Need Advice Please.

[Ph3oNix]

I bought my PC about 18 months ago.
Here is my spec (briefly):

*Intel P4 2.53Ghz Processor
*512mb DDR RAM
*40 G/B Hard-drive
*GeForce 4 MX 420 64mb DDR/TV-Out
*In built sound
*15" TFT Moniter (Max Resolution @ 1024*768)

I am looking to update my PC. I have had a good look around and am possibly going to buy the Sapphire Atlantis ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb. However, as i have limited technical knowledge, i am unsure that this will be worth the £150. As my monitor has a max resolution of 1024*768, will the 128mb Radeon 9800Pro make much of a difference???

Iv been told that a new graphics card will improve the graphics (duh) and the visual effects. So despite the resolution there will still be a massive improvement from the GF4MX420. Is this true?

All advice is mucha appreciated. Thanx.

 

[pauldh]

If you like to play games and can afford the R9800 Pro, get it! The R9800 Pro is about the top card for your system. The 6800U and X800's will be held back by the CPU and in most games not offer much improvement of the 9800. Anyway, there will be a HUGE difference from GF4-MX420 to the R9800 Pro. Both in speed and eye candy. Don't worry about resolution, because newer games like Farcry are very demanding above 1024x768 anyway. With R9800 Pro you'll be a ble to play them, with your card, forget it. You'll have 1024x768, max detail levels, and AA/AF all to play with in older games making a big diffenence. Going from 800x600 medium low details to 1024x768 max details and maybe also AA/AF and having better fps to boot, will amaze you I think.


Look at this chart, The system is close to yours in speed. Look at the R9800 Pro compared to the beefier version of your GF4-MX, the (GF4-MX440)
<A HREF="http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/vga-charts-05.html" target="_new">http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20031229/vga-charts-05.html</A>


Just make sure that the Saphire 128MB R9800 Pro you are looking to buy has a 256-bit memory interface. Saphire recently released a 128-bit version that is a crippled ripoff. A real 9800 Pro like you see benchmarked, is the original 256-bit ones.


ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 512MB Corsair TwinX PC3200LL, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[Ph3oNix]

Ok, thanx alot for that reply.

Some info: I currently run everything at 1024*768 already, but not on maximum detail. If i buy the Radeon 9800 Pro, will i be able to play all/most games on full spec at this resolution?

Also, will my spec play all the new and most demanding games with this video card - i.e. Half Life 2, Doom 3, etc?

Thanx alot for any helpful replies.


P.S Can you please tell me whether this Radeon 9800 Pro has the 128 (rip off) or the 256 bit memory interface. Thanx ppl.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=47511
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Ph3oNix on 07/03/04 04:38 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[entium]

wouldn't hold your breath on Doom 3 and Half life 2 with max settings with that card and CPU.

 

[Ph3oNix]

Hmm. Ffs. But id be able to play HL 2 and Doom 3 right?

Btw, i thought a 2.53 Ghz Processor is a good speed. The most recent are only at 3.2Ghz.

 

[pauldh]

The Key features don't say, but the picture is of a 256-bit version. Also clicking product brochure links to specs that say 256-bit. I'd prefer they make it more obvious though. Or better yet, I'd prefer Saphire never introducing the 128-bit ones.

Entium is probably right that max settings aren't going to happen for you on Doom 3 and Halflife 2. For instance, my P4 2.6C/9800 Pro can't run farcry at 1024 max settings and keep the fps as smooth as I like them to be. And the 9800 Pro was about as good as you could buy until just recently when X800 and the 6800's arrived. But most games I play at 1280x1024 max and often with AA/AF.

But, YES you will easily be able to play Doom 3 and HL2 on your system with a R9800 pro. That is way better specs than the average buyer will have. Probably play much better than you can play UT2004 on it now with the GF4-MX. But hopefully we'll soon get more info on those games and what specs are needed.


ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 512MB Corsair TwinX PC3200LL, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[entium]

yeah thats true, you will be able to play the games with no problem, but not at max settings

 

[pauldh]

Don't scare the guy. Max details I agree, but you should know the average game buyer has worse specs than a P4 2.53GHz/ R9800 Pro. No way will the games be unplayable on that rig. We don't know until the games come out. But should he wait for HL2 reviews and keep gaming on a GF4-MX, or buy the R9800 Pro? The R9800 Pro will blow him away compared to GF4MX. And X800 or GF6800 isn't going to offer much (if any) extra performance on that P4 2.53B cpu.



ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 512MB Corsair TwinX PC3200LL, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[pauldh]

Ah, you beat me too it?


ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 512MB Corsair TwinX PC3200LL, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[Ph3oNix]

Thanx alot Paulh.

