Unsure of what to upgrade.

[krazy_taco]

Basically, I only have about 200 dollars for an upgrade (i can probably flex a few dollars if needed). I got windows vista recently, and I'm loving the Windows Live experience with shadowrun. I am hating, however, the low framerates I'm receiving in the game on low settings. I don;t have time to get my system specs all together, but Basically my system is good except for
A: Amd Athlon 64 3500+ (2.2 Ghz) (Socket 939)
B: 2 Nvidia Geforce 7600GSs running in SLI mode. (256 mb each).

Which of these (A or B) should i upgrade? And what should I get in it's place?

Basically, I'm looking for whatever will improve my framerate more drastically for under 200 dollars.

 

[RisingFalls]

I would save up at least $500 and upgrade to a dual core AMD, and you'll need a new motherboard with that, and at least a 8600 GTS, 8800 GTS 320 if you can afford it in the end.

If you get a 8600/8800 GTS now, it'll be bottlenecked by your processor, and if you want a need processor, you'll need a new motherboard, in which you should just move up from your graphics inevitably.

 

[krazy_taco]

I'm really avoiding having to replace the mobo, because the price for the upgrade project will skyrocket.

 

[RisingFalls]

Well, if you really want to keep your old motherboard, try to get the best socket 939 processor you can get and at least a 7900 GT.

 

[b1gapl]

What I would do is sell the processor and those video cards. Then get a dual core socket 939 processor, such as the Opteron 165, and a X1950XT. That should improve gaming performance, by a significant amount.

...but if you sell your system, plus your $200 budget, you can get a new AM2 system. Such as an X2 3600+, Biostar TF7025, 1-2GB of DDR2 RAM, and an X1950XT.

 

[veg1992]

^ thats what i usually recommend for socket 939's and AM2's...

 

[krazy_taco]

No one has really answered my question yet

Which would give me a better fps boost. 200 dollar processor or 200 dollar video card?

 

[b1gapl]

You'd see the biggest gaming boost, if you upgrade the graphic card.

 

[psp_crazy1]

I'd say update the GFX cards. but those GPU's aren't GT's, so yea sell that, save up some money, rob a bank or two, and get a budget 7900gs or if you have the money, 8800gts, and a 3600+/4200+

 

[veg1992]

I'd say update the GFX cards. but those GPU's aren't GT's, so yea sell that, save up some money, rob a bank or two, and get a budget 7900gs or if you have the money, 8800gts, and a 3600+/4200+

he'll also need a new board and a new RAM