One last video card upgrade....or a redux!? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Silverbrain · 11-02-2008, 09:52 AM

I am at a crossroads guys/gals. 4 Year old system, started with a cheapie FX5200 lol, to an X850 and 1.5ish years ago in a discussion here Lasereth pointed me towards an X1950 which I got cheap ($60 after selling other card and rebates etc) and this rig has held me happy ever since. Bought Fallout 3 which runs suprisingly well at 1280x1024, medium quality, and then I bought Red Alert 3 and chop chop chop 15 FPS we go, until I dumb down the quality to make it look like red alert 2 ha! It appears that the new lines from nVidia and AMD aren't going to make the jump to AGP, so the best I can expect is to jump into a comfortable X3850, which is 2 generations newer for a sliver over $100.

Is it fruitless to spend the $100 to hold me over for another year and a half (crosses fingers) or is it time to bite it and replace M/B, RAM, CPU, Video. Any and all input is appreciated

Current rig in more details below. Thanks all!

MSI Neo 2 AMD AGP
AMD 64 3500+ Socket 939
2GB Corsair 2-2-2-5 DDR,
ATI X1950 overclocked as far as she goes.
Raptor 70GB Main drive,
450W Thermotake PSU
Sound Blaster Live PCI

Vigilante · 11-02-2008, 09:28 PM

I think it's time to replace, personally. You'll find the newer CPUs from both major manufacturers to be very fast, and the PCI-E options will open up of course. I went from a single core 939 to a quad core intel and HOLY SHITBALLS it's fast! Then I overclocked the piss out of it and said HOLY SHITBALLS once again. I have yet to tax the CPU, even if I run dual SMP instances of folding@home and play call of duty at the same time, along with trillian, MBM5 etc.

The other thing to think about is the MSI board will kill its capacitors sooner or later, if it hasn't already begun to show. My neo2 platinum, strangely, is still running fine as a media box, but my neo4-F killed its caps and I replaced them. So it's still running fine, but not without slightly delicate surgery. ALL my previous MSI boards before 939 died and I tossed them, so mull that around in your head a bit as well.

Oh and don't forget to add PSU to the list of items you need to upgrade

Silverbrain · 11-03-2008, 06:43 PM

luciferase75, it's funny you mention your issues with your MSI boards, I am currently on my 3rd Neo 2 board, last two sent back under warranty although I didn't see any cap's as the issue, just random lockups. I didn't realize that the iCore 7's NDA was going to be lifted today, and the reviews on that are smoking, so I am curious when that will be available to the general public as that looks like the platform to migrate to. If it's going to be a while, maybe Ill pop for a new AGP video card in the interim and hang tight for the iCore 7 to develop and move over to that system!

At this rate to me (frugal bastid) $130 versus $600 +....hard pill to swallow, which is probably the reason I keep upgrading the video card lol..... once I realize that quality is awesome, be an easier pill to swallow...and Larabee *ahem* iCore 7 looks like it's in my future, thanks luciferase75.... unless you think the iCore 7 is fruitless....ha!

Lasereth · 11-04-2008, 05:14 AM

Your CPU will bottleneck a lot of what you're playing. It may even be bottlenecking what you're playing now. I would spend $400ish and upgrade the entire system.

Silverbrain · 11-04-2008, 05:47 PM

Thanks for the input guys, looks like Santa is going to build me a new system! Lots of good info on the iCore 7, almost has me hesitating for it. Any recommendations on a solid motherboard, I haven't read too many reviews lately and a newegg scan shows most boards have the same gear on it.

11-02-2008, 09:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Silverbrain Addict Location: Nor Cal	One last video card upgrade....or a redux!? I am at a crossroads guys/gals. 4 Year old system, started with a cheapie FX5200 lol, to an X850 and 1.5ish years ago in a discussion here Lasereth pointed me towards an X1950 which I got cheap ($60 after selling other card and rebates etc) and this rig has held me happy ever since. Bought Fallout 3 which runs suprisingly well at 1280x1024, medium quality, and then I bought Red Alert 3 and chop chop chop 15 FPS we go, until I dumb down the quality to make it look like red alert 2 ha! It appears that the new lines from nVidia and AMD aren't going to make the jump to AGP, so the best I can expect is to jump into a comfortable X3850, which is 2 generations newer for a sliver over $100. Is it fruitless to spend the $100 to hold me over for another year and a half (crosses fingers) or is it time to bite it and replace M/B, RAM, CPU, Video. Any and all input is appreciated Current rig in more details below. Thanks all! MSI Neo 2 AMD AGP AMD 64 3500+ Socket 939 2GB Corsair 2-2-2-5 DDR, ATI X1950 overclocked as far as she goes. Raptor 70GB Main drive, 450W Thermotake PSU Sound Blaster Live PCI __________________ Over Thinking, Over Analyzing Seperates the Body from the Mind - MJK

11-02-2008, 09:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Vigilante Broken Arrow Location: US	I think it's time to replace, personally. You'll find the newer CPUs from both major manufacturers to be very fast, and the PCI-E options will open up of course. I went from a single core 939 to a quad core intel and HOLY SHITBALLS it's fast! Then I overclocked the piss out of it and said HOLY SHITBALLS once again. I have yet to tax the CPU, even if I run dual SMP instances of folding@home and play call of duty at the same time, along with trillian, MBM5 etc. The other thing to think about is the MSI board will kill its capacitors sooner or later, if it hasn't already begun to show. My neo2 platinum, strangely, is still running fine as a media box, but my neo4-F killed its caps and I replaced them. So it's still running fine, but not without slightly delicate surgery. ALL my previous MSI boards before 939 died and I tossed them, so mull that around in your head a bit as well. Oh and don't forget to add PSU to the list of items you need to upgrade __________________ We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. -Winston Churchill

11-03-2008, 06:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Silverbrain Addict Location: Nor Cal	luciferase75, it's funny you mention your issues with your MSI boards, I am currently on my 3rd Neo 2 board, last two sent back under warranty although I didn't see any cap's as the issue, just random lockups. I didn't realize that the iCore 7's NDA was going to be lifted today, and the reviews on that are smoking, so I am curious when that will be available to the general public as that looks like the platform to migrate to. If it's going to be a while, maybe Ill pop for a new AGP video card in the interim and hang tight for the iCore 7 to develop and move over to that system! At this rate to me (frugal bastid) $130 versus $600 +....hard pill to swallow, which is probably the reason I keep upgrading the video card lol..... once I realize that quality is awesome, be an easier pill to swallow...and Larabee ahem iCore 7 looks like it's in my future, thanks luciferase75.... unless you think the iCore 7 is fruitless....ha! __________________ Over Thinking, Over Analyzing Seperates the Body from the Mind - MJK

11-04-2008, 05:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Silverbrain Addict Location: Nor Cal	Thanks for the input guys, looks like Santa is going to build me a new system! Lots of good info on the iCore 7, almost has me hesitating for it. Any recommendations on a solid motherboard, I haven't read too many reviews lately and a newegg scan shows most boards have the same gear on it. __________________ Over Thinking, Over Analyzing Seperates the Body from the Mind - MJK

11-04-2008, 05:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	Your CPU will bottleneck a lot of what you're playing. It may even be bottlenecking what you're playing now. I would spend $400ish and upgrade the entire system.