upgrading the desktop help/suggestions

[ihmmy]

So I need to upgrade my desktop a little. First RAM (only at 1gb atm) and then getting a second video card and dualing them.

Current desktop (about a year old custom built) has:
AMD Athlon64 AM2 X2 3800+ 64bit Dual Core (2x2.0Ghz, 512k Cache x2, Dual Channel, DDR2) ***
Silicon Power 1GB PC6400 800Mhz (Cas 5, 100% Tested, Lifetime)
MSI K9N SLI Platinum (Nvidia nForce 570 SLI, RAID, Dual PCI-E, ATX) **
160GB 7200RPM (SATA2 8MB Cache) ***
Pioneer DVR-111 (IDE, 16x DVD+R/RW, 16x DVD-R/RW 40x24x40 CD-RW, Dual Layer, Black) *
EVGA Geforce 7600GT 256MB (Nvidia,16x PCI-E w/ TV-Out, DVI, SLI) *
Coolermaster Centurion 534 ( USB2.0/Firewire, 120mm, Tool-less, Black/Black, ATX) *
Coolermaster eXtremePower RP-500-PCAR (1x 120mm, PCI-E, ATX2.01) *
Windows XP Professional SP2

So RAM first. I was thinking of getting a 2GB one off of otvtech.com (memory-specials has it listed), Transcend TS256MLQ64V8U2GB 2GB PC6400 800Mhz and put it with the current 1GB stick... unless that seems stupid
(er, remember for suggesting things I buy, that I live in Canada not the US so if they don't ship to Canada or charge a gagillion dollars I'm not buying from them)

I was also wondering if I want http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1929950&CatId=1560 or http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2490726&CatId=1560 or something else entirely for a second video card... I heard it was best to pop in the exact same one as you currently have for dualing video cards, but I'm not a hardware guru so I figured I'd get some second, third and fourth opinions

I haven't got a huge amount of cash to spend, $200 at the most and preferably far less if I can get away with it.

Thanks guys!
-ihm

[KJFett]

If you are wanting to do the SLI thing with dual VGs to get better graphics, I'm not sure that you are going to be all that much more impressed if you are just playing online games...and the headaches dealing with games that don't like duals is a problem as well. Just slap another 2GB of RAM in that thing and I think you'll be empressed with the increase. Maybe upgrade the CPU to something in the 2.5GHz range. A new VG is fine and would help as well, but I'm not sure you need to go duels unless you just "gottahaveit" or play games that will really make use of it over a good high end ATI or Nvidia card.

Check out newegg.com as well. I prefer them for my PC parts.

[Romuluas]

This is the only real upgrade I would do if I was you, as 90% of games dont use SLI yet.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3012865

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2882686&Sku=O261-8070

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3048552&CatId=1560

The processor is optional, but graphics wise you would see a better improvement then with dual 7600's. Thats just my opinion tho.

[legslat]

i would go with a nvidia 8800 series for a video card, or hold out for the new 9000 series. I just got the 8800GT card, and im impressed upgrading from a 256. Huge difference, they are big but beautiful.

[LearntOne]

I agree with Legslat & KJFett, the dual video card setup at this moment is still going through many growing pains. If you're willing to deal with frustrations & waiting then you can choose this route. But I recommend upgrading your RAM & waiting for the new 9000 series.

-=- LearntOne -=-

[Romuluas]

i would go with a nvidia 8800 series for a video card, or hold out for the new 9000 series. I just got the 8800GT card, and im impressed upgrading from a 256. Huge difference, they are big but beautiful.


I agree 8800 is the better way to go, but I was just listing things that were in the price range of what he said he had to spend.