Increasing Performance--RAM or CPU

St.Bean · 08-18-2004, 02:31 PM

Hello,

I mainly use my system for gaming and writing music. I have a 2.66 GHZ p4 HT and 1 GB of Ram. Increasing which one(ram or cpu) will boost more performance?

Thanks in advance

**Fox** · 08-18-2004, 02:35 PM

I'd go for a new CPU, if anything. I can't think of a single thing that upping the ram would help, except maybe playing Far Cry while watching a single file entire season of The Sopranos.

SocketA · 08-18-2004, 03:05 PM

Agreed..Go with a new mobo/cpu combo. 1 gig of ram is plenty! Perhaps a new video card if your into gaming..

St.Bean · 08-18-2004, 03:47 PM

Ok, thanks. I think I'll be able to upgrade the CPU without replacing the mobo. It may go up to 3.0 GHZ me thinks. I have a GeForce 5900XT and it seems to be working out pretty well....I just wanna play my video games maxed out on graphics quality and for now I seem to be gettin in the mid/high level. Now would a better graphics card solve this? The next step up would be costing me 350 to 400 dollars!!!!!

**Fox** · 08-18-2004, 05:00 PM

Quite honestly, your system looks like it really kicks as it is- graphics card included...but if the money is burning a hole in your pocket, a CPU upgrade is probably your best bet, though a 3GHz P4 HT will cost you about 220 dollars.

**johnwill** · 08-18-2004, 05:05 PM

Truthfully, I think that a processor or RAM upgrade is a total waste of money. The small improvement you'll get from the CPU upgrade just isn't worth the money. A really high performance video card will probably do more for games than either of the proposed upgrades, and faster disks wouldn't hurt for other applications. Might as well put the money where it'll do the most good...

08-18-2004, 05:40 PM

I your board supprts SATA which it probably does get a WD Raptor 10,000 RPM SATA hard drive.

dplxy · 08-18-2004, 06:07 PM

get a 10K rpm hd
ur os will fly

SocketA · 08-19-2004, 09:22 AM

If your looking for better gaming quality. A new video card is definately the way to go. Your card is decent, but thats the problem its only decent. If I were you saving the $$ and buying a X800pro or 6800gt is definately the way to go.

Xtant · 08-19-2004, 01:30 PM

Depends on what you want to do with the system and what is the most important thing to see an increase in. Your system is no slouch the way it is. RAM however is the last thing I'd add to the list you have a good amount. I vote for video card if your a gamer.

St.Bean · 08-19-2004, 05:50 PM

Ok, thanks for the suggestions. It does seem that the video card would be the best choice. I feel kindof sad now though. I just bought the video card less than a month ago

Well...I think I'll wait till till a couple more paychecks before I spend anything.

Xtant · 08-19-2004, 11:01 PM

If it's an eVGA card they offer a "step up" program if you purchased the card within the last 90 days you get full amount of what you paid for it toward a new model card.

St.Bean · 08-20-2004, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xtant

If it's an eVGA card they offer a "step up" program if you purchased the card within the last 90 days you get full amount of what you paid for it toward a new model card.

It's a BFG. I checked thier site too see if they had any program like that...
They dont, oh well.l...That would be awesome. I would probably get the watercooled 6800!!!

08-18-2004, 02:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
St.Bean Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Increasing Performance--RAM or CPU Hello, I mainly use my system for gaming and writing music. I have a 2.66 GHZ p4 HT and 1 GB of Ram. Increasing which one(ram or cpu) will boost more performance? Thanks in advance

08-18-2004, 03:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
SocketA Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 21 OS: XP	in response Agreed..Go with a new mobo/cpu combo. 1 gig of ram is plenty! Perhaps a new video card if your into gaming..

08-18-2004, 05:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,841 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Truthfully, I think that a processor or RAM upgrade is a total waste of money. The small improvement you'll get from the CPU upgrade just isn't worth the money. A really high performance video card will probably do more for games than either of the proposed upgrades, and faster disks wouldn't hurt for other applications. Might as well put the money where it'll do the most good... __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

08-19-2004, 09:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
SocketA Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 21 OS: XP	In response. If your looking for better gaming quality. A new video card is definately the way to go. Your card is decent, but thats the problem its only decent. If I were you saving the $$ and buying a X800pro or 6800gt is definately the way to go.

08-18-2004, 02:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	I'd go for a new CPU, if anything. I can't think of a single thing that upping the ram would help, except maybe playing Far Cry while watching a single file entire season of The Sopranos.

08-18-2004, 03:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
St.Bean Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Ok, thanks. I think I'll be able to upgrade the CPU without replacing the mobo. It may go up to 3.0 GHZ me thinks. I have a GeForce 5900XT and it seems to be working out pretty well....I just wanna play my video games maxed out on graphics quality and for now I seem to be gettin in the mid/high level. Now would a better graphics card solve this? The next step up would be costing me 350 to 400 dollars!!!!!

08-18-2004, 05:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Quite honestly, your system looks like it really kicks as it is- graphics card included...but if the money is burning a hole in your pocket, a CPU upgrade is probably your best bet, though a 3GHz P4 HT will cost you about 220 dollars.

08-18-2004, 05:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
SPEEDO Guest Posts: n/a OS:	I your board supprts SATA which it probably does get a WD Raptor 10,000 RPM SATA hard drive.

08-18-2004, 06:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
dplxy Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Arcadia, Socali Posts: 27 OS: Win XP	get a 10K rpm hd ur os will fly

08-19-2004, 01:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
Xtant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 144 OS: XP Pro	Depends on what you want to do with the system and what is the most important thing to see an increase in. Your system is no slouch the way it is. RAM however is the last thing I'd add to the list you have a good amount. I vote for video card if your a gamer.

08-19-2004, 05:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
St.Bean Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Ok, thanks for the suggestions. It does seem that the video card would be the best choice. I feel kindof sad now though. I just bought the video card less than a month ago Well...I think I'll wait till till a couple more paychecks before I spend anything.

08-19-2004, 11:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
Xtant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 144 OS: XP Pro	If it's an eVGA card they offer a "step up" program if you purchased the card within the last 90 days you get full amount of what you paid for it toward a new model card.