Upgrade question

[Who's the Boss?]

I'm thinking of upgrading my computer so that I can get frame rates higher than 30 on CSS without having all my graphics settings at the lowest. The thing is I don't want to go all out with a dual core processor or anything because I plan to do a big upgrade by the end of this year. I need a new motherboard and processor, the motherboard also has to support AGP. I'm thinking about getting an athlon 3200+ with whatever motherboard I find that can support it.

Basically I want to know if I'll be happy because I already bought my new videocard thinking that I would be getting good frame rates...

CPU:http://search.ncix.com/displayproductdetail.php?sku=14416&vpn=ADA3200BPBOX&manufacture=AMD
motherboard: whatever socket 939 60-70$ POS that supports AGP
Memory: 1280MB RAM
Video Card: 6600GT

Let's say overclocked to 2.6ghz (I'm a pussy) do you think I would be able to play Counter Strike Source on 1024x960 with settings on high no AA/no FF with good frame rates? (60-100)? Any suggestions would be appreciated, I'm sick of having people warping all over the place because I'm getting 9 fps when two people are on my screen firing. (If I ever had three my computer would probably crash) :upset:

[Let's Chop Cats!]

Even without overclocking an AMD64 3200+ is fine, but OCing will deffinently help a lot as that processor is falling behind the rest. I have the same one, it's good but an OC would make it great.

A better processor would be an AMD64 Operteron as they're awesome for OCing.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103600

[Who's the Boss?]

Even without overclocking an AMD64 3200+ is fine, but OCing will deffinently help a lot as that processor is falling behind the rest. I have the same one, it's good but an OC would make it great.

A better processor would be an AMD64 Operteron as they're awesome for OCing.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103600

OK, I can get an opturon 240 for like 140$, should I get it?

Specs
==================
CPU ID AMD Opteron Processor
Model 240
Model 240
Ordering Parts Number (OPN) OSA240CEP5AU
Stepping CG
Frequency 1.4GHz
HyperTransport Technology Speed 800MHz
Integrated Memory Controller 1.4GHz
Core Voltage 1.50 V
Case Temperature 70 deg. C
Wattage 82.1W
L2 Cache Size 1 MB
L2 Cache Speed 1.4GHz
Manf. Technology 13 micron SOI
Socket Socket 940
Amperage 52 A

Features
==========
- Dual processor capable.
- On-die memory controller - improves speed, reduces
need for motherboard-based controller.
- On-die Northbridge - improves speed, removes
need for motherboard-based Northbridge.
- 1 MB L2 cache
- Very easy to mount heatsink
- NUMA

I don't know what this crap means. :upset:

Do you play CSS or any game just as demanding? What framerates do you get with your 3200+ as we have the same videocard (just about)

What about this one?
http://search.ncix.com/displayproductdetail.php?sku=16440&vpn=OSA144BNBOX&manufacture=AMD

[Amit]

wtf

seriously

why do you have below 30 frames on CSS with your 6600GT

[Who's the Boss?]

wtf

seriously

why do you have below 30 frames on CSS with your 6600GT

I think it's because I payed for a p4 2.8 ghz and ended up with a celeron 2.6ghz. I bought it from my uncle so I didn't think to check. :upset:

[JohnXDoe]

^Holy crap! That explains a lot. Man, glad you got it worked out. After trying to help out in the other thread and coming up empty I was really frustrated. I was like "WTF! We have the same set up and mine is fine with the GT?" It was really driving me crazy.

Anyway, just posting to say glad you worked it out. I would trust RIENER on this, as you already well know. Spend as little as possible to get the most you can is my only suggestion, since you will be upgrading by years end. Heck, you might even get a decent machine out of it.

I hope your uncle gives refunds....:smash:


EDIT: If you have a newer Celeron (a D model, I believe) you may be able to simply drop a p4 in the mobo if you like. But I'm not sure. I'll check it out.

EDIT 2: I looked around newegg and if your Celeron is the 2.66ghz D model it uses LGA 775. Which I believe is the socket. This p4 2.8 also uses LGA 775. So I think it would be compatible. Although you might want to confirm that. It's dirt cheap and will get the job done for what you want to do until your system upgrade. Which seems to be play CSS. You may also want to get speedier RAM to go along with it, if it applies.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116235

This is a simple chip. 64 bit compatible, too. They also have other p4 2.8's available, but this would seem to best deal that will also suit your needs until years end.

These apparently would also be compatible. Although costlier. But like I said, for a cheap, quick and effective temporary upgrade, the first should be fine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116229

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116185


EDIT 3: Meh, you're in Canada. So these newegg links won't do you much good. But I'm sure you can find this stuff up there....

[Who's the Boss?]

^Holy crap! That explains a lot. Man, glad you got it worked out. After trying to help out in the other thread and coming up empty I was really frustrated. I was like "WTF! We have the same set up and mine is fine with the GT?" It was really driving me crazy.

