My best option?

[FRANKSnBEANS]

My current setup is as follows:

Biostar U8668 Pro Motherboard
Intel Penitum 4 2.4 GHz (Northwood Socket 478)
768mb Memory (1x 256 pc2100 1x 512 pc2700) (Cheap/mixed brand names)
ATI Radeon 9550 (375 core/250 mem)

As you can see the motherboard can support 2048mb.

I purchased the 512 for cheap, but i can run it with my motherboard as long as it's paired with a pc2100 module. The recommended now a days is at least 1024. I plan on selling my current two sticks, and buying two 1024's in pc2100 speed of the same manufacturer (such as kingston, crucial, etc.) Will I see a noticeable jump in performance since the memory will be a trusted name, same bus speed, and same size? I'm basically looking for a boost in multi-tasking, programs opening/closing, and better framerates in games like c&c generals, halo, and battlefield 1942.

Will this be a good choice to start me up? I can't do much more with the processor since the mobo only supports 2.6 GHz. So, maxing out the mem is one of only things I could think of. Or should I get a new motherboard?

Thanks.

[TheBigCarp321]

IMO youll notice a difference, but yer bottleneck with games nowadays is that P4 and the Radeon. I say that because Im sure you cant play on max settings hehe. I had upgraded my vid card and noticed no dif until I got a new cpu. Anyway, yeah you will notice a slight increase. I noticed going from 1gb to 2gb so I'm sure going from 768 to 2gb youll notice.

[FRANKSnBEANS]

Thanks for fast reply.

Also to point out, the motherboard only supports AGP 4x...
Im not getting the most out of my little Radeon (8x compatible) but does it really matter?

Would getting a newer card such as an nvidia 6600/6800 along with the new memory help me out or would I simply bottleneck even more?

Found this on Newegg, which is probably the best choice. 8x support, hyperthreading, pc3200, dual channel.

Upgrade the mobo, or newer mem and card?

[TheBigCarp321]

If yer running agp, id really go 8x. You'll love that board if you get it...A lot of good reviews and people all around are saying its nice solid and stable. Great for OC'ing as well.

Start with board then mem and other stuff...

[FRANKSnBEANS]

TYVM for the help Carp.

Yeah, why should I upgrade my current outdated biostar when I can get something bigger and better than I currently have. Asus is good and trusted, and that board has loads of features and technology. I think I may go with it. I can always continue to use my 2.4 in that, along with my hard drives, optical drives, sound card, and power supply. I'll basically need some good ram and a better card.

Thanks again.

[TheBigCarp321]

Oh Yeah! Board, ram, card and youll be happy.

[#43 fan]

What is your PSU, including brand, wattage, and amperes on the 12V rail.

[JLK03F150]

When you upgrade your memory get PC3200. It will run at PC2700 speed with your 2.4B and provide headroom if you decide to give overclocking a try. There shouldn't be any cost difference - well, the PC3200 may actually be cheaper than PC2100. You should be able to run that 2.4 @ 2.8-3.0ghz on a good mobo.

[mateo leet-o]

Also to point out, the motherboard only supports AGP 4x...
Im not getting the most out of my little Radeon (8x compatible) but does it really matter?

Your board also supports 8x cards. Even though your card might run at 4x it wouldn't make a noticeable difference in performance from 8x. SO you only need a new mobo if you need a new processor( different socket) in your case

[carl33p]

I wouldnt buy an AGP board...

If you get a new mobo, id advise you to get a PCI-E mobo.

[JLK03F150]

I wouldnt buy an AGP board...

If you get a new mobo, id advise you to get a PCI-E mobo.

That means a new cpu too. No such thing as socket 478 w/ pci-e.

[#43 fan]

There is a Socket 478 motherboard, but it only supports Pentium M's. Its on newegg, made by MSI.
But, stay with AGP. you can always upgrade later.

[FRANKSnBEANS]

Reather: Power Supply is the 550 Watt Ultra X Connect 2.

Mateo: Motherboard is only AGP 2x/4x compatible.

I do find PC2100 to be quite expensive,around $90+ for a 1024 of something good like kingston, or crucial. PC133 prices are simply through the roof. There's Corsair TwinX dual channel kits on newegg right now with rebate. Would the Asus motherboard I posted work with my current p4 cpu? Basically looking to get the most out it. Down the road would that mobo take a 3.0+GHz cpu?

Was looking at this card for a few days but now currently no longer available on TD.

A step above it.

My current vid card.

Thanks all for posting.

[#43 fan]

To warn you-the last Ultra X-Connect's were not very good.
However, if you can afford $ (US) 40, there is a Fortron Source [aka FSP Group or Sparkle] 400 watt that's very good. I have it, runs my 7600GT without problems.

[JLK03F150]

There is a Socket 478 motherboard, but it only supports Pentium M's. Its on newegg, made by MSI.
But, stay with AGP. you can always upgrade later.

If you count the pins on a Pentium M cpu, it has 478 of them. But Intel's offical name for it is Socket 479 to identify the fact the two (P4 & PM) do not interchange with each other. Newegg & others mislabel parts by using the actual pin count instead of the socket name.

Core Duo M (yonah) further adds to the confusion since it's another 478 pin socket 479 cpu that doesn't work in a PM (dothan, banias) socket.

Remember the infamous Ford 5.0 V8? It's actually a 4.9 litre engine, but Ford also had a 4.9 inline 6. They decided to call the 4.9 V8 a 5.0 to avoid confusion at the parts counter. Same thing with the s478/s479, just trying (not very well) to avoid confusion. lol

Would the Asus motherboard I posted work with my current p4 cpu?

Yes, but the P4P800SE is a better board (unopened box is $99). Do you have to use microATX or can you use ATX. The -VM model doesn't support overclocking, if that's an option you're looking for.
I agree with Reather that Ultra doesn't have the greatest reputation. I haven't seen any reviews of the X2, but the original version was known for poor voltage regulation. Hopefully the new model has addressed that problem.
That's a nice set of 2x1024 ram, very high-end stuff.
Speaking of high-end, the 7800GS is the best agp card available. I've seen the x850XT AGP the same price & sometimes less for an alternative choice.

[FRANKSnBEANS]

I took a chance in buying the Ultra to upgrade from my previous generic 300w PSU. I needed something to clean up the wires and help with an airflow issue. The Ultra solved those problems, I have noticed drops in temperatures and my system is running stable. I already upgraded to the lifetime warranty. Ultra seems like it doesen't have a very good reputation for overclocking. But of course when your running a high end system that simply sucks power, and then try to push it even further beyond it's expectations, it's no wonder it fails. I say stick to Antec, TT, etc for OCing PSU's. I'll follow up on it later, as it seems the original X-Connect's simply died on people after a while. It was either this PSU, or OCZ's modstream (which seems to a trusted name/product) but even that PS got some nasty reviews on Newegg as well.

JLK03F150: No, I would be able to run a regular sized ATX board as well. That motherboard does look a lot nicer. I also see it comes with SATA Raid, and more PCI slots which are nice features the ASUS P4P800-VM lacked.

So I'm left with:

Motherboard: ASUS P4P800SE
Power Supply: Ultra X2 Modular 550w
Processor: P4 2.4 GHz
Memory: Corsair Twinx dual channel pc3200
Graphics Card: PNY GeForce 7800GS