Time to Upgrade?

Hydr0 · 10-07-2005, 01:34 AM

Thought I would make this post and get some advice on whether to stick with my current system and upgrade the video card or should I build a new system. My current system has the following specs...

Dell Dimension 4600

Processor- Intel Pentium 4 2.8ghz with 800mhz FSB
Ram- 1 GB of PC2700 DDR
Main HD- Maxtor 6Y200P0 200gb 7200 RPM with 8mb Cache
Secondary HD- Maxtor 40gb 7200 RPM
Video Card- ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb
Sound Card- Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2
Drives- Standard CD-Rom and a Sony CDRW

So my question to you guys is do I build a new system or upgrade what I have now? Currently this system runs great but the newest games like Half-Life 2, CS:S, DOD:S, and Battlefield 2 dont run as good as I would like them to. Would it be safe to say I need to atleast upgrade my video card? I think for the moment I would like to stay with what I have and get a new system later on down the line.

What do you reccomend? If I should upgrade what I have, list some parts that would make this thing run better in the games listed.

Thanks!

mrhahn · 10-07-2005, 06:08 AM

To be honest, I think you would get a nice performance boost with just a new GPU. I upgraded from a (busted) 9800pro to a 6600GT and it was well worth the £100 (about $175). I now play with medium-high settings (AMD Athlon XP 3000, 1GB PC3200) and it could be slightly higher, but I prefer the short loading times.

grim reaper · 10-07-2005, 07:19 AM

Leave it for now. Unless its several effecting your enjoyment any upgrade would be kinda pointless due to the rest of your components.

A full new computer is the way to go as dells are notoriously hard to upgrade.

Fishfinger · 10-07-2005, 08:55 AM

6800GT here for £200 if anyone wants one

http://www.techstore.co.uk/browse.ph...odLineID=42345

Seems like a good deal to me

Dick_Justice · 10-07-2005, 07:20 PM

I´m in a similar position as you are right now, but my system is slightly weaker.

If I were you I´d stick with your system for now. It should still serve you alright for a while and the Hardware components themselves seem up to date.

However, I´m seriously considering to exchange my Radeon 9600 XT...

kook · 10-07-2005, 07:30 PM

If you want to sell your 9800, let me know.

But those parts totally smoke anything in my computers.

Maybe its I that is due for an upgrade also.

Hydr0 · 10-08-2005, 05:24 PM

Well I've decided to go ahead and get a new video card for this system. Im going with an eVGA GeForce 6800GT 256mb AGP with a Zalman Copper 2 Ball Bearing cooling system. Found an awesome deal for this setup on hardocp.com for $225. Its used, never OC'd and the guys got excellent feedback so I figured why not. So needless to say theres a 9800 Pro that im going to need to get rid of soon...

10-07-2005, 01:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Hydr0 Private 1st Class Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SoCal Posts: 109	Time to Upgrade? Thought I would make this post and get some advice on whether to stick with my current system and upgrade the video card or should I build a new system. My current system has the following specs... Dell Dimension 4600 Processor- Intel Pentium 4 2.8ghz with 800mhz FSB Ram- 1 GB of PC2700 DDR Main HD- Maxtor 6Y200P0 200gb 7200 RPM with 8mb Cache Secondary HD- Maxtor 40gb 7200 RPM Video Card- ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb Sound Card- Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Drives- Standard CD-Rom and a Sony CDRW So my question to you guys is do I build a new system or upgrade what I have now? Currently this system runs great but the newest games like Half-Life 2, CS:S, DOD:S, and Battlefield 2 dont run as good as I would like them to. Would it be safe to say I need to atleast upgrade my video card? I think for the moment I would like to stay with what I have and get a new system later on down the line. What do you reccomend? If I should upgrade what I have, list some parts that would make this thing run better in the games listed. Thanks!

10-07-2005, 06:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
mrhahn General Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,925	To be honest, I think you would get a nice performance boost with just a new GPU. I upgraded from a (busted) 9800pro to a 6600GT and it was well worth the £100 (about $175). I now play with medium-high settings (AMD Athlon XP 3000, 1GB PC3200) and it could be slightly higher, but I prefer the short loading times. __________________ Donate to help keep BFN running.

10-07-2005, 08:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
Fishfinger Major Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Shire of Wilts Posts: 3,508	6800GT here for £200 if anyone wants one http://www.techstore.co.uk/browse.ph...odLineID=42345 Seems like a good deal to me __________________ Your message here My Stats

10-07-2005, 07:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dick_Justice Major Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Marl, Germany Posts: 3,350	I´m in a similar position as you are right now, but my system is slightly weaker. If I were you I´d stick with your system for now. It should still serve you alright for a while and the Hardware components themselves seem up to date. However, I´m seriously considering to exchange my Radeon 9600 XT... __________________ Plays BF 2 in Europe under the name of \"Erich_Felsner\"

10-07-2005, 07:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,255	Leave it for now. Unless its several effecting your enjoyment any upgrade would be kinda pointless due to the rest of your components. A full new computer is the way to go as dells are notoriously hard to upgrade.

10-08-2005, 05:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Hydr0 Private 1st Class Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SoCal Posts: 109	Well I've decided to go ahead and get a new video card for this system. Im going with an eVGA GeForce 6800GT 256mb AGP with a Zalman Copper 2 Ball Bearing cooling system. Found an awesome deal for this setup on hardocp.com for $225. Its used, never OC'd and the guys got excellent feedback so I figured why not. So needless to say theres a 9800 Pro that im going to need to get rid of soon...