Hey everyone, got a quick pretty simple question. I need a new computer to keep up with todays gaming but cant and wont be able to afford a new pc build anytime soon. So i am looking to just so a small upgrade to my current build to try to squeeze a little more life out of it. Enough of that here is my current build

OS: Windows XP PRO sp3
Motherboard: Asus A8V-X VIA chipset
CPU: AMD Athlong +3700 socket 939 1mb cache
Memory: 2gb (1gbx2) OZC PC3200 Gaming Ram
Graphics Card: 256mb Geforce 7800gs agp
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy 2
Hard Drive: 200gb western digital 7200rpm 8mb cache ide
500gb western digital 7200prm 8mb cache ide
PSU: 450watt Thermaltake

and I am thinking about upgrading to:

Memory: add 2gb(1gbx2) OZC PC3200 Gaming Ram (total of 4gb, i know that i can only use 3gb though)
Graphics Card: 512mb Radeon hd3850 agp

The price on the graphics card is $130+shipping with $15 mail in rebate, and I have someone that will buy my 7800 for $50 ($80 without rebate, $65 with)
The price on the ram is $83 with $30 mail in rebate ($53 with rebate).

So my question is simple is this really worth it, whether is just upgrading just the graphics card, memory, or both. I know that the graphics card will help a lot more than the extra ram but if I wont see a pretty decent improvement I will just forget about it. Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks for your time guys!

Seems like a good plan. you will see substantial improvements from both RAM and GPU upgrades.

It may sound terrible, but for that price of about $220 you can get a new MB, RAM, CPU, and Vid. (example)

MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813135097
$60 (could go cheaper with a mATX board tho)(SLI vid with onboard later)
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103221
$48 (X2 4400+ OEM)
HSF: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186010
$13 (good low priced cooler)
Vid:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500049
$65 (Zotac 8600GT , with $20 MIR)
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820134488
$37 (2GB kingston DDR2 800)

Total: $223 + S&H (not counting MIR, or specials/combo deals)(nVidia option)
or

MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 813131234R
$57 (open box ASUS)
CPU: same $48
HSF: same $13
RAM: same $37
Vid: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102726
$60 (ATI 3650, $10 MIR)

Total: $215 + S&H (not counting MIR, special/combo deals)(ATI option)

^ +1
theres also alot of complaints over the 3850 agp, driver issues i think

I agree with IH8U.

dont you think its better to get a new CPU/MOBO/RAM/GPU?
socket 939 seem a bit far now... Get something with PCI express.

Like get a 780G or 790GX based board and save for a HD4850 in christmas

based from IH8U

drop the gpu from the list...might as well save and get onboard video for a while.

GIGABYTE GA-MA78G-DS3H AM2+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128335

AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103255

Thanks for the info guys, Yeah, I thought about doing something like that. Only thing, about a month or so ago my Epox mobo died on me, I was in the posistion that I couldnt afford anything (new pc or replacement mobo). So my brother forked out about $70 to get me a new mobo that would work for my system. So basically I dont want to just throw that mobo out after barely using it. I would free kind of bad about it even though I have parts to keep in intact as a backup/side comp.

I will have to think about it though cause I know I would be better replacing everything no matter what it is really than just getting a new agp card and adding some ram. We will have to see, anyone else some comments or suggestions feel free to say. Thanks guys!

that part could work as a backup pc...it wont go to waste... hehehe.. there is always some use for aging parts...like mine... office/desktop use will be great

If you decide to keep the stuff you have, I don't know if the ram is really worth an upgrade. The 3850 is definitely worth the money, but I don't know if the upgrade from 2 to 4 gigs of ram is really worth it. You might be better off using that money to start saving for new stuff.