Motherboard or Video Card Upgrade?

[dead_rabbit]

Dear Tom and Community,

I would like some inputs and recommendation on which two of my computer components should go for an upgrade, first: motherboard or gpu.
Here's my current setup:
amd x2 5000+ black edition OC to 3.12GHz with zalman 9700 HSF
msi k9n sli platinum (am2 socket nv 570a chipset)
4GB kit of DDR2-1066 Transcend Axeram
2x 8800gt in sli [650Mhz (gpu) / 1950Mhz (Mem)]
creative x-fi titanium fatal1ty sound card
corsair 750TX psu

Here are my questions:
1) Is it worthwhile to upgrade to a new mobo ( am2+ | nvidia 780a chipsets) and utilize a phenom ii or should i thrown-in a gtx 295 gpu instead?

2) I know my current mobo could no longer support any amd's quad core cpu and if I thrown-in a gtx 295 to my present setup would the gtx 295 be bottle-neck by my current cpu?

3) the 2x 8800gt's are utilizing pci-e v2.0, although its backward compatible to my current setup, will it have an improved fps if i put it on a pci-e v2.0 mobo (in this case a nvidia 780a chipset)?

appreciate for feedbacks and recommendations from tom's community.

Brgds,
dead_rabbit

 

[Proximon]

NVidia is supposed to release a new chipset for AM3 soon. I would say wait for that. Last we heard it was supposed to be at the end of this month.

 

[dead_rabbit]

noted. will that support ddr2's?

 

[Proximon]

Not sure yet.

Probably not on AM3 specific boards, but the new upgrade path could be a better choice for you. The 720 BE is proving quite good.

It's just that the nVidia chipsets aren't doing too well vs. AMD and Intel. They seem to have stability and heat issues. They licensed Intel to run SLI on their X58 chipset, but have decided not to let AMD to SLI because they are competitors in the GPU market.

 

[dead_rabbit]

thanks. i found nvidia website posted 980a chipset, should this be the best choice over 780a or 700 series chipset? i cant go to intel as much as possible, i would like to utilize my critical components for the next upgrade.

 

[Fortunex]

I'd not waste money on a GTX295. A processor like that would bottleneck it in almost every game (assuming you're gaming). The most you really need is an HD4870, or two in crossfire if you're playing at huge resolutions like 1920x1200+.

Two 8800GTs should be more than enough for any game out today, except maybe Crysis.

 

[Proximon]

Grr that's the second time today a reply failed to post.

As I said hours ago 😛 980a is indeed the chipset we are talking about. It is not in stores yet and no one has announced that they have a test sample. Wait for benchmarks 😉

 

[geofelt]

What resolution do you want to play at?

Your system is already very good. How good do you really need for good gameplay?

Read this article and the tests which were done with a similar performing E8400@3.0:
http://www.guru3d.com/category/vga_charts/

If you still want to upgrade, I think your current cpu is good enough to drive a high end card like a GTX285, or even a GTX295.