Choice CPU or Video card

[Snakeyeskm]

My system is listed below. Taking the price into consideration should I :-
1) upgrade to a P4 3.06 with hyperthreading ($600)
or
2) Upgrade to a 9700 Ati video card ($350)

I use the system for work (word/excel Photoediting Photoshop and gaming) Cant make up my mind any suggestions are welcomed.

P4 2.53 @ 2.81
PC1066@1184
P4T533-C
Lian-Li
Antec TruePower 550
Ti4600 315/715
Audigy Gamer 2
2 WD800JB's in Raid 0 (TX200)
40GBMaxtor (Backup)
Sony CVD RW DRU500A
Plextor CD-R
Klipsch 5.1
Wing and a Prayer Zero Mistakes = Zero Experience
And Boy do I have experience !

 

[rockerfellerz]

I'd say the system you have is plenty of performance the way it is. If money is no object then go ahead and upgrade, though I don't think you will see a huge difference in performance from either of those changes. Maybe invest in a larger/better monitor? If you're going through Hell...keep going... (Winston Churchill)
RocKeRFelLerZ

 

[pmonett]

Indeed, I find the specs nice enough.
Just one nitpick : how much RAM do you have ? You listed the frequency, but not the amount.
Given the rest, I'd be shocked to see you with any less than 512Mb though.
Be aware that Hyperthreading is not really going to buy you much performance increase a part from the frequency boost.
Sure, running two apps simultaneously sounds good, but us humans have trouble actually WORKING on more than one thing at a time.
As for gaming, a Ti4600 is quite enough for the moment. Yet I understand the urge, and the frustration of lack of bragging rights can bring you.
Yet, unless you really have nothing else to do with your cash, I'd advise to wait for the next round of card releases before wasting money on something that'll only bring you another hundred useless fps on top of the 315fps you have already.
Unless you play Unreal 2, in which case I'd like to know if you also experience frame stutter as soon as you turn abruptly from side to side (to, like, keep an eye on your surroundings).

 

[Snakeyeskm]

Sanity prevails. I suspect both of you are right. My much better half was looking for clues for my birthday and I got greedy. Good advice that will be taken - I will wait.

Rockerfeller I have a Sony 21 inch.

Pmonett I have 512mb RDram 1066. Had some stuttering in Unreal2 which has disappeared ever since I installed the 43.00 nVidia Detonators - graphics also improved. Zero Mistakes = Zero Experience
And Boy do I have experience !

 

[attrofy]

I gotta agree. My rule of thumb, for a gaming environment is always look to the video card first. It usually has the biggest noticeable return on investment. If the graphics/video editing side of the coin takes priority, then I would recommend memory first, hard drive second, and CPU third. If the MS Office apps are your big thing, then I would say you have to much computer, and should consider a different hobby, as your computer will probably crash often due to boredom...

I believe you would see justifiable benchmark differences goint to the ATI, but I would also echo the thoughts to be patient for the next round of video cards. If you are willing to spend that much money on a slight increase, wait until that same amount of money will make a noticeable to significant increase.