Anyway, just posting to say glad you worked it out. I would trust RIENER on this, as you already well know. Spend as little as possible to get the most you can is my only suggestion, since you will be upgrading by years end. Heck, you might even get a decent machine out of it.

I hope your uncle gives refunds....:smash:


EDIT: If you have a newer Celeron (a D model, I believe) you may be able to simply drop a p4 in the mobo if you like. But I'm not sure. I'll check it out.

EDIT 2: I looked around newegg and if your Celeron is the 2.66ghz D model it uses LGA 775. Which I believe is the socket. This p4 2.8 also uses LGA 775. So I think it would be compatible. Although you might want to confirm that. It's dirt cheap and will get the job done for what you want to do until your system upgrade. Which seems to be play CSS. You may also want to get speedier RAM to go along with it, if it applies.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116235

This is a simple chip. 64 bit compatible, too. They also have other p4 2.8's available, but this would seem to best deal that will also suit your needs until years end.

These apparently would also be compatible. Although costlier. But like I said, for a cheap, quick and effective temporary upgrade, the first should be fine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116229

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116185


EDIT 3: Meh, you're in Canada. So these newegg links won't do you much good. But I'm sure you can find this stuff up there....

Yeah, it was driving me nuts. I've always upgraded my computer through my uncle and whenever I upgraded I was always telling him not to put a celeron in just because of the cost. Unless I find the bill he gave me, I'm not going to say anything about it. It was a mistake due to sending back so many emails juggling various options. I wish I had caught it sooner.

Yeah, newegg prices rock hard.

We have these two, NCIX is usually way better than Tiger Direct:

NCIX: http://search.ncix.com/displayproductdetail.php?sku=8492&vpn=BX80532PE2800D&manufacture=INTEL

Tiger Direct: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=1498709&sku=CP2-P4-521%20C

My motherboard would support a p4 2.8, you're right. I might try to find one used for cheap, but I think I might go with the opteron though as REINER suggested.

thanks

[Who's the Boss?]

Man, that opteron 144 looks better and better the more I read about it. Thanks a lot, REINER.

I'd also like to be able to overclock with maybe a digital display on the front no wait an oversized dial :cool: If possible when you get close to the maximum (user set of course) "Push it to the Limit" starts to play. Oh man, that would own hard. \m/ (I'm actually just going to get my friend to overclock it and then never touch it after that :upset: )

[Phalanx]

Don't forget that Celeron Ds are incredibly overclockable and once overclocked, will pwn in encoding, so don't throw it away as outside of games, they're incredibly solid processors for the money

[Who's the Boss?]

Don't forget that Celeron Ds are incredibly overclockable and once overclocked, will pwn in encoding, so don't throw it away as outside of games, they're incredibly solid processors for the money

I've heard that, but for some reason I sometimes get a notification that my cpu is running hot even without overclocking it.

[Amit]

I think it's because I payed for a p4 2.8 ghz and ended up with a celeron 2.6ghz. I bought it from my uncle so I didn't think to check. :upset:

oshi :-\

:hug:

[Klown]

wtf

seriously

why do you have below 30 frames on CSS with your 6600GT
I have that GPU with an Athlon 64 3800+ and I get 80+ FPS on CSS, even with highest settings.

I had edited in another paragraph into this post but vB came up with a DB error and I can't be ****ed typing it all over again.

[Who's the Boss?]

oshi :-\

:hug:

:( :returnhug:

[Rrrrrrr]

I don't know how it compares to an Opteron, but the Athlon64 3700+ San Diego core is supposed to be able to overclock to FX-55 speeds on stock cooling. You might want to look it up.

[Let's Chop Cats!]

Opterons are practically built to overclock. They're meant to be server processor so in order to make them so stable they underclock the processor. Thus allowing you to get awesome OCs on them.

[Who's the Boss?]

HK: Did you overclock your cpu or is that stock? 80 fps on max settings would own so hard...

Yeah, I figure overclocking the opteron is my best bet since it's a whole 100$ less than the 3700 at tiger direct. If I find a great used deal on a 3700 or 3800, I'll get that to save money though. One more question, how important is the motherboard keeping in mind that I'm trying to save as much money as possible. (and when I upgrade chances are I'll need a new motherboard)

[Rrrrrrr]

the motherboard is the most important part of any system. remember that how well your components go together depends at least in part on the board you use.

[Who's the Boss?]

Don't tell me my motherboard is going to have to cost me as much as the processor, k-fed's gonna have to choke a bitch. :angry:

[Let's Chop Cats!]

You can use a cheaper mobo and still be fine, but if you're overclocking you're going to want a decent/good mobo. You can get a decent/good mobo for roughly 100-150 USD.

[Who's the Boss?]

The only s939 motherboards I'm seeing that have AGP slots are around 90$ canadian.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=1578189&sku=G452-2320

[Who's the Boss?]

