Advice on updates

[suicidal_monkey]

My pc as it stands is happy running bf2 at 800x600, Source at 1280x960, and CZ at 1600x1200 on my CRT but I am considering moving to TFT soon due to a lack of space... BF2 works to some extent at 1280x960 but ends up going all jerky every now and then while the pc thinks about something or other. If that jerkiness is likely to be down to video ram then I might as well deal with the 800x600 downscaling on a TFT, or alternatively force myself to deal with the lack of desk space and live with the CRT for another year until I redo the whole pc anyway...

Case: Antec SLK 3700BQE
PSU: 350W Antec unit (came with the case)

mobo: Sparkle nForce2 400 (supports up to the XP3200+ cpu)
cpu: XP2400+
ram: 2x512mb @ pc2700 cas 2.5 (one unit is an underclocked pc3200 cas2.5)
hdd: 120Gb Western Digital 7200rpm ata133 (does well in SSandra tests I think)
gfx: Powercolour AIW 9800pro 128mb AGP

monitor: 19" Iiyama VMpro 454



I have limited funds for upgrades at the moment, which gives me a few options I guess, and they all hinge around the fact that my pc will, at some point in the not-too-distant future, require a major overhaul of parts to get it up to speed with PCIe, 7800gtx, pc4400, 64bit processing that is becoming the norm.

1) I stick with the pc as it is and overhaul the lot at a later date assuming I have any money!

2) I leave the base unit as it is and get a spanky new TFT monitor that will last the next update, in which case do I go for:
2a)a nice 17" like the iiyama H431s fit the bill
2b)or do I close my eyes and blow money I don't really have on a 19" model like the Viewsonic 191b (imho it appears to be the option to go for at the moment in 19"ers) are those inces really worth the money?

3) I go for the 17" TFT option but also blow some cash on upgrades to the base unit such as an XP3200+

...assuming my realistic budget is max. about £300-£350 now. I don't really see updatnig the video card as an option because I'd want to go to at least a 6600gt or 6800GT with 256mb and that kind of kills the TFT budget...

comments appreciated to try help me come to a decision...and maybe help me stop clicking on pc component websites to look at the offers...

[suicidal_monkey]

a nice even spread of opinion there  

I guess there's also the changing standards and hardware formats like atx/atx2/btx, dual gpus, 64-bit cpus in various pinouts, ddr2/ddr3, PCIe, sata, etc, plus the fact that TFT panels are getting better bigger cheaper every other month does sort of indicate that holding off the rebuild is the best plan for a while. Wait and see what comes out in the next year, maybe get a 1600x1200 pixel 20" TFT...



The one good thing to be said for the TFT panel purchase is that when it comes to selling the current pc in a year or so I may be more likely to sell the pc with the TFT screen than with the CRT even if the CRT is actually a better piece of kit in many ways... :unsure:

[Doorman]

Originally posted by suicidal_monkey@Jul 12 2005, 11:20 AM
a nice even spread of opinion there

I guess there's also the changing standards and hardware formats like atx/atx2/btx, dual gpus, 64-bit cpus in various pinouts, ddr2/ddr3, PCIe, sata, etc, plus the fact that TFT panels are getting better bigger cheaper every other month does sort of indicate that holding off the rebuild is the best plan for a while. Wait and see what comes out in the next year, maybe get a 1600x1200 pixel 20" TFT...
The one good thing to be said for the TFT panel purchase is that when it comes to selling the current pc in a year or so I may be more likely to sell the pc with the TFT screen than with the CRT even if the CRT is actually a better piece of kit in many ways... :unsure:

[post=88306]Quoted post[/post]

[/b]

What exactly do you WANT? When you know that, go with it. To hell with the bailiffs!

[Cadaver]

Just buy the damn TFT!  You've been banging on about it for long enough.

There's always man-whoring if you're hard up...

[suicidal_monkey]

:dummy: