Help... Need Advice

[DXeXodus]

Is this a good deal? A computer company here in CT has a special on at the moment. It is as follows:

AMD dual Core 4800+
4GB DDR2 800 RAM
500GB SATA2 HDD
nVidia GeForce 8600GT 512MB
Samsung 22" wide LCD
Thermaltake Mambo case
Thermaltake 650Watt PSU
Logitech mouse and keyboard
Creative 4.1 Surround sound system

R8250.00 incl Vat.

My current PC is:

AMD single core 64bit 3000+
3Gb DDR 400 RAM
80GB IDE HDD
320GB SATA2 HDD
XFX nVidia Geforce 7900GT 256MB
19" Proline flat CRT
Creative 5.1 Surround sound system

I want an upgrade, but I'm strapped for cash. As my fellow nagling forumites, what would u suggest? Should I sell my system and buy the one on special? or just wait and upgrade bits of what I got? (I know the graphics card kinda sucks... but is it better than what I currently have?)

Help me Noleen! desperate and alone
Signed: ANONYMOUS

[wir]

No tech guru, but that doesn't look too great it my eyes. As GLDM will surely tell you, the 8600GT is a big no-no. A higher up AMD dualcore might be better too, along the lines of the 5000 to 6000.

[Chevron]

@DXeXodus. Your pc is more than fine. Just get a dual core processor.

That's honestly all you need.

[DXeXodus]

No tech guru, but that doesn't look too great it my eyes. As GLDM will surely tell you, the 8600GT is a big no-no. A higher up AMD dualcore might be better too, along the lines of the 5000 to 6000.

I realise that.. But the prices jump quite alot after that for both the G/cards and processors

[Chevron]

@DXeXodus Just get a 5600+ it's Price: R 1,557
http://www.take2.co.za/electronics-a...2-2315496.html

[DXeXodus]

@DXeXodus. Your pc is more than fine. Just get a dual core processor.

That's honestly all you need.

My PC is really struggling with assassins creed. Would a DC processor really solve this even if I only have a 7900GT?

[wir]

@DXeXodus Just get a 5600+ it's Price: R 1,557
http://www.take2.co.za/electronics-a...2-2315496.html

Or the 6000+ for R1700.
http://www.matrixonlineshop.co.za/pr...ebeea26de67819

If affordable, get the 8800GT too, goes for about R2200.
http://www.prophecy.co.za/inno3d-880...d-p-23492.html

With that, you'll have a system similar to mine, and be able to run Crysis at high. Assassin's Creed shouldn't have any problems.

Remember, the 7900GT isn't that bad yet. I had it until March. Upgrading my CPU at that time to a 6000+ gave a pretty big boost. 3dmark06; from about 2000, to 5000-6000 if I remember correctly.

[Chevron]

My PC is really struggling with assassins creed. Would a DC processor really solve this even if I only have a 7900GT?

In one word.

YES.

[wir]

In one word.

YES.

He's right.

That 3000+ is really holding you back, believe me. I had the 3500+ with the 7900GT.

[DXeXodus]

Oh Ok, I didnt realise that a DC processor would make such a difference. So basically my system is being held back by having a single core processor. Thanks Chevron

Anyone else wanna confirm this? Or any other ideas?

EDIT: @wir: cool. Thanks man

[MrDeVil_909]

In one word.

YES.

QFT

The 7900 is still a good card, the only thing the 8600 brings to the table is (poor) DX 10 support and slower speeds.

[CrashHelmut]

Also, you would probably see very little increase if you go from a Nvidia 7900GT to a 8600GT.

If you want to upgrade to a good mid-range graphics card, I can recommend the 9600GT which offers great performance for the price. (Also consider the ATI 3850 if your budget is tight).

[Darkmag]

Oh Ok, I didnt realise that a DC processor would make such a difference. So basically my system is being held back by having a single core processor. Thanks Chevron

Anyone else wanna confirm this? Or any other ideas?

EDIT: @wir: cool. Thanks man

Your GFX cards is bottlenecked by your CPU, and if you upgrade you GFX then you stil sit with a bottleneck. So get rid of the bottleneck. a 6000+ will work http://www.prophecy.co.za/-c-19_27_253_256.html

and a article of CPUvs GPU
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...de,1928-3.html

ALSO you might want to look at this the 3000+ vs the 6000+

[DXeXodus]

Thanks for the advice.

I have read that article from TomsHardware and I found it interesting. The only problem with it is that it doesn't speak about single core processors. So the 11% increase that they show for the 7series nVidia card will be more in my case as I will be going from single core to dual core.

[Darkmag]

Thanks for the advice.

I have read that article from TomsHardware and I found it interesting. The only problem with it is that it doesn't speak about single core processors. So the 11% increase that they show for the 7series nVidia card will be more in my case as I will be going from single core to dual core.

Well single core vs dual core vs quad core in games don`t yield huge results. But your system is heavily bottlenecked by your CPU

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7...rhammeroa2.jpg
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7968/supremeof7.jpg
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/450/seriouswe8.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4041/quakeivlc3.jpg
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7144/preyny1.jpg

So as you can see in your system your CPU is holding you back. You can also see the diffrence between dual core and quad core.

[DXeXodus]

Wow... that is quite a difference.
OK. I only really have the cash for the AMDX2 5200+. Would that still do the job of stopping the bottleneck problem?

[Chevron]

Wow... that is quite a difference.
OK. I only really have the cash for the AMDX2 5200+. Would that still do the job of stopping the bottleneck problem?

Yes. Anything above a 4600+ should be fine.

[Frozenfireside]

I cannot really say anything else then what has been said.
Your current setup isn't bad you just need to poke it in the right areas.
You will save a lot of money by just buying a new CPU and GPU over a complete PC.
I say 8800GT as well but get 1 more gig of RAM so your system runs in full dual channel mode.

[DXeXodus]

Cool! i think I will toddle off and buy a 4800+ then or maybe a 5200+. Thanks for the help guys. I'll let you know how it works out :)

[DXeXodus]

get 1 more gig of RAM so your system runs in full dual channel mode.

It is in full dual channel mode I think:

Slot 1: 1GB DDR 400
Slot 2: 1GB DDR 400
Slot 3: 512MB DDR 400
Slot 4: 512MB DDR 400

I am suddenly filled with the excitement at the thought that I might be able to run AC at more than 10fps