I have an XP2800 Barton processor and mobo I got for like $108 in Arizona that pwnz, best upgrade ever, but it's time to catch my pc up again as I've got a new limit, and I think it is my graphics card.

XP2800 Barton
GF4 ti4200P 128mb
512mb 400mhz (ddr ram)
the rest shouldn't be important, but the idea is that my CPU isn't the limit, my memory is iffy, but generally should run fast enough for most things at it's clock speed.

I'm nearly sure that my limit is my graphics card, at least mostly.

The question is do I upgrade my graphics card? or....

I'm going to college next year, do I just give up on upgrading at all and wait and buy a laptop that runs games well too? I'm thinking I will need a laptop for college instead of my bulky desktop pc. So do I upgrade, or do I wait? I know laptops aren't the best gaming pcs, but nearly a year from now, and I'm sure I can buy a better laptop than the current pc I have now for gaming.

If anything doesn't make sense, which is almost for sure, just ask and I'll try to clarify.

Arg... Gaming laptops can play games faster then my system...

2.7Ghz
768MB PC3200
9800 Pro 128 @ 415/355

Upgrade your video card and get another stick of RAM and you'll be good for a while.

What about college? Isn't a laptop nearly required for that, and it all costs so much.

EDIT: Also, the memory will probably be around $80, no argument there, and I can do some research on the video card but....

what do you all suggest? I'm not really sure, I know I wouldn't get a $400 card....maybe $300 tops.


I also forgot the power supply I might need with the $400 card?

Go for the 400 dollar card. You'll love us in the end for it. Why? Because they're at the top of the market, and for a reason--the radical architecture change and the wonderful implementation of it is likely to stay its course for a good year or two at LEAST, and only then will games truly challenge it, if they even do at that point.

RAM? You're fine. No real reason to go to a gig unless you just like spending more money than you have to.

My suggestion? Sell your old card, help pay for your new card, forget your RAM, get a 6800GT, get a palm thingamajig, a palm keyboard, and you're gold. Laptops are really only for note taking so I hear--so you should be fine with a palm w/ laptop.

If you complain about that machine, I will hunt you DOWN boy!


That goes to all of you. I've said this way too much but..

600 mhz
256 MB 133 RAM
12 GB HD space
nVidia Geforce FX 5200
150 W Power supply
Integrated sound
crappy horizontal case
Terrible mother board.

If you want a laptop, I recommend the Dell Precision M60. Mine has had 0 problems, and will run everything I've played so far quite well.