Can my computer be saved......

[PrPete]

Hi all

Well, the title says it all really. I've been thinking about bulding myself a new computer, as can be seen in link thread. However, with vista coming closer everyday I'm wondering if I'd be better to upgrade my current rig with a cheap (ish) AGP card and wait for vista before building a new system. Reasons for this are as follows

1) I would have to buy a copy of XP, then, when vista comes out buy a copy of vista. ie, the copy of XP would be a waste of money.
2)A new system now would mean a fairly good (and therefore pricey) DX9 card and then I would have to spend more on a DX10 card to get the full benefits of vista. More wasted cash.
3)Prices may go down.
4)I would need a new PSU to upgrade my GPU in my current rig but could buy one that could then be used in the new rig when built. No wasted money.

Basically I think i'd waste less money by upgrading my current rig and waiting and buying vista/DX10 compoinats straight away. Now for the specs of my current rig.

Dell Dimension 4500
Proce: P4 2.26 GHz
RAM: 2x512MB DDR2100 RAM
GPU: Radeon 9600 pro 128MB
Mobo: Intel D845EPT2 (limited to 4X I think)

What do you guys think?

Pete

[PyrrhusIV]

Well, the motherboard is ok, 4x can still use 8x cards I believe, the performance is just not quite as great. In other words, if you scored 12,000 in 3DMark05, with the 8x in the 4x slot, you may score, 11,200. Gamewise, not barely a difference.

Your RAM, it is on the slow side, but atleast it is 1GB, I think we can say we are safe there. The Processor your using is pretty weak though, and although you may of got by with it on RTW, M2TW wont let you go far. The GPU is the weakest, a 9600. My advice, buy a cheap (but better!) agp card, and buy a better proc, just dont spend too much money on it.

[Shaun]

My advice is quite the opposite of Phyrrus's. I would like to mention that Vista will probably get delayed again for a month or so, and when it is released it wont get quite the reception that some people think it will. It will take a year at least before publishers take notice of DX10 (the only DX10 only game so far is Halo 2, its already been out on XBOX for years, this shows Microsofts unwillingness to create a whole new investment for a new game to launch DX10, they use something old that many people already have) and even after pubs start making DX10 games (I am talking about after Christmas 07) they will never ignore DX9 users. They will still be too big a market, just like AGP still is a big market). Plus, with DX10 I cant see them improving DX9 graphics all that much in future games so your top end GPU of now should still play the next year or so games at the max settings at high resolutions. By the time a current ultra high end card goes out of date, DX10 games will be the vast majority and you will need to upgrade anyway. Also, the first DX10 cards will be extremely buggy, and there are plenty of nasty rumors of MS's money making schemes such as having t buy a new DX10 card when DX10 is upgraded, I would at least inquire about these to make sure they are false. And I would wait untill the very last of the 8000 (probably the 8950GTX) series cards (dont know what ATi are up to on the DX10 front) are out,by then the bugs will be almost completely ironed out.

But it depends on your budget.

Do you want to go high or mid range?

[PrPete]

Was thinking mid too high. £900 max. If you look at my previuos thread you'll see what I was aiming for. Click this!

I'm open to suggestions on that build by the way.

Cheers

Pete