I know a Radeon 9800 Pro will make a massive difference. For example, at the moment i cannot buy the sequel to my favourite game Splinter Cell, because Pandora Tomorrow (as with other games iv noticed) dont support the GF4 MX series.

So an update is definately required. May i also just ask whilst im here...

Other than new speakers and sound card (which im also looking to buy), what other updates would you recommend? As iv said, i thought my PC was a good spec (except the gfx card). I know for sure that for an 18month old PC, iv got a great spec, and its certainly had its moneys worth. But now i need to sort things out.

Thanx for any help. Much appreciated.

 

[pauldh]

Well, for 18 months ago you did have a killer system. If you see benchie charts, your system is about like a P4 2.4C or Athlon XP2500-2600+. It is still respectable, but you can't have too much cpu power for the new high end video cards and many of the new games. Your motherboard could possibly support the P4 3.06 HT cpu, which performs about like a P4 2.8C. Honestly, that's alot of money to through out unless you sell your 2.53 for a good buck. But a 500MHz boost plus HT would be a big plus.

So upgrades: Yes get a sound card. For one it will sound better. But secondly, integrated sounds robs you of CPU power. Second, 1GB of memory can actually make a difference in new games like FarCRy. Problem is DDR is expensive now. The P4 3.06GHz would be nice if your mobo supports it, but again is it worth all that money to upgrade? Honeslty, I'd buy the R9800 pro and a good soundcard, and make due with that. Save the rest of the money and put it toward a new rig down the road. That's my opinion anyway. Because the GF4MX is your systems weak point. Integrated sound is next.

ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 512MB Corsair TwinX PC3200LL, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[Ph3oNix]

Ok thanx alot mate. So, if i upgrade as you advised my PC would then look like this:

*P4 2.53 Ghz Processor
*1024mb DDR RAM
*40G/B Hard-drive
*Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb
*Sound Blaster Audigy
*5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
*15" TFT Monitor (max resolution = 1024*768)

Not bad? or Not good?

I personally think that would be great. But then again, i only know basics.

 

[pauldh]

Sorry, personally I'd not upgrade the Ram either as DDR is expensive now. It depends on how much money you have and how long it will be before you upgrade the entire system. I say do the video card and get a sound card. Next if you have the cash to max out your rig would be the P4 3.06GHz (if supported) and 1GB RAM. But you are talking a $600 upgrade to do all 4. That's alot of money to put into an 18 month old computer.


Are you willing to try OC'in your Pentium 4? OC that cpu and the R9800 Pro for a little more fps if needed.



ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[Ph3oNix]

I have no idea how to OC a processor. And its dangerous isnt it? It can be risky, and possibly destory it. The warranty has run out already, so thats not a problem.

 

[pauldh]

Your system would be nice with the 9800 Pro. Your video card is killing you now. Some games are cpu bound and the 2.53GHz P4 will hold you back. But if you have been happy with a GF4 MX420 for 18 months, the R9800 Pro will thrill you.

But nothing you can do to your rig (shy of a mobo/cpu upgrade and a reformat of XP) will make it an A64 3200-3800+. But not many people own one of those rigs yet. Your alot better off than most people in that your rig still has gameable life left in it.


ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[pauldh]

Safe Overclocking will take some life away from your components. But do you care if that P4 has 6 years of life yet compared to 10 years? But there are many limiting factors as to how high you can push it. For one, if you have a Dell or other large OEM computer, you may have very limited adjustments that can be made in the bios. Also, it's a bit of luck just how far you can go. Just a thought though. For starters if you want to try OC'in, find out exactly what motherboard you have and do some searching.


ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[Ph3oNix]

Ok thanx for your help m8y. Much appreciated.

 

[entium]

lol sorry didn't mean to scare ya

 

[PukePile]

Heres a guide on overclocking read that so you can see what your in for.A bigger monitor that will do 1600X1200 will make things look nicer.You can pick up a nice 19" for around 200.Just im opinion but why spend so much on a GFX card when your not going to use it to is full capability?

<A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=673331#673331" target="_new">http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=673331#673331</A>

40k in aquamark 3
<A HREF="http://arc.aquamark3.com/arc/arc_view.php?run=682299587
" target="_new">http://arc.aquamark3.com/arc/arc_view.php?run=682299587
</A>
P4b2.4@2.8||1024mb DDR@392mhz||9800pro@414/732||Viewsonic UltraBrite 19"||Panisonic DVD-RW<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Pukepile on 07/03/04 06:59 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Ph3oNix]

Pukepile, thats exactly why im debating whether to get it or not. Ok guys...

If you were in my situation, with my spec PC, and around £200 to spend, what upgrades would you make?