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Christmas List (advice request)

Name: Arcane 2005-11-27 16:44

I have a Dell that with the exception of a HD I added about a year ago, I pretty much have left completely untouched since I bought it in August '02.  It's hanging in there pretty well, as it can run Half-Life 2 with no problems, at medium detail level.  But I'm looking to get some goodies for myself for Christmas.  Here are my specs as they currently stand:

Dell Dimension 4500
P4 2.26 GHz
512MB DDR266 PC2100 ram, (already bought another stick of 512)
Windows XP Pro SP2
Maxtor 37.2GB Hd, (C:, 75% full)
Liteon DVD-ROM LTD163 (D:)
NEC CD-RW NR-9100A (E:)
Wester Digital 140GB (partitioned F,G,H:, about 20% full)
Nvidia GeForce4 MX 420 64MB (AGP)
a basically no-name 15" LCD, VGA input only
harmon/kardon 2.1 speakers+sub

I'm in the market for a video card, a game controller, and possibly a new processor.  Specifically, I'd like some advice on the video card. I'm looking for a 256MB GeForce 6800, hopefully for under $400.  My board does not have a PCI Ex slot, so it must be AGP.  I have no idea what multiple it is (AGPx2, x4, or x8) Do I need to find that out?

I'm also looking at game controllers, if anyone has good suggestions.  I like Logitech in that regard.  And what should I go for as a processor?

Name: Anonymous 2005-11-27 16:50

PS. It looks like theres a good $200 difference between 6600's and 6800's.  Which should I go with?

Name: Anonymous 2005-11-27 17:03

>>2

If you can afford it, a 6800.  That's what I'm going to buy for myself, anyway, when I buy a new computer for me for Christmas.

Name: Anonymous 2005-11-27 19:35

>>2
Check Tom's Hardware Guide and calculate your performance/price ratios. As you can see in the benchmark results, 6600s are mid-end cards, except for 6600 GTs, which are high end cards and the hot spot for performance/price last time I checked. I suggest you get a 6600 GT with 128 MB RAM, or, if you have more money to spend, see if you can get the second best performance/price card out of the higher end ones (easily seen in Tom's Hardware results). Go for nVidia BTW.

Name: Anonymous 2005-11-28 19:13

'K I decided to get a PNY 6800 GT, with 256MB.  Got it for $350 at J&R, looks like a good deal compared to other cards.

Now I can't decide whether or not I should upgrade my cpu.  I did some more research, and I've got a 845E chipset, 533 bus, and an older socket 478, rather than the new LGA775.  So I think the fastest I can get is a 3.06 GHz P4 for $250.  Which isn't a huge difference from what I already have (2.26).  Should I get a processor, or wait until I get a new mobo?

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