What should I upgrade first?

[RedMenace]

I've got:

P4 2.7ghz
Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb
512mb RAM

What should I upgrade? The card? The RAM? I've got a pretty much a limited budget, I'm planning on upgrading both sometime in the future, but which one will have the bigger effect right now?

I'm thinking of getting 1 or 2 gigs of RAM or first putting some money torwards a Radeon X300.

Which one will have the bigger effect right now?

[bookworm_020]

Upgrade the Memory, It will give the bigest bang for the buck.

[RedMenace]

What would you say is the real difference is between 1gig and 2 gigs? I mean... is the extra gig worth it or is it just dead weight at this point?

[nightdagger]

It depends on what you're doing. Most recent games (not even recent, really anything in the past year and a half) use over 1.5GB but under 2GB of RAM on max settings. Right now, get more RAM but consider getting a new CPU/motherboard/possibly memory before a new video card because AGP (the slot you're using for your 9800) is getting really old so you'd have much more options.

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by RedMenace

I'm thinking of getting 1 or 2 gigs of RAM or first putting some money torwards a Radeon X300.

If your system has enough free RAM slots I would add an additional 1GB. Don´t buy the X300, it´s much slower than your 9800 Pro.

[nightdagger]

If you want to upgrade your video card, the 7600GS is probably the most cost-effective AGP card out right now.

[Sulikate]

Originally Posted by nightdagger

If you want to upgrade your video card, the 7600GS is probably the most cost-effective AGP card out right now.

I bought a 7600GS, but it is PCI-E. Anyway, It has been performing very well in the most recent games (Oblivion, Fear...)

[nightdagger]

Yeah, at low settings I'm guessing.

Anyway, as for RAM, here you can get 2x512MB sticks for $105.

[micky1up]

pointless wait for vista to come out any upgrade now is worthless save your money for the new graphics cards

[RedMenace]

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

If your system has enough free RAM slots I would add an additional 1GB. Don´t buy the X300, it´s much slower than your 9800 Pro.

Oh, oops! Typo! I mean the X800.

[Officerpuppy]

I wanted to upgrade my RAM as well, currently 512MB to 2GB but jeez......its over $200 for two sticks, sticks!

I think I might invest in a good sound card and killer speakers and still probablly spend less than $200 instead.

Darn RAM is expensive

[sonar732]

Originally Posted by RedMenace

I've got:

P4 2.7ghz
Radeon 9800 Pro 128mb
512mb RAM

What should I upgrade? The card? The RAM? I've got a pretty much a limited budget, I'm planning on upgrading both sometime in the future, but which one will have the bigger effect right now?

I'm thinking of getting 1 or 2 gigs of RAM or first putting some money torwards a Radeon X300.

Which one will have the bigger effect right now?

It would help to know your motherboard specs or the model of your computer if it's name brand. I concur that your best bet would be to upgrade your ram because if you are planning on upgrading to Vista 512mb is the bare minimum and it won't be pretty to run on bare specs.

[RedMenace]

Originally Posted by sonar732

the model of your computer if it's name brand.

It's a Sony Vaio RS-430G, I havn't changed a thing except the video card. The RS-430G comes with a Radeon 9200, but I replaced that with the Radeon 9800 Pro.