Important Upgrade Question

[mxirtam]

My current computer is fading quickly, and I know it's the motherboard. I build computers and am a big FS fan.

I currently run a P4 2.8 Ghz (Northwood) with 1GB RAM and GeForce 5900 Ultra. (nearly State of the art for FS 2004 release).

Anyway, since I need a functioning computer I have several options. When FSX is released, I would like to take full advantage of the program and max out most settings.

1) Build a current top of the line AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ or FX-60 based system (watercooled and overclocked)and then upgrade the video card to state of the art when FSX is released.

or

2) If the AMD 4800+ of FX-60 won't cut it in FSX, then get a new motherboard/processor combo that supports my AGP 8X video card and 184-pin DDR Ram. I don't want to spend more than $600 if I'll need to build a complete system later for FSX.

I need to act quickly as my PC is dying, so I appreciate any suggestions. If option 2, please give any recommendations as to what to buy that fits my budget ($500-$650).

Thanks!

[tdragger]

I certainly wouldn't stick with AGP if it were me. All the top-end cards will be PCIx so there's no sense in putting $$ into a new AGP motherboard. But that's just my $0.02. I have no idea what the best FSX rig will be come the end of the year.

[jammy]

>I have no idea what the best FSX rig will be come the end of the year.


It will be mine :-)

Assuming DX10 Hardware will be out by then also..

[FlyingColin]

It's gonna be utilizing the AMD x2 128 FX-94 4 GHZ frontside bus, nVidia 10,800 GTX 2048 on board ram and blaaaaazin' fast (this, of course, will drop down to 11 fps coming into ORD) lol

[loki]

Wait until FSX comes out and then look at hardware. AMD is releasing their next generation of processors this June, and Intel will be releasing theirs a month or two later. Both use DDR2 RAM, so stocking up on DDR won't help. It will probably be hard, if not impossible to buy AGP motherboards for these new processors, so you might as well move to PCIe. If you are considering paying for an FX-60 (can you send some money my way too?), wait and see what AMD comes out with. Or maybe Intel will catch up, finally.

loki

[mxirtam]

Thanks guys... I guess that answers half of my question. I don't mind waiting til FSX comes out to get a super rig. But my mobo is on the fritz, so if I'm getting a new system in the fall, I need to fix/upgrade my current system while keeping my existing 184-pin RAM and AGP card.

I have two options:

1) P4 650 (3.4 Ghz, 64-bit) with Abit GD8 Mobo
total $360

2) AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego with Abit UL8 Mobo
total $404

Which, if any, do you recommend for now?

[RyanbATC]

niether...but if I had to I'd go with option 2 by far

[mxirtam]

neither... then what would you suggest, keeping in mind my above posts?

[RyanbATC]

I mean that if it were me in your shoes, I wouldn't buy anything until FSX comes out, regardless of my system...(and trust me, I have a crappy system...so someday, I'll get a better one)

Oh, and, even if you "need" to get a new upgrade/etc I still woulnd't do it to save up for stuff later...

[lnuss]

I'd certainly go with the AMD 64 chip.

[Aarinu]

Why even upgrade now if your going to in December? I say get a 50 dollar Mobo that supports your current crap and wait till December...

[Aloha717200]

As mentioned, AMD is coming out with their new processors/chipsets in June. Doesn't matter what Intel releases cos AMD will continue to blow it away anyway (well, if precedent continues that is).


Do not invest in the X-60 processor. It's over $1,000 and it will be obsolete come June anyway. Save your money, buy AMD's new processors when they come out so that you're up to date.

In the meantime try to find a bargain on a motherboard that will support your current hardware and stick with what you have. Save your pennies and around year-end go buy yourself a new PC with all the latest.

That's what I'm doing. I'm stuck on a POS Compaq for the moment but building an entirely new system after Vista and FSX come out.


AMD and Pentium are just barely getting their feet wet with dual-core processors anyway, and AMD has plans for quad-core as well later on. Anything you buy now will be ancient technology by the time FSX hits the shelves.