Help on keeping a old system going a little longer

[Jag34]

Hello All
I have a system I built back in 2003, well now it is 6 years old and with AH new upgrade, its time for me to build a new system. Only problem is when ever I start to save up some cash, something at home goes bad and there goes my saved up cash. I so I am looking to upgrade this system so it may last longer, or until I can build myself a new system.

Here is what I have now.

1) AMD XP 2800 (462 pin, socket A) OC to a 3200
2) Asus A7N8X Deluxe MB ( with the latest BIO updates)
3) ATI X700SE 256 mb AGP video card (low end card)
4) 2 GB Corsair XMS Pro Series, XTreme memory speed, Twin 2048- 4000 Pro (volts set at 2.8v)
5) Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer
6) 320 GB 7200 RPM Sea Gate HD
7) Antec Titan 650 computer case
8) Windows XP PRO SP-3
9) Antec 750 watt PSU

All the software and hardware have the latest's drivers
I am looking at two video cards, one is a ATI 9800XT 256 mb for $50.00 on Ebay and the other is a VisionTek Radeon HD 2400 Pro OverClocked Video Card - 256MB GDDR2, AGP, Dual DVI, HDTV on Tiger Direct for $50.00 also.

Here are the Spec's.
1st: VisionTek Radeon HD 2400 Pro OverClocked Video Card - 256MB GDDR2, AGP, Dual DVI, HDTV

Lifestyle:   Mainstream
Chipset:   ATI Radeon
GPU Series:   ATI Radeon HD 2000
GPU/VPU:   RADEON HD 2400 Pro
Additional Features:   HDCP Enabled
    Vista Certified
    ATI Avivo HD Technology
Video Memory:   256MB
Memory Type:   DDR2
Memory Interface:   64-bit
Stream Processors:   40
Core Clock:   700 MHz
Memory Clock:   800 MHz
Interface Type:   AGP
Interface Speed:   8X
Connector(s):   HDTV
    DVI (Dual Link)
    DVI (Single Link)
Overclocked:   Yes
APIs:   DirectX 10.1
1080p Support:   Yes
Video Output:   DVI
    S-Video
Low Profile:   No
Cooling Type:   Fan, Heatsink
 
ATI 9800 XT 256 mb

Processor
Graphic Processor     ATI RADEON 9800 XT 
GPU Clock Speed  365 MHz 
RAMDAC Speed  400 MHz 
Key Features
Card Interface     AGP 8x 
Compatibility     PC 
Memory
Installed Memory  256 MB 
Memory Tech     DDR SDRAM 
Memory Data Width     256-bit 
Installed Memory / Technology     256 MB (DDR SDRAM) 
Technical Features
Form Factor  Plug-in card 
Video Compression Standards  MPEG-2 
Max. Screen Resolution     2048 x 1536 
Refresh Rate at Max Res  85 Hz @ 2048 x 1536 
Pipeline Engines  8 Pipeline Engines 
Special Features  MPEG Decoder Card 
Input / Output
Display Interface  VGA - 15 pin D-Sub x 1 • DVI x 1 
Output Interface  S-Video • YPbPr Connection for HDTV 

Ok, here is my question, The VisionTek has higher Core and Memory speeds then the ATI 9800XT. It would seem as if the VisionTek is the way to go. But the VisionTek gets low marks in gaming. Why is this??? We all know how well the ATI 9800 does in gaming.

2nd Question: I just found on Ebay the AMD Athlon XP-M Bartan (462 pin, socket A) laptop cpu's that run's cooler and is unlocked and will OC to a XP 3600 and run cooler then a Athlon XP 3200. I have done some reseach and found this to be true and that this will work on desktop systems. So has anyone tried this? If so, how well did it work?

Guys, thank for any help you can give
Jag 43T
   
 
 
 
 

[Skuzzy]

The VisionTek card only has a 64bit memory interface.  The 9800XT has a 256bit memory interface.