This is by far the most scammy thing I've ever seen on ebay... O bids, thank god.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/AMD-Opteron-165-BNIB-SEALED-dual-core-not-144-x2-3800_W0QQitemZ6855244201QQcategoryZ80140QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

http://feedback.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=cvcuty

The comments are obviously him because it's the same horrible english (but inescapably chinese) in each short sentence. Not only all on the same day, all in the same 15 minutes! Don't people try anymore???

[Klown]

HK: Did you overclock your cpu or is that stock? 80 fps on max settings would own so hard...
It's stock, I'm not going to try overclocking that processor until I can afford to get a new one if I fuсk it up (unlikely it would get damaged, but I don't want to take the chance), it cost me £170 and I don't want to even risk killing it. :p

I'm running all my games/core programs on a SATA Raptor (37Gb) drive at the moment, I love the way everything loads in <2 seconds. :cool:

Oh, I'm using an ASUS A8N-SLI mobo at the moment with an ASUS nVidia 6600GT GPU, passive heat sink too, so it's quiet.

By no means an uber-1337 machine, but still more than enough to run all the games I play at the moment. :)

[Who's the Boss?]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v141/RodneyFarva/untitled1.jpg

Should I be set with this? The motherboard has both AGP and PCI-E so I can go pci-e with it later.

edit:

AMD Opteron 144 Processor S939 Venus 1.8GHZ 1MB L2 Cache 90NM 64BIT Retail Box

ASRock 939DUAL-SATA2 ATX S939 ULI M1695 DDR AGP PCI-E16 3PCI SATA RAID Sound LAN Motherboard

TOTAL $308.29 before tax and shipping.

[Who's the Boss?]

My uncle doesn't know about the opteron so he's pushing for the athlons. Would a new Athlon 3700+ processor be better than an opteron 144? Also, it would be a bonus if I didn't have to overclock and still get 80-100 fps because I've never overclocked anything in my life.

I can get a 3700 at a store 20 minutes from my house for 285$ (s939)
a 3200 for 199$ (s939)
or an Opteron 142 (they don't have 144's) for 149$ (s940)
I could also get a P4 3.0ghz EG (typo?)(1mb L2 cache same as the 3700 they offer) that I could just use without buying a new motherboard. I don't think I want to go the intel route though. (s478)

[Klown]

The Athlon 3700+ is a nice piece of kit, you wont have to overclock it to get a decent framerate on CSS.

[Who's the Boss?]

OK, I had pretty much settled on going down and buying the 3700 but my uncle offered me this new deal and I want to know what you guys think:

Pentium4 3.06ghz for 100$ 1mb l2 cache and 800fsb (compared to 256kb and 400 like I had)

I only plan to play this game on 800x600, should I spend 400+ on an amd 3700, new mobo, worry about reinstalling windows etc. or just get a p4 3.06 ghz for 100 and overclock it (my uncle said the one he was using one overclocked to 3.7 stable)

If I could know a ballpark average FPS on 800x600 Med detail no AA/AF for both would be awesome. If anyone could possibly estimate that based on their systems.


edit: nvm I've decided to build a whole new system. I like how quickly things escalate in my head from needing to skimp on a motherboard to save 20$ to building a new system...

17" monitor (used, but lightly and not burning out yet. I have to pump up the gamma on my GFX card menu to see with this one)(FREE)
Xblade case with new 450w powersupply (I was using a 300w with this system) (70$)
Athlon 3700+ (310$)
Gigabyte motherboard K8NS C-939 NFORCE 3 250 ULTRA (110$)
MSI Geforce 6600GT (Keeping from old comp, putting the Radeon 9000 in the old one. It's not a really bad card for the price I got it honestly)
1gb DDR400 RAM (keeping from other comp, I'll leave the 256 in there)
160GB SATA2 7200rpm (I guess that's pretty much assumed... my current drive isn't SATA2 but it's same rpm) samsung HDD(110$)
SB Audigy soundcard (FREE)

May not be a 1337 machine, but for 600$ I think I'm getting a pretty good deal. Having two pc's is a nice bonus too I think. :chug:

Thanks a lot, REINER & Homicidal. (edit: JXD and also Eggo for the much needed hug)

[Who's the Boss?]

One last option before I go ahead:

1) gigabyte k8u-939 uli m1689 chipset,2000mhz fsb,dual
ch.ddr400 x 4,agp-8x usb(8),pci(5),p-ata*(2),sata(2)+raid,8ch.sd,10/100
lan = 75$ (before tax)

2) gigabyte k8ns c-939 nforce3 250 ultra chipset,1600 fsb,dual ddr400x4 agp-8x usb(8),p-ata(2),sata(2)+raid,8ch sd,g-bit lan = 85$ (before tax)

[Who's the Boss?]

I got it tonight (wish me luck waking up tomorrow for work) 1024x960, all settings on high with 2aa/2af getting 80-250fps. :cool:

[Rrrrrrr]

congratulations :)

now if only my motherboard wouldn't keep dying on me :upset: