Upgrading-CPU or Video Card

[scruffydog]

My current system consists of ASUS A8N SLI Deluxe--Athlon 4000+--2 g Corsair Platinum--Dual EVGA 7800 GTX 256 video cards--2 80 G Rapters..  I want to keep this 939 board as long as possible and wait for the new hardware coming out next year.. I planned on changing my Cpu to a FX 60 or Opteron 185 and leaving everything else as is..Someone suggested changing the video card to a 8800/6xx instead of the Cpu..I do not want to do both..
Which change makes more sense?  My primary use of this system is MSFS 9 and FSX..

Thanks for the input

[ctjoyce]

Your rig is just fine, what seems to be the problem? FSX? If so insert thumb into butt, and wait until next year. If not then elaborate.

Cheers
Cameron

[scruffydog]

Thank you for your reply, I had not seen your FAQ before and having now read them I believe you suggest that the 7800 video card is fine but that replacing my single core 4000+ with a dual core processor would be better.  If I have misread your FAQ please advise.

I have setup FS-X using the settings Nick N posted in "FSX and SLI" thread.  It runs quite well but the stutters make for a poor experience.

My purpose in upgrading is to run FS-X at reasonable settings without stutters. If a $350.00 to $400.00 upgrade in either the Cpu or GPU would allow me to do that, then it would be worth it and I would be able to make this 939 board last a couple of years.  

[ctjoyce]

If you can find a 4400+ 939 still for sale somewhere, go for it, but I doubt you will. For $400 you would do better with a E6600 and a ASUS P5N32-E SLi, but then again you wold need new RAM too. Overall you are kind of between a rock and a hard placec. We don't know how well R600 or G81 are going to preform yet, and with K10 and Penyn just around the corner, its card to buy anything right now.

Cheers
Cameron

[rootbeer]

May I beg your indulgence, Cameron?

My board says it will accept up to 4Gb. I have had this machine for two years this month. I don't know if 2Gb sticks were available two years ago. If I were to put four each 2Gb sticks in (or two each 2Gb sticks and maintain two each 512Mb sticks) and a fast Socket 939 chip, would the machine "recognize" this set-up or not?



Thank you, Great Master of the Digital World...



I just did a search for "amd 4400+ cpu" and found one on eBay for $143 plus $13 to ship it out. The seller says he has five of the A64 X2 2.3GHz Brisbanes. Hop to it, scruffydog...

[ctjoyce]

Well you have to realise that XP Home edition and Pro edition will not recognise any more than 3GB of RAM. So your best bet is to go with a fast 939 and 2GB of RAM. Now if you upgrade to vista, you are supported to 16TB of RAM, so 4GB in vista is a very nice setup.

But whatever you do, dual core all the way.

Cheers
Cameron

[rootbeer]

The specs say this board will work with up to a 4000+. I do not know if that was the limit of what was available then. Just because a 4400+ will fit the ZIF socket, that doesn't mean it will be compatible, does it?

[scruffydog]

X2  4400+ and 4800+ cpu's are no longer available from vendors I trust so I ordered the Opteron 170 from NewEgg.  From what I have read this cpu will take care of my needs for the time being.
Thanks for all of your suggestions.
Dick

[ctjoyce]

The specs say this board will work with up to a 4000+. I do not know if that was the limit of what was available then. Just because a 4400+ will fit the ZIF socket, that doesn't mean it will be compatible, does it?

You may have to flash your BIOS but it will work.

Cheers
Cameron

[rootbeer]

Well, I'll be jiggered! I didn't expect such a weak, tiny board in such a weak, tiny machine would be able to eat some spinach and become Popeye the Sailorcomputer. I'm intrigued...