ok guys, swmbo's pc is in a need of a bit of tlc.

It's an amd 64 3200+ with nvidia 8600GTS on an asus a8-n delux mobo.

Swmbo has just started on Age of Conan; which runs fine on a macbookpro, if a little ho, but chugs a little. I think it's a few things like ram etc as the macbook is running it of a usb2 disk and is a mobile nvidia card 8600gt. That said when it's runnig it does look alot better on her pc, till it black screens.

Question is, is the 8600gts still good enough, or should I say, is it worth getting another and sli'ing it or should I update the card and if so which bang for buck rules the roost?

If we updated the card, would the processor cope?

I'm going to upgrade the disks anyway as she's filled them (74Gb raptors and some old sata junk).

She's trying to drive a 24" dell screen too, either windowed at 1600x1200 or fs at 1920, she likes immersion.

So that's part one, part two is can anybody recommend a good gaming pc thats a small form factor, base unit only.

I just sold 2 x 8800 GTX's as well.

I noticed that overclockers.co.uk have 9800GX2's down to £200 now knocking up to £159 off their price a few months ago.

At the moment (until drivers mature) and in certain area's they are outperforming the newer GTX 280's. So bang for bucks they pack quite a wallop.

Leadtek GeForce 9800 GX2 1024MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail

they may not be everyones cup of tea, but I have built a couple of systems over the last few months for people and they are good solid performers and in the right games are blisteringly quick.

argh, another format change , pci x8 and x16...I'll find out whatthe asus mobo has, grr

Good price drop though, can't buy it from there as swmbo hates the place (short story, made longer with swmbo waiting in the car for me one day )

ok guys, swmbo's pc is in a need of a bit of tlc.

It's an amd 64 3200+ with nvidia 8600GTS on an asus a8-n delux mobo.

Swmbo has just started on Age of Conan; which runs fine on a macbookpro, if a little ho, but chugs a little. I think it's a few things like ram etc as the macbook is running it of a usb2 disk and is a mobile nvidia card 8600gt. That said when it's runnig it does look alot better on her pc, till it black screens.

Question is, is the 8600gts still good enough, or should I say, is it worth getting another and sli'ing it or should I update the card and if so which bang for buck rules the roost?

If we updated the card, would the processor cope?

I'm going to upgrade the disks anyway as she's filled them (74Gb raptors and some old sata junk).

She's trying to drive a 24" dell screen too, either windowed at 1600x1200 or fs at 1920, she likes immersion.

So that's part one, part two is can anybody recommend a good gaming pc thats a small form factor, base unit only.

I wouldn't bother SLIing the 8600GT as an 8800GT would beat the pair and cost no more.

The 9600GT might help.

FWIW I don't personally think the raptors are as fast as people think, there is another thread on here on the subject I think or drop me a PM if you like.

I also think that the AMD chip won't be able to throw things around as quickly as you like and with 4800+ X2's going cheap as chips (£30) it would make sense to at least do that if not a complete overhaul.

Can't really think of a great base unit PC at a sane price.

Edited 28 July, 200817 yr by cheezemonkhai

argh, another format change , pci x8 and x16...I'll find out whatthe asus mobo has, grr

Not sure why it's a format change as every consumer mobo with PCIe graphics slot will have a PCIex16 slot.

When you're doing SLI the second card can often run in x8 mode if there are not enough lanes, but the second slot would need to be a physical x16 connector wired to at least x8.

All PCIe from x32 down to x1 are backward compatible in that if you put a slower card in a faster slot it will work.

Doesnt the new ATI 4850/70 get good reviews now?

If your after small format then I'd get a G33/G35 chipset board. (new G45 use more power but not much improvement) I've got a G33 plus E6320 (stock speed) and ATI 1950XT and its capable of playing Crysis (medium setting) and COD4 with no problem at 1280x768.

If your not overclocking then I'd look at the E8400.

Not sure why it's a format change as every consumer mobo with PCIe graphics slot will have a PCIex16 slot.

When you're doing SLI the second card can often run in x8 mode if there are not enough lanes, but the second slot would need to be a physical x16 connector wired to at least x8.

All PCIe from x32 down to x1 are backward compatible in that if you put a slower card in a faster slot it will work.

heck that's why I asked, I've not looked or touched pc gaming stuff for 18+months so I'm very rusty on it, to the point of a newbie once more.

Seems though the x16 slot things are on the a8n, both of them.

As to the raptor speeds, well it was gathering dust on the side and I'm certain it's quicker than the other disks on the side with

Now to do some shopping basket filling.

heck that's why I asked, I've not looked or touched pc gaming stuff for 18+months so I'm very rusty on it, to the point of a newbie once more.

Seems though the x16 slot things are on the a8n, both of them.

As to the raptor speeds, well it was gathering dust on the side and I'm certain it's quicker than the other disks on the side with <90's build dates.

Now to do some shopping basket filling.

Sounds like a good move if it's just sat there and free

I wouldn't bother with SLI, it's very dependant on the game if it's supported and/or works properly. Best bang for the buck is a ATI 4850 at approx £120 or a 4870 if your feeling rich.