adding some computer parts.

[FieryGoose]

Okay I have about a $1000 budget I want to use to get a new graphics card, sound card, about a 160gb hdd (serial ata), and a cpu heatsink/fan. I know that alot of new stuff is constantly comming out so i'm kindof hesistant to buy... so do you guys think that agp is going to last much longer, since they are still comming out with agp interfaces on the new products but I dunno if you all think that is going to last much longer?

Current Hardware:
Radeon 9700
SB live 5.1 (20 doller card)
60gb slave drive (i'm selling it so i need another slave drive).
Stock heatsink/fan.

If I do upgrade now do you guys think that it will last very long as far as when I have to upgrade these parts agian, I know I wont need to upgrade my hdd and heatsink (unless new cpu)? Is it true that a good sound card can give you a little better fps in games?

I know these posts are probably getting a little annoying by now but any help would really be appreciated, thanks. :cheers:

 

[WhiteZero]

I'd hold off till next year for the vid card.

 

[FieryGoose]

I'd hold off till next year for the vid card.

i wish i could but my vid card right now is just not cutting it, it's faithfull to do ok on even the newest games but i just can't take the low fps anymore. i kinda wunna either get the x850xtpe or the 7800gtx(but it hasn't come out in agp yet)

 

[FieryGoose]

so far....

ok so i got this much hopefully decided so far:
Hdd: Seagate Barracuda 160gb - $90
Sound Card: Audigy 2 ZS - $58
Hdd cooler(for my raptor): Vantec - $37
Cpu heatsink: Thermaltake CL-P0114 - $50

does anyone know for sure if that heatsink will fit with my motherboard/cpu, i'm pretty sure it does just not possitive...
any suggestions on the vid. card would be good should i switch out my mobo for a pci-express one?

 

[Raxxman]

I wouldn't worry about the Sound card unless you have some pritty spiffy speakers. Now there's speculation about if/when the 7800 is coming out on AGP.

I personally would either go all in or tow the line.

Either get something like an x800XL AGP which will be fine for a while yet, and save, or get a PCI express board/card cause even if this generation is coming out AGP the next probally wont.

of course this depends on how and how often you upgrade. I like to futureproof as much as possible.

 

[FieryGoose]

I wouldn't worry about the Sound card unless you have some pritty spiffy speakers. Now there's speculation about if/when the 7800 is coming out on AGP.

I personally would either go all in or tow the line.

Either get something like an x800XL AGP which will be fine for a while yet, and save, or get a PCI express board/card cause even if this generation is coming out AGP the next probally wont.

of course this depends on how and how often you upgrade. I like to futureproof as much as possible.

yea i agree i think i'm going all in probably getting a sli mobo (which supports crossfire also?) have to change my mobo and get the 7800gtx and possibly get a second one later... you can take your cpu out of a mobo and off the heatsink after it's installed can't you?

 

[Mujuro]

7800GTX will not be coming out on the AGP platform unless there is a serious demand for it by consumers.

 

[sinkoman]

yea i agree i think i'm going all in probably getting a sli mobo (which supports crossfire also?) have to change my mobo and get the 7800gtx and possibly get a second one later... you can take your cpu out of a mobo and off the heatsink after it's installed can't you?

No. SLI mobo's do not support crossfire.

And yes, you can take the heatsink off.

I'd reccomend an xp-90 on the heatsink side of things. A Vantec Tornado and a quality fan controller like a nexus would go perfect with it.

 

[holydeadpenguins]

Go grab a 7800 and a hard drive, you can hold off the sound card for a couple months.

 

[FieryGoose]

Alright guys thanks i aprecciate all the help and suggestions i think i got my mind decided on what all to get.

:cheers:

 

[Pesmerga]

i wish i could but my vid card right now is just not cutting it, it's faithfull to do ok on even the newest games but i just can't take the low fps anymore. i kinda wunna either get the x850xtpe or the 7800gtx(but it hasn't come out in agp yet)

With a 7800, you'd be left paying $650 for that, and around $1000 total for that including the other parts. I suggest the 6800gt, as that pretty much covers any modern game today and all games until Unreal 3.0

 

[FieryGoose]

With a 7800, you'd be left paying $650 for that, and around $1000 total for that including the other parts. I suggest the 6800gt, as that pretty much covers any modern game today and all games until Unreal 3.0

I already priced everything...

160gb hdd:$90
Audigy 2 Zs:$58
Vantec hdd cooler: $37
Msi Neo 4 plat: 172
subtotal: 357
7800gtx:600
total:957+ (tax)69.38= $1026.38

That's close enough, my only concern is that possibly a new graphics card is gonna come out soon for the same price that's better because this will basically be the most money i've spent on a graphics card and i want to get my moneys worth.

Also do you guys think that sli is gonna last very long or is it just the newest thing thats gonna go away after 1 year? I also don't want to be stuck having to buy only nvidia, but i dont think that's a problem because the board has regular pci-express i believe. I have a 3500+ winchester do you guys think that it will be bottlenecking my vid. card alot or will it still have really good quality?

 

[FieryGoose]

whats the better heatsink the xp-120 or the xp-90, and the xp-120 is bigger do you guys think that it is too big to fit the graphics card in or not?