To CPU or to GPU.....that is the question

[Ramrod]

My system specs are:
athlon xp 4000 CPU
asus a8v-e deluxe mobo
2 gig twinned low latency ram
asustech nvidia geforce 6800 ultra
2x75 gig 10k rpm raptors in RAID 0

I would love to upgrade both my graphics card and my CPU but she who must be obeyed isn't going to allow that so my question is:
Which will give me the most speed improvement (games and apps)?
I'm thinking a dual core athlon 4800 CPU is probably the best idea (cost wise.....otherwise I'd go for the FX60 if it wasn't almost as much as my monthly mortgage payment ) but the new 7800 512mb GPU's look mouthwatering as well.
Any ideas?

[MovedGoalPosts]

General apps, the CPU will make the biggest difference. Gaming, the GPU will probably be most noticeable,

It will depend on the specific software whether it will be noticeable enough to be worth it. Older games like MOH won't really do much at all. Modern games like COD 2 will use a better GPU and a better CPU. Indeed the CPU, dual core may imporve gaming a bit as one core runs the game whilst the other runs antivirus teamspeak and stuff. How much that is noticeable compared to crisper graphics I dunno.

CPU without a shadow of a doubt.The nvidia 6600gt is good enough to play 90% of games adequately.The gfx you have is plenty good enough better than the 6600gt.Remember this a lot of new games coming will support and use dual core

[Ramrod]

As I suspected.....it looks like a x2 4800 is imminent then (unless I can find a FX60 for less than an arm and a leg)

......or does anyone have any other recommendations?

[Toto]

Agreed CPU.

I don't care what anyone says, my gpu is superb, but I noticed an improvement in a game when the load was taken off the CPU and put onto the GPU by a patch. Not sure why that was in the first place, but heck, what an improvement. So I'm guessing the better the CPU the better?

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Ramrod

<Snip>

I would love to upgrade both my graphics card and my CPU but she who must be obeyed isn't going to allow that <snip>

Stand up and be a man. Get both! (and prey she doesn't notice)

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by danielf

Stand up and be a man. Get both! (and prey she doesn't notice)

If I was Ramrod I'd be worried about where the <snip> was likely to be placed if your advice is followed

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Rob C

If I was Ramrod I'd be worried about where the <snip> was likely to be placed if your advice is followed

It might leave him more time for gaming

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by danielf

Stand up and be a man. Get both! (and prey she doesn't notice)

Interesting spelling you used there, you meant to write pray but wrote prey--which is what I would be if I got both!

---------- Post added at 14:51 ---------- Previous post was at 14:50 ----------

ermmm...........take a look here.........worth a risk?

[Ignition]

Dunno but I so want your disposable income if you can spend that amount of cash on PCs

[Ramrod]

What about this?

---------- Post added at 14:57 ---------- Previous post was at 14:54 ----------

I'm serious, what do you people think about buying a cpu from China?

---------- Post added at 15:27 ---------- Previous post was at 14:57 ----------

Especially when the sellers feed back is hidden (but it's 100%)

Its way risky dude but its upto you lol

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Its way risky dude but its upto you lol

lol.........when you say 'way risky' are we talking about taking a walk through Woolwich after dark while wearing a Rolex, or are we talking about it being just a bit of a concern?

Ying tong ying tong ying tong ying tong piddly pie po.

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by Ignition

Dunno but I so want your disposable income if you can spend that amount of cash on PCs

That's just what I was thinking. I'm in the wrong job