Looking to upgrade my PC (Video Card)

[Phenom]

I read the first post and I'm thinking, he wants to do a PC upgrade and his name's Phenom?

AMD Phenom? Processors

=D

I'm looking for a CPU upgrade next and I have been looking at the Phenom processor... kind of strange how there's a CPU named after my Quake name lol

[foq]

No, I won't build a computer in a milk jug.

Phenom, if you want to get a Phenom processor, make sure you get a Phenom II or an Athlon II (same arcitecture as the Phenom II, just no L3 cache). They are vastly better than the Phenom I.

[Phenom]

No, I won't build a computer in a milk jug.

Phenom, if you want to get a Phenom processor, make sure you get a Phenom II or an Athlon II (same arcitecture as the Phenom II, just no L3 cache). They are vastly better than the Phenom I.

Uhm my motherboard only supports Phenom CPUs not Phenom II CPUs? lol

[foq]

Ummm... I'll look into that. There's probably a BIOS update.

Here is the official support list for your motherboard:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/cpu.asp?Model=ALiveNF6G-VSTA

According to the support list, it only supports the 2.2GHz and 2.3GHz (the 9500 and 9600, respectively). They're both B2 steppings. I advise against getting either of these processors. The B2 stepping Phenoms are plauged by errors in the L3 cache. Most motherboards have a fix in the BIOS to correct the issue, but at the cost of a ton of performace. I remember when I had a Phenom 9500 and the BIOS had the fix. I got 30FPS solid in BF2 (very piss poor laggy). There was no option in the BIOS to disable the fix. There was a hack that you could run once you booted into Windows to hack the patch away, but I don't like hacking things away like that. The B3 stepping Phenoms had the issue fixed on the hardware-end with no cost to performance, but your board doesn't support those.

I reccomend this processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103772

and this cooler, since your current cooling probably won't be adequate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185125

[Fuzznut]

Hey If there's anybody out there who can give me some serious help I'm wanting to upgrade.

My current specs are

Windows XP
NF6G-VSTA (1 x PCI Express x16 slot)
AMD 64bit Athlon 3800+ (2.4Ghz) Single CPU
3GB DDR2 (3 sticks)
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS
GeForce 6150SE (Integrated Video)
500Watt PSU
I'd like to be able to play games like Borderlands, Prototype, Mass Effect with more then my current FPS ( 5FPS ).

Basicly I'm looking for a video card upgrade! I've had my eye on the 7900 and 8800 from Nvidia whaddya think?

I know integrated video sucks but this computer was given to me.

Anyway, help is appreciated! Thanks!

I got the same processor. Its a good processor. It will run most all the new stuff that takes a 3.0+ ghz pentium to run. Its performance levels are rated at 4ghz and better. Amazing little cpu's.

[powerzord]

Agp 8x, all the way for quake

[foq]

Agp 8x, all the way for quake

You do realize that he doesn't even have an AGP slot, right?

[powerzord]

get an older motherboard first, maybe on ebay or something

[Spoon]

If you were considering the 8800 gtx, I'd recommend goin for the radeon 4850 instead. You can get it for a little over a hundred bucks. Also, you'll definitely need a cpu upgrade as well. Borderlands is pretty demanding if you want it to look good. And of course, new cpu's usually require new motherboards which also require new memory. But you could probably do all that for under 500. But damn man upgrade that monitor! CRT!!?!?

[metchsteekle]

crts are good becasue they give you higher refresh rates

[=peg=]

CRT-screens still rule for gaming, as they allow for higher refresh-rates -> less video lag.
Also: playing in lower full-screen resolutions (640x480 and lower) looks a lot better on CRT screens (with anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering maxed out) then it does on LCD/TFT.

[JPL]

Why should he restrict his GFX card to AGP only?
The good idea is rather having the fastest possible GFX card that is compatible to your motherboard, and then being able to play not only Quake, but newer games...

I did it with a nVidia GeForce 5950 ultra (latest AGP-8x compatible GFX card sold on the market...), and I can play games up to COD2/quake4/HL2 etc... and obviously Quake !

[Efess]

[QUOTE=the_f0qer;60474] PNY Tech NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 320 MB - FREE SHIP! - eBay (item 140361000352 end time Dec-18-09 20:41:43 PST)[QUOTE]

I had this card before (Same exact model, 320MB) and it rocks. It's fast as all hell - ran crysis smooth on high Res's. I didn't have it for borderlands, but I sold it to my buddy who's using it now, and he runs borderlands fine.

I spent $250 on this card last year

[Panix]

Since this seems to have all the hardware junkies out, I wanna pose a question of my own:

What's the best motherboard out there as far as speed is concerned? I'm not gonna be playing alot of new games and shit (maybe a new MMORPG if I find one I like). I'd like to speed up stuff that takes alot of cpu power such as video converting and MySQL queries. I'm just scared of getting a board that'll bottleneck on the FSB or something.

I really don't know what I should be looking for. It's like I'd want a server-grade motherboard for the processing power but I want to be able to have a decent sound card and nice video card in case there's something new that comes out I'd like to play. I don't keep up with hardware nor do I know where to look for the information like some hardware reviewing websites and whatnot. :\

Anyone got any suggestions on hardware for me?

</threadjack>

[foq]

Umm... motherboards have nothing to do with cpu power (aside from overclocking capability). If you want more cpu power, you should upgrade your cpu.