Ok so I have studied up a bit and before I go any further here is my current setup:
amd 5200+X2
Asus M2NE Mobo
2GB gskill DDR 2 800
480W PS
Sapphire X1950XT
and I have the system left at stock clocks now because I use it to stream vids/etc to my Xbox360 MC extender.
previous OC's have gotten me to near 2.9, but with heat and high voltage (1.48+) (I have a Zerotherm Nirvana Cooler which helps).
My Question is this: lets say I have around 200 bucks to spend on an upgrade, and basically play First person shooters (COD4, soon to be Far cry 2, not enough nuts for Crysis yet). But also need to be 24/7 stable.
Options are:
#1- Radeon 4870
#2- Radeon 4850 and 4GB on Gskill PI memory
#3- Phenom upgrade
#4- Think about biting the bullet and going to a Intel 775 Platform with E8400, DFI MOBO, or Q6600 then consider GPU options
Please help, my thoughts at this point are that my CPU will not be a bottleneck, and that if I go with a 4850 and 4Gigs of ram I am on my way to a HTPC with my x1950 xt and spare 2 gigs of ram as well. My needs again are mostly high FPS with COD4, but then again I have not yet played COD5 or Far Cry 2, and they are giving away free Far Cry 2 with GTX260 purchase at Newegg (250$+). Thanks for any responses.
amd 5200+X2
Asus M2NE Mobo
2GB gskill DDR 2 800
480W PS
Sapphire X1950XT
and I have the system left at stock clocks now because I use it to stream vids/etc to my Xbox360 MC extender.
previous OC's have gotten me to near 2.9, but with heat and high voltage (1.48+) (I have a Zerotherm Nirvana Cooler which helps).
My Question is this: lets say I have around 200 bucks to spend on an upgrade, and basically play First person shooters (COD4, soon to be Far cry 2, not enough nuts for Crysis yet). But also need to be 24/7 stable.
Options are:
#1- Radeon 4870
#2- Radeon 4850 and 4GB on Gskill PI memory
#3- Phenom upgrade
#4- Think about biting the bullet and going to a Intel 775 Platform with E8400, DFI MOBO, or Q6600 then consider GPU options
Please help, my thoughts at this point are that my CPU will not be a bottleneck, and that if I go with a 4850 and 4Gigs of ram I am on my way to a HTPC with my x1950 xt and spare 2 gigs of ram as well. My needs again are mostly high FPS with COD4, but then again I have not yet played COD5 or Far Cry 2, and they are giving away free Far Cry 2 with GTX260 purchase at Newegg (250$+). Thanks for any responses.