New computer or should I wait?

[Delirium]

I was thinking about getting a new computer early next year, my machine is starting to have problems keeping up. I have;

Athlon dual core 2.4, socket 939 (fastest chip available for my MB, A8N-SLI Deluxe)
2 gigs of ram for a total of 4 simms each 512 meg
7800gtx vid card from BFG
WinXP and Vista on dual boots on different hard drives.
Onboard sound- my X-FI wouldn't run properly with my headphones
------

I was thinking about getting a BFG GeForce 9800 GTX now and maybe getting 3- 1meg ram simms until I can upgrade early next year. Should I wait and not even bother with the vid card or ram until I buy my new machine (Feb/March) or should I go ahead and do this minor upgrade?

Currently, I can run AH at 512 textures with graphics decreased to maintain a 60 frame rate. I would like to run everything at 100% (1024 text and full graphic settings) but I'm not sure I ever could with this system.

Opinions, suggestions are all welcome.

Thanks!

PS- I read the Tom's Hardware thread and it has me thinking.

[humble]

Del U might be CPU limited already, if so the VC (and/or memory) upgrade will net you little gain. I'd guess your memory is pretty slow compared to current specs anyway...if your power supply is decent I'd think about starting with a MB/CPU combo. Thats a possible issue with the VC card upgrade as well...I'd wait till you can go the full route unless you can make it work going MB/CPU 1st....just my two cents.

[Delirium]

I was at work when I typed that, here is my CPU;

AMD Athlon 64 FX60 2.61 Ghz

My MB does support PCI-E16, what I was thinking about doing is getting the video card now and later buying a twin (for SLI) when I do get my new system. I'll throw the old 7800 into the old computer again, I don't forsee my 5 year old daughter needing a fast system to play 'Dr Seuss and His Crazy Adventures'.

I know SLI isn't that advantageous but the 2nd card should be alot cheaper by then.

[humble]

The FX60 clocks out better then I thought. From the few benchmarks I could fnd online its below the 6600 but not by a huge amount...so I appear to be wrong, you are VC limited not CPU.

I'm not sure what VC makes the most sense since there is new stuff in both camps. I bought an 8800GTS just a few months ago. My understanding is that the 8800 and 9800 are basically the same.

with the 260's falling to under $200 (after rebate) I might go that route now...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127361

[BaldEagl]

I'd get a nice video card now, install it then swap it into whatever you build in the future.  That assumes you have an adequete power supply with enough amps on the 12 V rails.

Don't count on that same card being available when you're ready to build.  They tend to get phased in and out pretty quickly.  The 512k 8800 GTS I bought in March is almost totally gone now, replaced by the 9800 so buy with the plan NOT to SLI with whatever you buy.  If you get to later, then that's a bonus.

I'd leave the RAM alone for now.  No windows application can utilize more than 2 Gb anyway.  Unless you can put in DDR2 1066 or faster to match your next motherboard I'd wait.

[eagl]

If it is stable, I'd stick with your current cpu/mobo and just upgrade the video card to the best bang/buck point right *now*.  The nvidia GTX260s can be had for under $200 (after rebates) and with that cpu you could push through most games with great image quality and framerates.  AH ought to just about max out with a GTX 260 plus you could turn on lots of FSAA and make the picture look really nice.  That cpu is just fine IMHO.

This assumes that the GTX 260 is compatible with your mobo...  I would assume it is, but some of the older pci-e boards might not work with the newest cards even though they usually claim backwards compatibility for the vid cards.  Check first before buying.

Your memory is probably ok, however you might get a very slight speedup by going to 2 1-meg sticks so you can switch the memory command rate from 2T to 1T (if it's not already at 1T).  Most of the socket 939 boards can only run at 1T with 2 sticks of ram installed, and memory performance increases up to 10% (translating to only a small speedup in real world applications though).

The only other thing you might need if you go with a GTX 260 is a new PSU, if your current one can't handle the load.

The good deals on the GTX 260s are going to end soon, because nvidia released an update to the GTX 260 that is very slightly faster.  The new 260s are priced at least $50 above the old ones, and when the old ones sell out they are gone gone gone.  The old ones are within a percent or two in speed of the new ones, so the price premium on the new ones is not worth it at all.  Get the cheapest 260 you can find and I think you'll be happy with it.

[BaldEagl]

AH ought to just about max out with a GTX 260 plus you could turn on lots of FSAA and make the picture look really nice. 

