Boomerang

Hi, ya'all - this is my first post and I'm hoping someone will have some advice for me - my current desktop is no slouch, but it is starting to get outdated - some of the new generation games (Unreal Tournament3 etc.) are just about unplayable and many HD videos jump from frame to frame instead of playing smoothly. I've got an MSI K7 N2 Delta MB with an AMD XP Athlon 1.25 gig processor, 2 gig of DDR ram, a BFG GeForce 7800 GS OC card(256mbDDDR3), an Antec - EarthWatts 500-Watt PS, and a Seagate 250 gig hard drive with 16mb buffer. I'd like to do a complete overhaul of this system but I'm recovering from a major operation and my disability pay is far short of my regular salary, so $$ is a little tight right now. I'm thinking that my main problem is processor speed, so in an effort to avoid spending the $ on a new PCI express graphics card I'd like to try an MSI K9 MM motherboard which has an AGP port for my current card, and an AMD Athlon 64 LE-1640 2.60 gig processor - if I'm correct, all I'd have to buy is 2 gig of DDR2 ram to complete the rig (continuing to use all the other existing components in my current rig) Current prices for the motherboard, processor and ram will total about $175. I know this is a poor substitute for a fancier motherboard and new PCI express graphics card but I'm sure the system upgrade I'm planning will make a significant improvement - any feedback from you guys and gals? Thanks in advance, Tom

pbdr

I would suggest a dual core proc.

This one is about $40 more, but is a 2.6 gig dual core: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103211

Coupled with this RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820141199 (several choices in this price range by the way)

and the MSI board you suggest (which by the way is a good choice for AGP) would run about $190 delivered (after rebate on RAM).

Seriously, don't stint on the CPU and go for a dual core.

Oh, and I'm selling a MOBO, CPU, GPU, and RAM bundle also: MOBO, CPU, RAM, and GPU

It's a socket 939 set-up with DDR but has a 7600 GT PCI-E card... I was able to play most games at moderate settings with it ( I upgraded just a week ago to the rig in my sig)

Just a thought.

__________________
My current Build:

E8400 Wolfdale
Gigabyte EP35C DES
4 gig A-DATA DDR2 800
Sapphire Radeon HD 3870
Seagate 320 GB HDD
Lite-On Lightscribe DVDRW
Raidmax Sagitta (Black) Case