Hardware Advice Needed

[btaft]

Hi,

I am looking at making a hardware "adjustment". I presently have an HP system (media center micro-case...15x15x7-1/2) with an AMD x2 4200+ , 2GB of RAM. I initially switched out the stock power supply with a 430W and added an ATI x1650xt 512MB PCI Express card in lieu of the onboard video. I get decent performance from the system with some options turned down or off. It is fairly common for the smoke coming from the ships to shimmer in the colors of the rainbow (cause unknown...possibly heat on the vid card or general performance, or dirvers?)

I am considering a couple of options.

One is to build a complete new system based on a Core 2 Duo at 2.4 GHz, 2 GB Ram, Nvdia 8800 GTS 640MB, and an Ultra XVS POwer Supply 600W (one with the removeable cables...i.e. you only use what you need). I can do this for about 1200 USD

The other option is to upgrade the video card and power supply as above in the existing system.

My questions are,

1) Is the x1650xt a "dog" of a video card that is low on performance but big on memory thus I should be able to gain a good improvement with the Nvidia card

2) Is the AMD x2 4200 able to "feed" the Nvidia card everything it needs to take advantage of the performance of the 8800 GTS? (i.e. am I likely of the verge of the performance of the x2 4200 such that the GTS wouldn't offer any significant performance increase.....cpu limited)

3) Is the present shimmering I am experiencing heat related, and if so would the 8800 GTS exacerbate the problem? Would the reduction in cables and the fan on the 8800 provide the needed air flow to keep things cool?

Any thoughts or input are appreciated

BT

[johnny chimpo]

I would recommend an upgrade to the the core 2 system to reduce the chance of bottleneck. Also depending on what res u play at it might be better and cheaper to get the 320mb version of the gts. :up:

[btaft]

Johnny,

Thanks for the feedback. I play at 1280x1024. What would be your recommendation. The savings would be about 80 USD. Would the extra 320MB make a difference or would that only help if I was using a higher res like 1600x1200 or 1920x1600 etc.

Thanks,

BT

[johnny chimpo]

Not having one personaly(saving for new car) i can only speculate from the reviews. Most sites say the performance between them is very close untill you reach the higher resolutions. Maybe someone else on the forum has a 320gs and would like to shed some light on this.