New Graphics Card - Question

[Kriz_]

Hi!
I don't really know a lot about hardware, so i hope you guys can help me.
I want to get a new graphic card: I guess i'll buy the geforce 8800gt or something like that, but what i really need to know is the following: is my mainboard (Gigabyte GA-K8N Ultra-SLI) and my CPU (AMD Athlon 64, 2200 MHz (11 x 200) 3700+) even good enough for this new card? I sure hope it is, as I'm not too rich, but I don't want to get an expensive new graphic card just to notice that I need to upgrade the other stuff too.

Thanks guys, bear with me

 

[killz86]

i dont know if it would bottleneck the cpu. i think it would if its a socket 939 or am2 put a x2 in there and get the 8800GT and you will be good to go

 

[Kriz_]

the cpu is socket 939, so do you mean that I have to get a new cpu too? Can you recommend me one that's not too expensive? Do the newer ones even fit on my mainboard?
thanks

 

[mack92]

You can get a AMD 64 X2 4200 2.2 ghz Socket 939 on Newegg.com for $69.99 (free shipping). Your choices for Socket 939 are pretty limited these days. I have the same processor as you and I still get good performance from it. Will it be a bottleneck to a 8800GT, most likely. Like I just learned, with a new vid card your going to have to worry about your power supply being able to run it well. What is your current vid card? I have the 7800GT and I can run most of todays games up to COD2, COD4 and BF2 without any major problems, they are not maxed out on eye candy but a playable and look good at 1024x768, 1280x800.

 

[mack92]

What is your spending budget?

 

[nightscope]

If you're interested with overclocking go with a cheap processor and a p35 board, something like a e2160-e2180 with ds3l or something. If you're not, then I would recommend upgrading to an am2 platform. You would have to upgrade your ram/cpu/motherboard, but it won't cost much. About $200 more. Pointless to spend on an outdated socket (Your 939 socket). The am2 socket has a good upgrade path.

 

[Kriz_]

1. I have a Geforce 6600 GT
2. I actually wanted to spend ~ 350 for the card (not more), and ~ 100 for the CPU (prices in euro )
3. Since I don't know a lot about hardware I don't really feel comfortable with overclocking
4. I understand that I'll have to change the motherboard+CPU, but why do I have to change the ram too? I currently have 1.5 gb and ram ain't too cheap
Can you guys recommend me some motherboards/cpu's?

 

[mack92]

I have the same processor as you but with 7800GT. You can go cheap with both AMD and Intel, both AM2 and Intel boards use DDR2 and opposed to DDR (which we both have on the Socket 939) so you have no choice but to get new ram. DDR2 ram is very cheap, you can get good ram for $40-$85 US. I'd go with the 8800gt (supposed to be a burner), Intel E2160 dual core (great little chip @ 85 US), Intel chips run cooler right now than the AMD's. You can get a decent mobo for either AMD or Intel for $60+ US.. As I've been informed on my thread (pc upgrade) you'll need to take a good look at your psu, there is a chart on my thread that shows a few good ones. Hope this helps with your decision.

 

[Kriz_]

can you post a lin to your thread please?

 

[Kriz_]

and since there are so many mainboards, can anyone please recommend me one at around 100 $?

 

[mack92]

Don't know how, it's in the cpu section in forums, thread name is pc upgrade. Where do you live? I use newegg.com all the time, but I don't know if they go out of the US. Also depends on what you want to do, keep same mainboard and upgrade vid card or full upgrade.

 

[wirelessfender]

Dont forget about the new Amd 5500+ Black edition. Not worth it if you dont like to oc though...

 

[Kriz_]

Well, i live in Austria (small country in Europe), so i don't think that this homepage is an option for me. I actually wanted to grade up the vid card only, but I guess that i'll have to grade up some other stuff /cpu etc.) too.
I don't want to spend too much though, I study so I am not made out of money
My plan was to spend ~350 $ for a vid card, but now it's more like this:
~300 $ vid card
~250 $ other stuff (motherboard, cpu,ram)
I hope that I can sell my old hardware to a friend of mine so that i'll get a bit of money back

 

[Kriz_]

I think I'll get the Geforce 8800 GT, the Intel E2160 dual core and 2gb ram..
Can you guys recommend me a good yet not expensive motherboard? I'm talking about one at ~ 100$ (can be less ^^)