Hardware Upgrade

[ironman556]

Hi a couple of questions. I built my PC 2 1/2 years ago. I've been very happy with it, but now the performance is starting to drop in games and I wanted to give it a bit of a boost. I'm a bit out of touch with graphics but have had a look round and as I'm a Radeon fan (had bad experiances with GeForce) and am stuck with AGP. I have decided I want to upgrade my Sapphire 9600 Pro 128MB to a Sapphire X800 XL 256MB AGP which I can get for £210 delivered and according to Tom's hardware performs 2 - 5 times better than my current card (depending on settings/spec).

Now I know that a new graphics card is going to do wonders for gaming, but it can't provide miracles without having the system behind it, so I'm thinking of upgrading my CPU as well. So here's my spec.

Asus A7N8X Deluxe (the revision with a bunch of issues corrected and the dodgy gigabit LAN)

2 x Crucial 512 MB DDR400 RAM running in Dual DDR mode

AMD Athlon XP2800 Barton with Zalman 5100Cu CPU cooler and 80mm fan Zalman 5100Cu

Antec TrueBlue 480W PSU (so power shouldn't be an issue)

My real question is how much will I gain by upgrading the CPU and what can I upgrade it to?

[-pops-]

Welcome to NP.

If the performance is dropping away from what it used to be, it indicates that there is something wrong with the computer setup. This being the case, it's a bit of a waste of your time and money putting any super efficient components in there in order to tart it up.

Deal with the fundamentals first. Get all the rubbish and crap cleaned out of the system - especially all those old programs that you never use. Perhaps do a new install of your operating system so you can start afresh.

You might not like this next bit but, here goes. Adding bits to improve an existing system seldom works. As soon as you have added one thing, the weaknesses of another show themselves. You then replace that and something else isn't good enough and so on until you reach the stage where you've spent more money than you would have buying a new machine. After all this, you still don't have anything, like either what you expect or, that you could buy new for less money than you have spent already.

So, think very carefully before laying out the cash and think seriously about cleaning up your machine at present.

[ironman556]

Sorry I worded my posting badly. My PC is always kept clean and regularly checked for ad/spyware and viruses, and general junk that needs removing, but I realise you've made a valid point (and it probably is time for a reformat).

What I meant was I'm after a graphics card with a bit more power as my current card's not up to playing newer games at high settings anymore. I think my spec is still pretty good compared to the new PC's coming out now as I selected the latest stuff when I built (SATA, Dual DDR etc. but went for a lower Radeon 9600 and saved £150 on buying a 9800).

As you've pointed out other factors will limit performance which is why I asked about what CPU's are compatible before rushing into a new graphics card. The motherboard I have ASUS A7N8X Deluxe will take a 400fsb CPU according to the website spec, and the only one I can find is the Athlon XP 3200 for £80. As I've lost track of CPU's I was wondering if AthlonXP's are my only option, if it's worth going from 2800XP - 3200XP, and if there's any better AthlonXP (or other) out there at a decent price which would be worth the upgrade.

Thanks, Ben.

[-pops-]

I'm still of the opinion that tarting up an old machine will never achieve as good a result as starting afresh - and may well lead you into lashing out a lot of money for not much return.

Regarding an upgrade from a 2800 to a 3200 - even if those numbers meant something real - it's only an increase of 400 - hardly anything noticeable in the high speeds now. Even if you did upgrade the CPU, you are restricted as to what the board will accept and, considering its age, I don't think that it will take anything much more speedy than what you have mentioned.

Similarly with a graphics cards. Modern games are intended for modern cards (or the other way round). Again, I doubt if you can very successfully make a worthwhile upgrade to the graphics for that M/B.

Don't just take my word for it - others here may have different views :)

[ironman556]

After a while browsing through CPU's I've strted to get a grip on them again. I've looked at benchmarks etc. and the difference between a 2800XP and a 3200XP isn't worth the bother of fitting a new CPU.

Still not completely convinced either way about a new GFX card, although have seen a couple of threads on similar spec cards in lower spec systems, which fully support upgrading... I guess in the end I've got to either risk it, or just stick with what I have.

[-pops-]

I'm not suggesting that you can't upgrade, just that the results of an upgrade will most likely be disappointing for the amount of money laid out so then the temptation is to upgrade some other part to compensate and so on.

[ironman556]

I understand what you're saying, for me to make a decent upgrade to the CPU I'd have to get a new Mobo & CPU cooler too (to limit noise)... and that's half of a new PC.

Thanks for the replys anyway... has made me think more about it... will let you know what I do eventually and how well it turns out.

[ironman556]

Finally decided to go for the Sapphire Radeon X800 XL, delivered from Overclockers.co.uk next day as promised, old card out, new card in, and switched no problem. The only catch was GTA SA which required a driver update from version 5.8 to 5.9. Now I can play all my games at max res and max settings. :-D

Thanks everyone!

[-pops-]

Stick around :) :)