The VistionTek would have to be running the memory clock 4 times faster than the 9800XT just to produce the same memory bandwidth available on the 9800XT.

[Jag34]

Hey Skuzzy, Thanks for the fast answer. I saw that but was not sure on what it meant.

Thanks

[TheZohan]

i was just running the 9800XTwith a 3.0ghz prescott and it really sucked,  id sell you mine for 30.00 + shipping


i have some 939 and AM2 chips around for 20.00 would be much better platform to upgrade too then that SocketA


for 100.00 you can get a Am2+ 7750 dual core + Motherboard + 2 GB DDR .. honestly i wouldnt put 50.00 into a SocketA

[batch]

I wouldnt put 50 cents into an AMD dual core

[TheZohan]

I wouldnt put 50 cents into an AMD dual core

well if you wanna spend 2-3 times on a chip just cause it says intel by all means go for it. AMD phenom based X2 are very good.

[OOZ662]

i was just running the 9800XTwith a 3.0ghz prescott and it really sucked,  id sell you mine for 30.00 + shipping

"Hey, this thing sucks eggs, wanna buy it?"

well if you wanna spend 2-3 times on a chip just cause it says intel by all means go for it. AMD phenom based X2 are very good.

There's always a reason behind something costing less...

[ToeTag]

Here's what I have any suggestions?

300w PSU
2.4 P4
1 gig mem / 512 x 2
sound blaster x-fi extreme
nvidia gforce 7600gs- 512 AGP

My broad band isn't so broad 3.33MB down and .5MB up

After this last patch (4) I went from 50 FR to 9 FR sitting in the tower.  Sliders have been adjusted to middle low in graphics and still crappy FR.

Should I upgrade this computer or build an I7? 
If an upgrade will work what are your recomendations?
Would an I7 be over kill for this game? 

My goal is to have high frame rates with sliders all the way to the left.

Thanks

Dingbat

[Jag34]

i was just running the 9800XTwith a 3.0ghz prescott and it really sucked,  id sell you mine for 30.00 + shipping

Seeing as I can only upgrade at this time, Zohan, What frame rates are you getting? What do you mean it sucks? What is it not doing that you want it to do???
If you want too. I'll take you up on that. Is it  256 mb card?

Jag34T

[Ghastly]

Here's what I have any suggestions?

300w PSU
2.4 P4
1 gig mem / 512 x 2
sound blaster x-fi extreme
nvidia gforce 7600gs- 512 AGP

My broad band isn't so broad 3.33MB down and .5MB up

After this last patch (4) I went from 50 FR to 9 FR sitting in the tower.  Sliders have been adjusted to middle low in graphics and still crappy FR.

Should I upgrade this computer or build an I7? 
If an upgrade will work what are your recomendations?
Would an I7 be over kill for this game? 

My goal is to have high frame rates with sliders all the way to the left.

Thanks

Dingbat

Other can post contrary opinions and probably will, but... replace, not upgrade. You are very limited in terms of AGP for a better video card.
And yes, an I7 is overkill.  Nice, but definitely absolutely not required. Best bang for buck is somewhere around the E8500 (for Intel).  I can't tell you what the best bang for buck AMD is right now.

<S>

[Nemisis]

Would the X4500HD card work? They are pretty cheap and if you have a compatible computer then you might not need to blow 50 bucks.

[Fulmar]

Would the X4500HD card work? They are pretty cheap and if you have a compatible computer then you might not need to blow 50 bucks.

The X4500HD is an integrated graphics chip made by Intel.  It is not a video card.  It comes on a motherboard.

[Nemisis]

Whatever. Well will it work? I saw one while shoping for a computer and wondered if it would play Aces High.

[Ghastly]

?????     ?????

It's just not really a "Whatever" kind of thing. 

But no, an X4500HD IS not going to be of any use to him...   

<S>

[Nemisis]

"chip" and "card" are unimportant as long as they accomplish the same thing. If I had listed a sound card then OK. But chips and cards are of little difference to me as long as I escape the Hell of an AH2less world.