What spec of machine do I need?

**orangat** · 04-02-2006, 20:41

Dragoncrusader,
If you're upgrading the cpu/mb, go with pci-e. Getting a new agp system makes no sense. The 7800GS is a bad buy because its costs the same as the gt but is much slower.

And if you can spring for a A64 4000+, you might as well go for an X2.

**Beirut** · 04-03-2006, 22:04

Originally Posted by orangat

Dragoncrusader,
If you're upgrading the cpu/mb, go with pci-e. Getting a new agp system makes no sense. The 7800GS is a bad buy because its costs the same as the gt but is much slower.

And if you can spring for a A64 4000+, you might as well go for an X2.

You might be right about the CPU. I'm not up on my X2 tech yet.

I disagree about the video card and AGP system though. Granted, PCI-E is the future, but right now there is enough life left in the AGP architecture to warrant buying an AGP system if money is an issue. You can still put together a very good AGP system that will run games well for the forseeable future, and some good deals can be found on AGP equipment. I find staying about a year behind the times gives me a good machine at a good price that still handles all games.

If money is not an issue, than I agree that PCI-E would be the way to go.

**orangat** · 04-03-2006, 23:27

Originally Posted by Beirut

You might be right about the CPU. I'm not up on my X2 tech yet.

I disagree about the video card and AGP system though. Granted, PCI-E is the future, but right now there is enough life left in the AGP architecture to warrant buying an AGP system if money is an issue. You can still put together a very good AGP system that will run games well for the forseeable future, and some good deals can be found on AGP equipment. I find staying about a year behind the times gives me a good machine at a good price that still handles all games.

If money is not an issue, than I agree that PCI-E would be the way to go.

Money an issue? pci-e mb's aren't more expensive anymore. Why bother with agp when pci-e mb's costs the same and has an upgrade path.

The pci-e versions of the 6800gt/7600gt/x800xl are available for mid-range gamers on a budget. And they cost as much for equivalent agp cards.

The fastest agp card is probably the x850xt-pe. The agp 7800gs is gimped - it costs the same as the 7900gt but has 8 less pipelines and about 20% slower core and to add to the insult, significantly slower than the x850pe in some benchmarks and games.

**Beirut** · 04-04-2006, 00:13

Egads! A vibrant debate.

I bought my BFG AGP 7800GS card for less than the price of an X850XT. They have same pixel and vertex pipelines but the X850XT does not have the Shader 3 option, which is an absolute must for me. I think the 7800GS is a very good card. Then again, so is the X850XT.

I completely agree that AGP is behind PCI-E, but I think AGP still has life in it, more so because good deals can be had on AGP systems. I'm going to be AGP for at least another year and I see no problem running my stuff with the equipment I'll have.

**orangat** · 04-04-2006, 00:44

Originally Posted by Beirut

Egads! A vibrant debate.

I bought my BFG AGP 7800GS card for less than the price of an X850XT. They have same pixel and vertex pipelines but the X850XT does not have the Shader 3 option, which is an absolute must for me. I think the 7800GS is a very good card. Then again, so is the X850XT.

I completely agree that AGP is behind PCI-E, but I think AGP still has life in it, more so because good deals can be had on AGP systems. I'm going to be AGP for at least another year and I see no problem running my stuff with the equipment I'll have.

This is not really a debate. I'm just stating the obvious.

I'm not saying that agp is bad but its not a reasonable choice for a NEW pc when pci-e mbs and video cards costs the same and have an upgrade path.

There is nothing wrong with the 7800gs card except that it costs almost the same as a 7900gt, has 8 less pipes and 20% slower core. Any reasonable person would get the card which is approximately 40% faster in newer games for the same amount of money.

**Beirut** · 04-04-2006, 02:06

Originally Posted by orangat

Any reasonable person would get the card which is approximately 40% faster in newer games for the same amount of money.

**orangat** · 04-04-2006, 02:50

Is getting a faster card (by approximate 40%) which costs about as much the reasonable thing to do? Is getting a mb with an upgradable interface which doesn't cost more over agp designs reasonable?