Is a New Graphics Card a Worthwhile Upgrade for an Older Computer?

WTF does "playable" mean?!?

Ok you can see my rig in sig... I can NOT play HL2 at the settings he has listed there at "playable". Sure I'll get 60+ inside, but if I go outside i'll go to the 20s. This is a 6800nu @ 380/790 fully unlocked... gig of ram and 3.0E with a mild OC. NOT playable. I'd like to see him take that rig on DoD:S... that makes my system weep with the settings he has listed there for HL2.

I mean, I do agree that too many people suggest complete platform changes when all sometimes is needed is a new graphics card... I'd like to see a comparison of an AMD system with 2 comparable Mobos (one 939 and one 754), both a gig of RAM, one have an AGP 6800gs and the other a PCI-E 6800gs, and see how it goes.

I think if someone has been blasting away for the last few years on a 754 setup with a 9600xt and 512 of ram, you're giving foul advice if you say go 939 and dualcore... I mean come on? Going to 2x1gb of ram and a 6800 series and up card will do great for a nice long while, especially when you look at how they've been getting along right now!!!

(PS my rig is all default for now; but when i was gaming more, i had it juiced)

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[sidetrack]mdameron - not sure what you are talking about on HL2, on my AMD 2100xp and a GF fx 5700 I can play HL2 with all settings maxed in 1024x768 at 50+ FPS constant.[/sidetrack]

I'm not surprised by these results at all, almost all games since DX8 and up are almost 100% GPU bound. My "new" rig, Athlon XP 2700+, 1 Gig ram and Geforce 6600gt runs Quake 4 on high and Oblivion on medium-ish settings and max view range and distant lands on with no problems. Playable to me means 30+ FPS constant.

BUT, what I wanted to add to this is:
Calling an Athlon 2500+ with 512 MB ram an old outdated system or such statements is pretty blind. The average PC on the market right now sits around a Celeron 2.2 with 256 MB ram. Just because we are enthusiasts and some of you lucky ******** can afford to upgrade your PC for $1000 every month don't make all other systems outdated. It's not high end or top of the line, no. But it's by no means an outdated system.
Upgrade your 2500+ with 1GB ram and the fastest agp vid card on the market and your rig will still run all games out.

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On a side note I think it stinks to high heaven that TigerDirect is given a free plug on the front page. AnandTech even refused their money (!) on their forums, didn't let them advertise there because so many of their members got hosed by Tiger Direct.

Every hot deals forum out there is inundated with warnings against TigerDirect deals, especially with rebates!

Stay away from TigerDirect or you'll find out the hard way why you should have, like the folks who filed a large number of complaints with the Better Business Bureau did:

http://www.bbbsoutheastflorida.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&strBCode=06330000&ComID=0633000027000500

(Their customer service is in Florida so BBB files on them are there.)

"...Specifically our files show a pattern of complaints alleging dissatisfaction with product quality, failure to deliver promised goods, service issues, misrepresentation in advertising and marketing practices and the failure to address and overcome the basic cause of complaints brought to their attention by the Better Business Bureau.

Complaints allege customers are led to believe they are buying new, Brand Name computer systems, parts and other products with either a 90-day, or 1 year warranty. Complainants allege they are receiving generic, defective and refurbished items and only a 30-day warranty with the option to purchase the 1-year warranty. Customers who purchase the warranty also experience difficulty in getting return phone calls to get the problems fixed or replaced. Customer are told they may return the items for replacement, but they will need to pay again for the replacement and will credited back when the item is returned and received by the company.

Some of the complaints have issues with the advertised rebate, both the catalog and web site have numerous offers for items with a mail-in rebate. Upon receiving the products the rebate application is not included in the package. Customers are told the rebate application is on the website and customers are required to comply with the program and submit paperwork that they never received. Many are denied because the product they have purchased does not have the advertised rebate, the rebate has expired, and some rebates are only good if the item is purchased with a computer. Many customers feel they have been victims of bait and switch, and are unable to return the products because the package has been open..."

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