Should I do it?

[PizzatheHut06]

Right now, I can spend about $450 bucks and upgrade the following parts from the system you see in my sig:

-Before ------> After
-RAM: 512 MB Corsair XMS PC3200 -----> 1 GB Corsair XMS PC3200
-CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2500+ -----> AMD Athlon XP 3200+
-Video Card: PNY GeForce 4 Ti 4200 -----> eVGA GeForce 6600GT

What do you guys think? Is it worth the money?

 

[Nubius]

the Ram and card are definitely worth it, you'll notice a nice increase in speed. The 3200+ is worth it only if you really don't want to OC and/or if your board doesn't have OC'ing options. otherwise I'd suggest a 2600+ XP-M

You might be able to get a decent AMD64 setup with that..Something like an Msi Neo2-platinum with a 3200+ 64 and a PCI-E 6600GT

 

[DJ-CHRIS]

Dont get a new CPU, just overclock

The rest looks fine

 

[phosho510]

yea just upgrade the card and rams.

 

[PizzatheHut06]

I made came up with some hypothetical upgrades right now and here's what I've got. By the way, all prices are newegg dollar amounts, shipping included.

System 1 (freaking sweet, but about a .001% chance of happening)

CPU- AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (939)...$151
RAM- 512 more MB Corsair XMS PC3200...$97
Mobo- MSI K8N Neo2-platinum...$164
Vid Card- Leadtek 6600GT PCI-E...$209.99

Total...$621.99

System 2 (more realistic, but still very expensive)

CPU-AMD Athlon 64 3000+(754)...$146
RAM- 512 more MB Corsair XMS PC3200...$97
Mobo- ASUS K8V SE Deluxe...$120
Vid Card- eVGA 6600GT...$196

Total...$559

System 3 (probably going to happen due to poor college kid budget, hahaha)

RAM- 512 more MB Corsair XMS PC3200...$97
Vid Card- eVGA 6600GT...$196

Total...$293

I would LOVE to upgrade to a 64 bit system, but right now I don't have the money. The way I figure it, since games nowadays are becoming more depending on the GPU and less dependent on the CPU, I think I'll get more RAM and a new video card and just stick it out until I can upgrade further. What do you guys think?

 

[emeraldice]

System #1...but System #2+3 are good. Here...just to make you feel better we can compare specs:

My computer:

700 mhz AMD duron
320 RAM
16 mb xpert 128
120 gig HD

*no shame*

 

[senseless]

Buy the 512 of ram, the video card, and then just overclock your system to 3200+.. It'll get you through until you save up enough cash for an amd 64 rig.

The upgrade to an xp 3200 is only going to give you 200mhz of boost. You could easily FSB overclock by 25mhz and overclock your system to 2.4-2.5.