AH doesn't even max out my 512 8800 GTS @ 8xAA + 2xAF, all game settings maxed w/1024 textures.  9800 is the current version.

[TilDeath]

I was at work when I typed that, here is my CPU;

AMD Athlon 64 FX60 2.61 Ghz

My MB does support PCI-E16, what I was thinking about doing is getting the video card now and later buying a twin (for SLI) when I do get my new system. I'll throw the old 7800 into the old computer again, I don't forsee my 5 year old daughter needing a fast system to play 'Dr Seuss and His Crazy Adventures'.

I know SLI isn't that advantageous but the 2nd card should be alot cheaper by then.

From personal experance always buy cards in pairs of your going to SLI and with the same serial number series if you can, not one today and one 4 months from now.  You can, but I have had problems in the past with this type of combination.  I build 7 to 10 "boutique" machines (in excess of 5k) per month and have learned the hard way.

If your going to do a new box in the future, try and hold off, if you cant and are thinking of a new MB CPU purchase eVGA has a real food deal on their newly released x58 board.  Rebates and all.

[Delirium]

What do you gents think, would it be a good idea to buy a cheap soundcard to save CPU cycles that are being used by my onboard sound card?

I've tried in Fata1ty in the past and it gave so many pops, hisses, cracks I couldn't it anymore.

[gpwurzel]

I would personally - then again, I had an old soundblaster live that wasnt in use, so disabled my onboard sound (via bios), slapped card in, installed drivers - jobs a good un.


Wurzel

[Getback]

What do you gents think, would it be a good idea to buy a cheap soundcard to save CPU cycles that are being used by my onboard sound card?

I've tried in Fata1ty in the past and it gave so many pops, hisses, cracks I couldn't it anymore.

I would. Makes a big improvement. Which card? I don't know. I would definately read up on it.

[Ack-Ack]

What do you gents think, would it be a good idea to buy a cheap soundcard to save CPU cycles that are being used by my onboard sound card?

I've tried in Fata1ty in the past and it gave so many pops, hisses, cracks I couldn't it anymore.

The X-Fi Fata1ty card was nothing more than a marketing POS and what you described was and still is a common problem with that particular card, even the PCI-E version has the same issues.  However, the Xtreme Gamer X-Fi card is good, very good and doesn't seem to have the same issues as the Fata1ty version nor is it loaded down with all that wasteful crap the Fata1ty version has on it.

ack-ack

[morfiend]

The X-Fi Fata1ty card was nothing more than a marketing POS and what you described was and still is a common problem with that particular card, even the PCI-E version has the same issues.  However, the Xtreme Gamer X-Fi card is good, very good and doesn't seem to have the same issues as the Fata1ty version nor is it loaded down with all that wasteful crap the Fata1ty version has on it.

ack-ack

 It sure is,I have a similar system Del,amd4200 cpu,7800gtx 1gig ocz ram and xtreme G Xfi.

 unfortunately socket 939 is a deadend but as others have said,new VC and 2 stiks of 1gig ram is the way to go.Even just the VC which is what I'd do then swap it to a new MB/cpu setup.

[Chalenge]

...

No windows application can utilize more than 2 Gb anyway. ...

Thats not true. Large memory address aware programs are already on the market. The problem is with 32 bit Windows.

You can also force programs into being 'aware' but for AHII it violates the EULA.

[Fulmar]

I cannot give any opinions on the Xtreme Gamer version, but last year I went from a original Audigy card, circa 2003 I believe, to an Fatality.  I saw a nice boost in audio quality in my higher end headphones that made even old MP3 lower bit rate files I had sound much better.  I also noticed a slight boost in FPS in games like COH and BF2, and the newer environmental EAX sounds were a nice addition as well.  I'm not sure what issues (other than maybe ones with Vista) you're describing.  Also, not quite sure what its loaded with crap is.  It may come with more software, but I barely install any of the stuff Creative sends with it anyways.

Now, if I hadn't had $150 is Best Buy gift cards and they had the Xtreme Gamer in stock when I was shopping there, I wouldn't have bought the Fatality.  I agree it was overpriced at the $150, but it was on post-xmas sale at $110 and I said what the heck.  I highly doubt the X-ram does a terrible amount in games that support its features anyways.

Outside of that and an initial IRQ conflict, I have no complaints about the card.