CPU or Video Card

[Bubblehead]

Got me  an AMD 2600+XP Athlon on my Asus A7N8X2.0 Deluxe mobo and 1Gig PC3200. My video is a PNY Nvidia Geforce FX5600 (256MHz). I do a lot of flight sim games and my system could use an improvement however I only have enough cash to do either or.  Which will make a noticeable difference in performance - Upgrade the CPU to a 3200+ or upgrade my video to a 6600 GT?

Bubblehead

[chomp_rock]

I think you should get a new CPU, FS is more CPU than graphics card intensive.

[Gixer]

Well this may be time for you to start experimenting with overclocking a bit here!

I am pretty sure with that ram you could get your CPU running at 3000+XP speeds with air cooling.

Myself I would upgrade your G-card first as the FX5600 was a pretty naff card (Worse than the old GF4 Ti4600)

The 6699GT will guve you far far better results than your Ti4600.  Also if you play other sims it will make them play and look better too.

If you were to say you were going to swap CPU and mobo etc then I may choose that first but from what you said you have to choose between as upgrade components I would go with the G/card first.

[congo]

Get the graphics card, your next CPU should be a 64 bit one!

[Bubblehead]

OK. I got me an  ATI Radeon 9800 Pro. Now I want to make sure I install this right.  I know I need to uninstall the old video card. But the Guide requires that I upgrade my AGP Motherboard/Chipset drivers. Did'nt have to do that when I installed my Nvidia GeForce FX5600. Any pointers or tricks I need to know? My OS is XP

Bubblehead

[Gixer]

Get driver cleaner.  Do a yahoo search for it and it will point you to the Driver Cleaner site.  Read the instructions on it and do what it says to get rid of your old graphics drivers.

My bro has a similar setup to you with a 9800pro and he didnt have to change his mobo's drivers but did have to load new ATI AGP drivers for the card.

[congo]

I think the "guide" might be a tad cautious, I mean, are they talking about EVERY chipset? It probably wouldn't hurt to upgrade your Asus drivers anyway though.

They might come as a set, Onboard Sound, AGP, LAN, etc., thru the Asus update site?