPU/RAM combination. I think the advice just to upgrade the GFX is good. Upgrade the PSU when you upgrade the mobo.

[iranu]

Here's an alternative.

Hows aboot,

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK - Currently £38 on today only
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC) - £29exDEL
OcUK ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail - £93
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK - £45

Thats Around £205. Add £15 for an in stock HD3850 and delivery.. £220ish for a total upgrade. You will get good money here selling the DDR ram. Then rest will probably sell for a fair bit to.
The CPU will overclock to 2.6/2.8Ghz pretty easily I think.

It's amazing what sort of value you can get these days if you are prepared to do some overclocking.

[Hunain]

Indeed..