What to upgrade?

[capmuffin]

for x-mas i plan on upgrading my system. i am looking to play source and some newer games that come out along with cs 1.6. Judging by the benchmarks the nvidia series pulls ahead this time around. i was thinking a 6600 card,but the 6800reg looked great from evga (reviews said 256mbram).
i currently have now

2x256 bh-5 from corsair
80 gig 7200RPM wd
an7mobo w/ 2500mobile at 3700(watercooling going back in)
9800pro 128 from saphire
tt 480 watt psu..
antec p-160 emptied and modded for wc'ing w/ custom made window

some may not matter :D but i am looking at a faster machine

[Sentential]

A new videocard would be worth looking into. However the card you are refering to costs about $340, which is almost as much as a GT. So you might as well buy that.The 6800NU does not come in 256MB flavors.

Keep in mind that you will be heavily limited by the CPU. A64 would also be something to look at.

On a final note, your PSU, looks to be at the end of its useful life. A new PSU would also be something to look at getting. Especially for A64.

[capmuffin]

hmm an a64 does seen worth it. i was thinking the 3200? maybe 3400? also u think my tt 480 watt psu is at the end? hmm it says peak power 560w and my rails are stable. btw sent i remember u from when i first joined :D

[Feydd]

If you don't get a a64 and a new PSU. I'd go for another 512mb of ram. Also if you're going to be playing HL2 mainly, then i'd go with a x800 pro. The x800 pro has been shown to be much better in HL2 than a 6800.

[capmuffin]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-202&depa=0

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-128-202&depa=0

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-145-098&depa=0

^says that it beats the 9800xt(benches) and does so by alot

[iNterBeiNg]

IMO a 6600gt or 6800nu arent really enough of an upgrade from a 9800 pro to justify the cost. Bare minimum I would get would be something like a 6800 gt or x800 pro.

I agree that whatever you do, get another 512 meg of ram, it really makes a big difference in newer games, anyone who has played far cry or doom 3 with only 512 megs can tell you that

[capmuffin]

would it be worth using the ram i have now,and adding another 512 stick?

[Feydd]

Newegg must be having problems ATM can't seem to bring those links up. If those are 6800's and say they beat the 9800XT on benches, thats all well and good. But do they beat the x800 pros or xts in benches?

EDIT: i'm not sure if adding a 512 stick with 2 256 sticks would work. Doesn't it have to be same size&speed to be compatible?

[capmuffin]

hmm i am going to play hl2 and cs source.....damnit but i like nvidia

will the x800pro play the latest games like d3 and such like the 6800?

[capmuffin]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-121-177&depa=0

hows that for a choice?

and this mobo/cpu combo


http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-147&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-147&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE

[capmuffin]

CRAP 700 bux EEEEKKK