New CPU+MOBO _OR_ a Radeon9700

[bretty]

I have a small dilema. I am confused about my next upgrade.
I have the option to either buy a Pentium4 2.4ghz, and a new Motherboard, or I can get a Radeon 9700PRO.

I was thinking about getting the Radeon, and then when the 2600+ comes out couple the video card with that??
You can see my system specs in the sig.....thanks

 

[brantkim]

Considering your specs that's a pretty tough question. If i had to upgrade now, then i would upgrade the CPU and mobo. But if I were you I would wait and upgrade to the 2600+ and the 9700 together when the prices are a bit lower. Your graphics card is good enough to handle almost everything out right now so the radeon isn't really needed yet.

 

[SNGX1275]

What type of games are you playing? Are they too intense for your GF3? Processor/Mobo might be my decision in this case because you are going to almost double the clock speed of your current processor, many people wait to upgrade until they can at least double their current clock speed. That Radeon is so new, that you can get your mobo/processor now and wait until that radeon drops in price while allowing you to save up again.

 

[bretty]

Well I play 1st person shooters. Thats about it. The main concern is Unreal2003. I thought I would get decent performance with my current system, although I get really bad frame rates when I have bots in the game.

This happens at all resolution, which tells me that the video card is not to blame.
Would the new CPU and MOBO increase the performance of the Geforce 3?

 

[Th3M1ghtyD8]

Yes, a new CPU will probably increase the speed of your GF3, as they can be limited by CPU very easily. Also, because UT2K3s Bot code is highly reliant on CPU time, a faster processor will be better suited to cope with it.

 

[Julio Franco]

If I were you, I'd first upgrade the mobo/cpu, coupled with your Ti200 you should be getting some decent framerates even with the latest games released such as UT2003 (videocard overclocking would help then - with the new CPU).

Wait a couple of months and then buy a new videocard when you have some extra money, videocard prices are more likely to drop this quarter than CPUs do.

 

[Vehementi]

The GF3 is still a pretty solid video card, considering. I'd stick with that, for now.

Going from 1.33 to 2.4GHz is kind of a good upgrade, but I can think of better. I usually try to double clock speeds in upgrades.

 

[Nick]

gf3 ti 200 is a great card, i would recommend saving that cash, and remember, the human eye can't see more than 67 fps!

 

[bretty]

Thanks to all that replied. It seems the CPU and MOBO upgrade is going to be more eventfull.

I will do that. Ill buy the 2.4ghz and the SiS648 chipset. I think the Nvidia NV30 will drop the price of the R300, and in my opinion the R300 will still be king of the hill.

Thanks again to all you guys.

 

[deskjet390]

yeah i would hold off on the video card upgrade for a while and go with the mother board

besides..........ut2k3 is having a ton of problems with the 9700 right now, Not saying its not fixable but the retail version that is out now requires you to alter the .INI files a little bit

a fix will be out soon i suppose

 

[bretty]

Well I have the 2.4ghz CPU running now.

Its nice, quite an improvment is SOME games. Eg....SOF2, unreal2003 and MOHAA.

Thanks for all the replies......Im getting the Radeon next month

 

[Vehementi]

Originally posted by bretty
Well I have the 2.4ghz CPU running now.

Its nice, quite an improvment is SOME games. Eg....SOF2, unreal2003 and MOHAA.

Thanks for all the replies......Im getting the Radeon next month

Nice dude. I love upgrades...teehee...

Do you use 3DMark? You can really see the difference between the scores when you upgrade.

 

[bretty]

3d Mark scored aother 1000 odd marks.

 

[Vehementi]

I presume this is the old score.

Run it again!

Then run it once more when you get the 9700. I bet your score will go from 1k to 15k

 

[bretty]

Nonono

I ment I got another 1000 marks. I used to get 6500 or somting like that, now I get 7500...around abouts.

hahahah 1000 3dmarks?

 

[videobruce]

Stop supporting the Wintel monopoly!

Buy AMD!

 

[bretty]

I'll support whoever gives me the best performance hippy

 

[LNCPapa]

What's with all these posts I see about not being able to see the difference between xx frame rate and xxx frame rate? Have you guys never felt the difference in gameplay? I can feel the difference on Quake 3 from 60 fps and 120 fps. It makes a big difference on how I play - the feel is just better at those very high frame rates. Plus... if you can hit those really high frame rates then it will be less likely that your dips under heavy action will be below 60 fps. That's when it counts most!

LNCPapa

 

[Rick]

I agree with you that a good SUSTAINED frame rate is the way to go, but the difference between 60 and 120 fps just isn't there.

 

[bretty]

Im with LNCPapa.

You might not be able to see the difference, but you can surely feel it.

The mouse is responsive, your eyes can detect things heaps quicker. The entier gaming community upgrades for that statisic.