Upgrading a 2005 system....

[SilentMichael]

Hi. I have an older gaming PC from 2005. The video card recently died out on me, and now I need a replacement. There is no need to troubleshoot my current problem, as I already have figured it out. Now I need some advice.

I know this computer isn't "high performance" anymore, but it was, I just didn't know where I should put it.
Here are its current specs:
Motherboard: ASUS A8N-SLI
CPU: AMD Athlon64 4000+ (San Diego core)
RAM: 1GB (512MBx2) PC3200 (Corsair XMS)
Video: nVidia GeForce 7800GTX (eVga 256MB)
OS: Windows XP SP3 (32bit)

Other than the video card, which needs replacing anyway, I know that the RAM might need to go up to 2GB. I know that the CPU will be a huge bottleneck. And it can't be upgraded because Socket 939 is dead.

The games that will be used for this computer will be Source games (L4D, TF2, DOD:S, HL2) and Call of Duty 4/WAW.

Any suggestions as to what specific parts I should upgrade the video card and RAM to? It should be able to hold me out for a little more than a year, where I will probably get a completely new PC by then.

I'm looking to spend around $100, you can go over if you need to, but not by too much.

Thanks.

 

[Hefemeister]

Wow you basically have the exact system I have. I know I went through the same issues with socket 939.

If you could stretch your budget just a bit around $20 more:
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
or
Newegg.com - XFX HD-485X-ZDFC Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Depends upon your brand preference but the ATI card is just a little bit better. You would be happy with either card.

What PSU do you have. Both of there cards need around a 450watt PSU.

 

[dario03]

For ~$100 you could go with Hefs suggestions or also try and find a 4770 or get a 4830.

Also you actually could upgrade the cpu since they did make X2 and dual core opterons for skt939. You might be able to find one cheap.

 

[Hefemeister]

Good luck of finding a x2 skt 939 cheap. Trust me I tried. For the price you would have to pay you are better saving to upgrade your mb, cpu and ram.

Now gpu is not a waste as it could be moved to a new build. Purchasing ram might be a bit of a waste of cash. Just depends upon your upgrade time table.

 

[baron5]

you didnt say what res your gaming at but im guessing its a 17 incher or the like since your rig is pretty dated, in this case a 4850 512 will be plenty. and right on budget.

EDIT: i see there are no 4850 512mbs no more, then looks looks like a 1gb or gts 250 would be your best bet as they said above.
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

 

[meat_helmet]

Yeh and getting anything more than a HD4850 is kinda pointless because that cpu will already be a bottleneck. Just get that or a GTS250 of you cant afford one and save for a new system later.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Unless you are gaming at a high resolution (>=1680x1050) there isn't any reason to get a gpu with 1gb of memory.

Newegg.com - XFX HD-485X-YDFC Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

 

[Sir Cumference]

Good luck of finding a x2 skt 939 cheap. Trust me I tried. For the price you would have to pay you are better saving to upgrade your mb, cpu and ram.

Now gpu is not a waste as it could be moved to a new build. Purchasing ram might be a bit of a waste of cash. Just depends upon your upgrade time table.

What is considered a good price for an x2?

i remember searching for one a year ago and they were **** expensive still for such old tech. Surely they gotta drop in price by now...

 

[dario03]

Sometimes old tech will actually cost about as much as new tech. I'm guessing because of supply and demand. For instance I think DDR1 ram is about as much as DDR3 ram now. I think a skt939 X2 3800 was about $65 2 years ago but I have no clue what they are now or anyone still sells them new.

 

[Sir Cumference]

Im searching around and new ones are $100+. Atleast the 4200 and up. I checked out Ebay and there are used ones that can be won for under 100, possibly 50.

Very tempted to get one.