Upgrade Video Card?

[Acebeans]

I was thinking of doing a complete overhaul but I don't think my Financial check will allow it this time so, I would like to have hardware that will be compatible with a new mobo I can next semester. I am set on any specific MB. I want to put RAM and upgrade my Video Card, obviously I would like to to be fully compatible when I do upgrade my mobo next semester.

What would you all suggest I go with, as far as a MOBO and what ram should I go with?

Here is what I currently have:

Asus M2A-VM AMD 690G Chipset MB
SPARKLE NVIDIA 9800GT 512MB PCI-E
1G DDR2 PC6400 MEMORYx2

Matter of fact, here is my entire PC info tho I doubt you'll need it:

OEM AMD X2 5400 AM2 CPU
BLACK SAMSUNG 20X DVDRW
NZXT 600 WATT POWER SUPPLY
320GB SATA II 3GB 16MB 7200RPM HD

I get some slow down when running in 1650x1050 in some games even when running on some of the lower settings. Obviously, I can adjust the graphics and make that better but I want awesome looking graphics. But I want to see if I can get some more out of this machine, I'm getting a new monitor and turning this one into a TV.

I want to fix this one up to try to get more out of it, then I'll finish it up next semester. I know it might not be the best way to do it and it would be great if I could just pulls everything out and put in it my new MB and be ready for future upgrade.

Would appreciate any input.

I would reccomend getting 4gb of ram before you upgrade yoor graphics card, 1gb is week. Also have you oc'd that X2 its a fairly old processor and is a bottleneck.

Edit, just seen 2x1gb. Your proc is going to be the problem

[Acebeans]

So, you are saying I need a new processor? Does this require a new MB or can you switch a processor out(I know that's a dumb Q do you guy's, I know a bit but not a ton)?


Yeah, I have 2 gigs of ram but I think it would do me well to upgrade to 4. Plus that graphics card I have now is really cheap now. I would like to upgrade it to something better.

Maybe see if you can oc it and your 9800 and see if that helps ?

[JrRacinFan]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186149

You would be able to use your existing parts on that board then eventually get into a 720BE + a new video card. HD4870's are starting to come down inside the $120 range.

[The_Real_DeaL31]

shame on u InTeL-iNsIdE overclocking hes video card wont do nothing, even if he oced hes proc it wont matter hes cpu is the bottleneck unless he can oc that cpu to intell speeds lol, ocing hes video card is pointless

[The_Real_DeaL31]

around 15 to 16k in 3dmark 06 is the maxed score u can get out of a 9800gt, after that it doesnt matter how fast of a cpu u have, with hes system setup, stock would be 9 to 10k, if he overclock hes entire system, max he would get would be 11250k if lucky, see the major bottle neck lol

[Acebeans]

Originally Posted by JrRacinFan

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186149

You would be able to use your existing parts on that board then eventually get into a 720BE + a new video card. HD4870's are starting to come down inside the $120 range.

Ok, so say I would be willing to replace my MB and go over budget, then what would you do?

[LittleLizard]

first of all, HOW MUCH IS THE BUDGET?!

[jmcslob]

Upgrade the CPU and the memory, then see where you are at, your video card is fine for now, the 720be is fine but i would go for a quad core, but that's just my opinion the 720 is fine, go for 4 gigs of pc-8500...........Atlon X4's will be out this week wait to see what the Ax4 630 will cost will probably be cheaper than the 720be