Upgrade time... RAM question

[JKooL]

Alright everyone, here are my specs

P4 1.6a @ 2.0 GHz
Radeon 8500 @ 230/230
2 x 256 MG PC2100 266MHz DDR Ram
30 gig MAXTOR HD 7200 RPM

PS FPS in game is:
No action: 38-40 FPS
Some action: 20 FPS
Crazy battles: 1-5 FPS

What would be the best option for upgrading?

1) Geforce4 TI4600
2) 512 MB more of PC2100
3) 512 MB of PC2700 and scrap the PC2100

Your help is appreciated!

Thanks,

Joe

[Ait'al]

Id do one gig either way! But wait for more people to respond! 8d i dont know if the 2100 will be a problem

[dscytherulez]

I'd get a gig of PC2700 if u have the money, or if u don't then id just get 512 of the PC2100. Then again your vid card is scary. Don't go with a NVIDIA, thats my opinion on that...and if you do, dont get a geforce 4, go straight for a low level FX...or even high level if you can afford it.

[JKooL]

The Radeon 8500 is actually better than most of the mid-market crap cluttering the shelves today. I have mine clocked at 250/240 even though it's stock 230/230, and has never had a problem playing any game until Planetside came along.

The Ti4600 has good clock speeds, and even though is older, is still much better than 90% of the NVidia boards now (except a couple of the high level FX ultras, and I doubt anyone spending $400 on a vid card is your average gamer).

Thanks for the replies,

Joe

[Rbstr]

The only nvidia worth its money is the 5700 ultra, i would go for a 9600 pro or xt.

[Cyanide]

Hmm...I'd say go with 512 more mb of PC2700 ram, for the following reasons:

1. PS is the most ram intensive game i've ever seen.
2. I know people who have Radeon 9800 pros and still get less than good FPS because they only have 512mb of ram.
3. I have a Geforce4 TI4600 and 1 gig of ram. I only get bad framerates when I first approach a base. After that it's pretty smooth, even in big battles.
4. If you get the 512mb of PC2700 it will run at PC2100 speed until you can replace your PC2100 with PC2700. The price difference is really not that much and you'll be able to upgrade the rest of it some time in the future. DO NOT take out the PC2100 when you get the PC2700. 1 gig of PC2100 is better than 512mb of PC2700.

[Daleon]

Agrees with Cyanide ^^^

[Rbstr]

i do too, but i would try to get a gig of 2700 and replace the 2100 all together

[Laeritides]

I just went form a Geforce 3 to a 9600 xt It made almost no differnce to my FPS. I should have went for the ram first I only have 512mb. To correct my mistake I ordered another 512mb or ram today. I will post my results when it comes in.

Sys SPecs
P4 1.4 @1.6
512mb
20gb 7200rpm
9600 xt really nice card!!!

[Rbstr]

you have a preaty old p4 there man, i bet you only have 600 mhz rambus in that that would explain the lower speeds

[Laeritides]

Yep I do have 600mhz rambus. It sucks I should have waited another month before I purchased my system. I am just hopping it plays Halflife 2 well. I don't think it will ever run PS the way I want it to. Staying above 20 fps in large fights.

[Cyanide]

You should be able to run HL2 on that system, but not on higher details (not at 1024x768 anyway). That processor is definately your biggest problem. Putting a 9600xt and a gig of ram in that is like putting a high-end fuel system in a Geo Metro. I would go for a new motherboard and processor first if I were you. Adding the extra ram might help a little with PS, but it's not gonna be the difference maker for HL2.

[NoSurrender]

yea, the holdback on your computer is your CPU/motherboard.