Looking to upgrade again, need assistance.

[KubeDawg]

So I'm bout to start upgrading my system here in the next few weeks, and I was wondering what I should do.

Here are my current specs, I know, they're terribad:

AMD Athlon 64 3800+ (not X2)
ASUS A8N Ultra nForce4 Mobo (up to 4 GB RAM w/ PCI-e 16x slot)
nVidia GeForce 8600 GT w/512 MB GDDR3 RAM
2GB(2xGB) OCZ Platinum 184-Pin DDR SDRAM (PC 3200)
Antec earthwatts 500W ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready PSU
500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb HDD
ZALMAN 9500A 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

What I'm wondering is, I've recently upgraded my GFX card, added the cooler, and bought 2 GB of new ram. Is it worth it to upgrade my Motherboard/CPU at this point, if I want to take it to the so-called 'next level' to be able to support more high end online gaming? The reason I ask is because I'd likemy PC to be able to handle more loads, such as using Adobe Premier, and recording videos such as in FF, at a much faster rate that won't bogg down my system.

I bought my motherboard a while ago, thinking if I ever needed to upgrade, I'd be fit, because it supports X2 and FX series CPU's for the AMD line. Well, with the new AM2 motherboards out, I'm hearing mostly great things. I'd also likely have to upgrade my RAM...again...

I basically want to be able to purchase something that will be compatible with my current HW(aside from mobo/CPU/maybe ram) that will be able to allow me for future individual upgrades so won't have to purchase 3 types of HW at once.

Which is better now, Intel, or AMD? Will my current gfx card work better on an intel board or an amd board? And finally, is there any support for my current system ram if I were to upgrade my mobo/cpu to some of the newer types?

This is somewhat what I've considered as far as mobos are concerned:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130136
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188026

For CPU's, I've not really researched enough to know what'd best fit either of those mobos.

[Mooga]

I don't know much about Athlon... but does your mobo support dual core?

If so, lots of gamers would rather run a high-end dual core (3.2 GHz a core) rather then a quad core. Mainly because quad core support in gaming is minimal. Also, pushing up to 4 gigs of ram isn't too expensive and couldn't hurt.

Also, how much do you want to spend total? Because there are now 9800s in the under $150 range. I'm not sure how well they would perform though compared to your current card.

[Innoc]

Originally Posted by Mooga

I don't know much about Athlon... but does your mobo support dual core?

If so, lots of gamers would rather run a high-end dual core (3.2 GHz a core) rather then a quad core. Mainly because quad core support in gaming is minimal. Also, pushing up to 4 gigs of ram isn't too expensive and couldn't hurt.

Also, how much do you want to spend total? Because there are now 9800s in the under $150 range. I'm not sure how well they would perform though compared to your current card.

Minimal? Are there any games supporting quad at this point?

[Mooga]

I think UT3 suports Quad Core.
Newer games should have it as well... I hope.

[KubeDawg]

Ok, here are my thoughts for now, with all this, I doubt I'll be needing to upgrade after having this type of setup for at least a year or 2. Plus, I've got the mobo to allow me to upgrade to phenom series in the future if I need a performance boost. So here's what I've picked out that is leaning towards what I might want:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core CPU

Not worrying bout the 125W as I've got a nice Zalman cooler that will fit this processor.

MSI K9A2 Platinum AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) RAM

Anyone have any suggestions, critiques, or comments?

[greenday5494]

nice CPU+ AM2 board

[v3rtigo]

I suggest waiting for intel's nehalem, that's what I'm doing. But if you must, get a AM2+ board that will support the Phenom, so you can upgrade your CPU when you see fit.

[greenday5494]

Originally Posted by v3rtigo

I suggest waiting for intel's nehalem, that's what I'm doing. But if you must, get a AM2+ board that will support the Phenom, so you can upgrade your CPU when you see fit.

^thats what im doing

[Bully]

Originally Posted by greenday5494

^thats what im doing

[noeffeks]

Phenom is horrible tho.

The quadcores from intel are far superior.. unles things have changed in the last 3 months since i built my new computer.

Kube, id go with intel.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...28359&Tpk=ud3r

-mobo, i picked one up to replace my old one, that got beerified.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115036

-CPU 3.12 dualcore, wolfdale. intel socket 775

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227364

-rams

[R22B]

Originally Posted by noeffeks

Phenom is horrible tho.

The quadcores from intel are far superior.. unles things have changed in the last 3 months since i built my new computer.

Kube, id go with intel.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...28359&Tpk=ud3r

-mobo, i picked one up to replace my old one, that got beerified.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115036

-CPU 3.12 dualcore, wolfdale. intel socket 775

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227364

-rams

I predict this thread is heading towards intel verse amd.

[Circuitous]

I've got a Phenom 9500.

It's okay.

[KubeDawg]

K, Newegg has a damn good deal on this processor. Likely just a 1 day deal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-210-_-Product

Any idea if this is the way I should go, or should I wait and get a phenom? Anyone have a phenom? And would I be better off going with Intel at this point?

[greenday5494]

you're better off getting an intel