PC Upgrade: Is it worth it?

I am a 15 year old high school kid who is pretty good with computers. Well here's how my current system is laid out:

Intel D865GBF system board
P4 2.4 ghz Processor
512 mb 333mhz ram
another 512mb 400mhz ram
an Xpert2000 Rag128 pro 32mb agp 8x card
integrated soundmax audio

I am currently going to spend $120 on an ATI x1600pro 8x agp card.

I am wanting a PC game worthy enough to run DOOM 3 and UT2004 with good graphic settings and a high frame rate.

#1-I have somewhat of a limited budget, and am not capable of affording a top of the line motherboard and new processor, but would this system achieve what i am hoping for?

#2- That was my main question, but this one has been nagging me for quite awhile. As you may have noticed i have 2 256mb ram chips at 333mhz and another 2 256mb chips at 400mhz. Is this a real problem? Can it be solved by pairing the two same speed chips on the same ram channels? or will the fact that i have two 333mhz lower the speed of the system's interaction with all chips to 333mhz?

sorry for such a long post, but thanks in advance
Matt

 

Smart moves. These days, especially with games based on the Doom 3 engine, 1GB will really help out. The X1600Pro isn't a bad move and is comparable to the GeForce 6600/6600GT.

The DDR 400 chips will run at a DDR 333 speeds just fine. The number is the indication of the fastest official speed for the RAM, but not the only speed it can work at.

 

well the thing about the ram speed that concerned me is if having 2 333mhz chips would slow down the 400 mhz chips and cause a noticeable drop in performance.

what gets me, is that the video card in it now, the xpert2000 rage 128 pro 32mb agp seems like a downgrade from the integrated intel extreme graphics 2.. This makes me think wtf?

Also
what sound card upgrade would anyone recommend, if any at all?
Im wanting something within a good price range, and something that has good sound quality, something with a front, rear, center, line in, and mic slots?
price range up to $100

Any ideas?

 

don't waste money on the X1600pro, get an Nvidia 6600GT, it's cheaper and also gives better performance on games especially for the games you specified. a GOOD sound card that would cost less than 100? a quick choice would be the creative audigy value, (look in my computer) it only costs $35 and sounds great. here's the link CREATIVE Audigy Value

 

Unless you've got a Pentium 4 2.4C, this won't be a problem. If it's a 2.4 or 2.4B (400MHz FSB or 533MHz FSB), this won't affect the speed any.

The Xpert2000 is a few years older than the integrated graphics. I'm not sure, but I think it pre-dates DirectX 7. If not, it's at best DX7, whereas the Intel Graphics are at least DX8.

An Audigy 2 for gaming. If it's more music oriented, the Chaintech AV-710 would be a better bet.

The X1600Pro is a little cheaper than the 6600GT online if you compare the AGP versions. The brick and motar establishments cost a bit more. Either one should do the trick. Given what you have, either one is a safe bet.

 

ok well the agp card x1600pro i found is this
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1600PRO 100148 Video Card - OEM at Newegg.com
and the 6600gt you are referring to seems to either be not as good, or is better but costs more.
i also found an open box 1600pro for about 95 bucks too
i will probably go with the open box
this is the sound card you were referring to right?
CHAINTECH AV-710 Sound Card - Retail at Newegg.com
i think ill go with it unless anyone has any better solutions?

also would this pc be a pretty good gaming rig? or am i screwed because of the agp limitation?

 

The GeForce 6 series are natively PCIe and the added cost difference is the PCIe-to-AGP bridge that's on AGP cards. The 6600GT and X1600Pro are pretty much even overall.

The open box do have a shorter warranty period through Newegg only, so I would highly suggest paying a little extra for a full retail card. I believe Newegg has shortened their return policy to 15-days, and that's not a whole lot of time.

Yeah, that AV-710 is what I suggested.

AGP is on the way out along with PCI and PCI-X. PCIe is slated to replace them all in due time. PCIe offers more power through the PCIe slots, higher bandwidth, no sharing of bandwith between devices. Yeah, ultimately, PCIe is the way to go, but you can still get some AGP cards. However, there's a shift toward production of only the high-end cards in AGP format. Mid-range cards like the 6600GT's and it's successor the 7600GT are being phased into PCIe only. This isn't to say you won't have any options, but the options that you do have are going to become very limited. I think it'll be a few more years before we completely shift off AGP entirely, but don't think AGP support will be around forever.

 

the cards right now don't use the full bandwidth of pcie 16x. think of the ASUS A8N32 SLI. it offers 32x SLI but when compared to a 16x SLI board, their performance difference. If you just want performance right now, you'll still be safe going with an AGP card, but if you don't want to buy a new set of silicone, wash some more cars (thats what i did) my system only cost me 1k and it gives me all the performance i need, and your specs are pretty identical to mine, except the processor. so a good gfx card would serve you well. AGP cards aren't dead just as yet and you can still upgrade to a 6800Ultra or an X850XT. With the soundcard, if you're focused on gaming, Creative Audigy 2 all the way, but that sound card can also work.

 

Well i am wanting this pc to be geared towards gaming. So I suppose i will go with the retail Vid card as big b suggested.

I do haveone more question, What is the difference between the audigy 2 and the av710? I gess what i mean is what makes the audigy 2 more game worthy, and the av710 more musicly geared?

 

well... i guess it really comes down, to optimization. some games are optimized for a specific gfx card or vice versa... Creative usually aim towards the gaming industry so it incorporates it's technology into games (look into some games and you'll find in the audio options some creative logos and technologies) the chaintech haven't really gained the reps for games so they had to stick with music.

 

Actually it comes down to the chipset that the Chaintec AV710 is using. It uses the VIA Envy24HT, which has garnered some fame for fantastic audio playback. From what I've read on other forums, the audiophiles really dig the Envy24HT. The thing is, Creative's been in the computer audio business for so long, that they have a much bigger influence and are going to get support. Plus, yes, they do cater to the gaming community more. How, I don't know, and I'm not the guy to talk to for in-depth audio info. From what I've read, the Envy24HT is stronger when it comes to music playback than Creative is.

 

yes, it is, creative usually boasts in quality sound in games.

 

thanks for your help guys.

I think ill end up going with the Chaintech.
I figure if it has good audio playback, then the audio in the games cant be too bad right?

 

No, and to be honest, I've had Creative sound cards before, and I've been happy with some decent alternatives. I'm not a huge audiophile, so my ears may not be as in tune as the more audio savvy folks.

 

Well thanks Big b and roy. I will be doing mostly Gaming, so ill go with the creative audigy 2. Anything is better than integrated.

 

smart move

 

Ok i have found these creative Audigy 2 cards

Newegg.com - Once You Know, You Newegg

The first and the third are the same card, except that the third is open box.

Whats the difference between the first and second, besides $130?

 

The second one is the Platinum version which includes a 'drive' with extra connectors which goes in an empty 5.25" bay. It also has a remote control. It's not necessary, but that's the real difference: more stuff in the box.

 

the ZS platinum has a breakout box.

 

hmm

well those break out boxes are pretty nifty.

new egg has the platinum for $100 after the $100 rebate.

Do you guys think the break out box is worth an extra $40?